As part of Saugatuck’s ongoing and growing work in the role(s) of data integration and Cloud (1024RA, Cloud-based Data Integration Changes Business for Enterprises and Providers, 16Feb2012), I had the good fortune to participate this week in Informatica’s annual analyst briefings in Silicon Valley. After two packed days of give and take on Informatica’s vision, strategy, tactics, plans and offerings, it’s fair to say that the company understands where it sits, where their real opportunities are, what their business goals should be, and how to approach and achieve those goals.

Granted, that sounds rather “business as usual.” But that’s what makes Informatica rather unique in a market environment rife with hype about Big Data, Cloud, mobility, social IT, and so on. There’s a company strategy roadmap that was really developed years ago, and which has been tweaked around the edges a few times, but which has remained largely intact and carefully followed as the markets have changed and evolved around it. Informatica does not ignore those market changes, but continually seeks and works to redefine how the market perceives it and its offerings within the latest paradigms. It does not ignore important changes and trends, nor does it pander to them. At its own bottom line, Informatica resolutely remains the same: Focused on data integration.