On 9 February 2010, Bentley Systems, a privately owned software and solutions vendor that targets infrastructure design and operations organizations (such as buildings, transportation, energy and water infrastructure) announced that it has acquired Enterprise Informatics, a master data management (MDM) vendor. Enterprise Informatics also focuses on MDM for asset-oriented industries with needs for design, construction and operational use cases, most commonly in the nuclear, oil and gas, and physical infrastructure industries. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This deal continues the recent flurry of acquisitions and investments in the MDM market. Again, a software and solutions vendor has secured intellectual property that will help it defend and develop a niche aspect of MDM; in this case, infrastructure asset-oriented MDM. This acquisition unites core data management capabilities with business application functions for a specific industry segment, tying MDM to content data management. Closer integration between hitherto separate solutions will enhance users' investments by enabling their applications to use more reliable, accurate and consistent data.

Enterprise Informatics has a unique offering in the market: It focuses on MDM of asset data as well as on mastery of content often related to structured data. (Generally, MDM limits itself to the customer and product master data domains.) In March 2009, Gartner flagged Enterprise Informatics as a Cool Vendor in the MDM market that had no relationships with software vendors and was a likely acquisition target (see "Cool Vendors in Master Data Management, 2009"). This small vendor has an estimated 200 licensed customers of its product, enterprise Bridge (eB). Those customers and the company as a whole will likely benefit from this acquisition, as Bentley says it plans to put eB at the center of a new line of business and thus will likely increase its investment in the eB platform.

Enterprise Informatics functions will be added to Bentley's new line of business, AssetWise, a software platform offering tools to manage existing infrastructure and asset information as well as the asset life cycle from concept, design and development to operations and retirement. Mastering asset data is critical to this capability. Bentley will also continue selling eB as a stand-alone product, though also as part of the AssetWise platform along with other solutions. Bentley states it will assume established support agreements, and that over time, it will increase investment and further the product road map.

• Enterprises seeking MDM of asset data capabilities: Include Bentley in your evaluations if you seek to govern and manage asset-oriented master data, especially if that data is both structured and unstructured. The industry-oriented focus of this offering offers greater capabilities than other MDM solutions focused on customers or products.
• Enterprise Informatics customers: Your investment in your MDM supplier is likely to be protected. Work with Bentley to determine the emerging product strategy and road map. Expect these details to be published within the next four months; if they are not, ask for further details and investment plans.

"Cool Vendors in Master Data Management, 2009"— In March 2009, Gartner identified Enterprise Informatics as a Cool Vendor because it offered a converged approach to content management and MDM. By John Radcliffe and Andrew White

"Vendor Guide: Master Data Management, 2009"— Gartner highlights the primary groups and vendors addressing core MDM, as well as the supporting technologies used in this fast-evolving market. By Andrew White, John Radcliffe and Debbie Wilson

(You may need to sign in or be a Gartner client to access the documents referenced in this First Take.)