Marketing softco Unica wins web analytics task for IBM

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but securing such a big-name customer further underscores the importance of the web analytics business line to the company’s revenues, as highlighted by CEO Yuchun Lee (pictured) in announcing the company’s fiscal 2009 results earlier this week.

Lee said the analytics segment of the market continues to be “an important driver” for Unica’s subscription-based business, which increased revenue by 46% to $20m for the year ended 30 September. Overall group revenue fell 17% to $100.6m as perpetual licence revenue halved and services revenue fell 15%.

Unica reported an operating loss for the year of $22.5m, compared to a loss of $3.4m in 2008. Finance chief Kevin Shone said the economic environment had been very challenging in 2009 and the company is expecting this to continue into 2010. “However,” he said, “we are optimistic that Unica’s revenue will return to growth and that profitability margins will expand on a full-year basis.”