Zyme is one of a growing number of companies that have opted to use QlikTech's technology instead of traditional BI software, which requires users to build OLAP cubes before queries can be done. QlikTech analyzes and queries data in memory as opposed to moving data to disk-based storage. In a research report released this month, Gartner Inc. noted that this in-memory method for analysis retrieves data and performs query calculations faster than traditional OLAP methods.

Dan Vesset, an analyst at in Framingham, Mass., said that QlikTech has been the fastest-growing BI tools vendor among the 20 top vendors for the past three years, with an average growth rate of 70%. The primary reasons for that growth, he said, are cost and ease of use and installation.

Schanker said Zyme chose QlikTech over traditional BI vendors because nontechnical users can learn within five minutes how to use the tool to analyze channel data. In addition, because the tool doesn't need to build a new cube each time a hierarchy -- such as sales territories or product categories -- changes, it can be easily customized for new users. Zyme can usually get clients up on QlikTech within two to four weeks, he added.

In related news, QlikTech this week also will announce QlikView Publisher 4, a management tool for large-scale QlikView projects that is designed to streamline security and automation administration.

QlikTech's users include Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Telekom AG, Reuters, Pfizer Inc., 3M Co., Automatic Data Processing Inc., Colonial Insurance and BMW.