Vanguard Software is a Stand Out in the 2009 OR/MS Today Optimization Software Survey

Vanguard Stands Out among Competitors as the Only Web-based Optimization Solution

Cary, NC – July 1, 2009 – Two Vanguard Software packages, the Business Analytics Suite^™ and Vanguard System^™, were distinguished by OR/MS Today's Tenth Annual Linear Programming Software Survey as the only software solutions that can run models as an interactive Web application. Both Vanguard packages support linear programming (LP) but are unique in the optimization software market because they also support innovative features such as collaborative modeling, Web-based delivery, and advanced algorithms for optimizing business decisions that are difficult to model. LP optimization models built in Vanguard can be published as live Web applications without any Web programming. This makes it possible to run optimizations and receive instant Web reports from anywhere in the world using a standard Web browser.

LP is a powerful decision optimization technique that automatically finds the most efficient allocation of resources for businesses. The applications of LP are varied and include supply chain plans, inventory holdings, investment decisions, product mix optimization, and more.

Vanguard's LP modeling interface allows users to define decisions, business objectives, and resource constraints in plain English form enabling both technical and non-technical users alike to build optimization models. Portability and scalability limitations encountered in most LP software packages are overcome because Vanguard-built optimization models can run as components in other business processes and because Vanguard allows for an unlimited number of decision variables and constraints. What's more, Vanguard can be integrated with existing business systems such as databases, enterprise applications, and even spreadsheets.

Although not discussed in the survey, Vanguard supports other optimization techniques in addition to LP such as integer programming, non-linear optimization, and stochastic optimization. Vanguard's Stochastic Optimizer can be used to solve any optimization problem, including those with uncertain parameters (i.e. simulations). There are no requirements regarding linearity, discontinuities, if/then logic, or other model characteristics that restrict the applicability and use of virtually all other optimization tools.

Information about the Vanguard Business Analytics Suite can be found on the Business Analytics Suite^™ product page. Information on Web-based Optimization and the Vanguard System can be found on the Optimization Add-in product page.

OR/MS Today is the magazine for the members of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS). The survey and accompanying article can be found at: http://www.lionhrtpub.com/ORMS.shtml

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About Vanguard Software

Vanguard Software is a privately held corporation founded in 1995 to develop business Decision Support software. Customers in over 60 countries and in every major industry use Vanguard’s software for forecasting, resource optimization, Web-based expert systems, and financial modeling. For more information about Vanguard, visit http://www.vanguardsw.com/.