Mathworks Matlab R2019b
September 2019
“Who are JMP’s competitors? (maybe we have them in narrow areas) — but there is nothing else like it.
Who is as interactive?
Who else does as great a job at DOE?
Who does analysis faster and bigger on the desktop?
Who else does Graph Builder as well?
No one, because JMP is truly unique in the crowded marketplace.” -John Sall
Company
- MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software for engineers and scientists. Founded in 1984 with headquarters in Natick, MA, MathWorks employs over 4500 people, has 32 global locations, is in over 100,000 organizations and claims more than 4 million users. In July 2019, they announced they were expanding their presence in India.
Product
- Most notable products: MATLAB and Simulink. MATLAB is a commercial "Matrix Laboratory" package, which operates as an interactive programming environment. MATLAB is well-adapted to numerical experimentation and design since the underlying algorithms are routinely accessible and can be grabbed as blocks of code to build custom programs. Simulink is a block diagram environment for multi-domain simulation and model-based design.
- MATLAB and Simulink are sold as base software modules with limited features: A full listing of products and toolboxes are available at http://www.mathworks.com/products/. Note: A concurrent license at one point in time was four times the price of a user-based or PC-based individual license. That's important to know as one competitive toolset (to JMP) could be MATLAB and the Statistics toolbox, which is ~$3,000 in total for one user.
- Main toolbox groupings for MATLAB include: Math and Optimization (Curve Fitting, Optimization, etc.); AI, Data Science and Statistics (Statistics and Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Text Analytics, etc.); Code Generation (MATLAB Coder, Embedded Coder, etc.); Application Deployment (MATLAB Compiler, MATLAB Production Server, etc.); Database Access and Reporting. Simulink includes Event-Based Modeling; Physical Modeling; Real-Time Simulation and Testing; Code Generation; Verification, Validation and Test; and Simulation Graphics and Reporting.
- New feature highlights in Matlab R2019b released in March of 2019:
- New Reinforcement Learning Toolbox to enhance the workflow for AI.
- Enhanced graphing capabilities.
- More external language interfaces, including Python.
- Performance and app-building enhancements.
Target Audience
- They primarily sell to engineers and scientists.
Feature Strength and JMP Response
- Wide and deep feature set. Mature IDE. MATLAB programming taught in engineering schools. Learning the MATLAB programming language is easier to learn than other languages. Videos to watch: MATLAB and Simulink. RESPONSE: Many MATLAB and Simulink capabilities don’t overlap JMP features. JMP provides an interface to MATLAB to leverage a customer’s existing MATLAB investment and engineering models.
Feature Weaknesses and JMP Response
- Steep learning curve, especially if customer has aversion to coding. Core MATLAB use requires proficiency in MATLAB language. Core MATLAB functions do not compete with core JMP statistical and data visualization tools. Matrix-based variable structure is not as easy to use as JMP table structure. That said, the MATLAB Compiler can be used to make an easy-to-use interface such that the end user wouldn’t need to know any code. In addition, those knowledgeable of both MATLAB and JMP indicate the drag-and-drop creation of user interfaces is easier that JMP’s Application Builder. RESPONSE: Position JMP strengths, and show how MATLAB users can leverage Graph Builder, Application Builder for custom control interface, Add-Ins, “wrap” MATLAB code, DOE tools, and agility of JMP as a compliment to MATLAB IDE.
Opportunities for JMP
- There are more than 4 million users of MATLAB worldwide. MathWorks revenue was $1 billion in 2018 with 60% from outside the US. Organizations that provide MATLAB for their employees have demonstrated that they are not afraid to invest in software.
- There are more than 500 third-party solutions that build on MATLAB and Simulink. One strategy would be to identify these solution providers and get them interested in JMP and using JMP to augment their MATLAB/Simulink custom apps.
- The cost of licensing JMP can be less than adding on the statistics toolbox for MATLAB when there are > 2 licenses of JMP – a good talking point if the customer has only a base MATLAB installation. See pricing below.
- Often MATLAB shops have one department building applications (GUIs). This is core MATLAB functionality. Typically, they compile the application and use it for the whole organization. The minimum cost is estimated at US$5500 for an individual license of the MATLAB Compiler, plus ~US$2150 for a MATLAB individual license, plus any toolboxes they are using. Depending on the model of the organization, this may be an opportunity or a threat. Opportunity if you can equip the ‘consumers’ with interest in Ad Hoc data exploration and visualization.
Threats for JMP
- MATLAB shops may be reluctant to consider new tools – the “we have programmers for that” mentality. Expert MATLAB users may be reluctant to use a new tool – “I can do everything in MATLAB already.”
- MATLAB software maintenance price is about 10-20% buying price, which is about half what we ask for an AL of JMP. This is an important point. Also, if a MATLAB user does not renew their licenses, they can still use MATLAB (locked into the current version), up to the end of the supported hardware. MATLAB is bought, not rented.
Pricing
- An individual perpetual license of MATLAB is US$2,150. Simulink is $3,250. (Academic pricing is $500 for each.)
- Concurrent, network and group licensing pricing are not available on line.
- Pricing and licensing discussions with MATLAB shops are not the best strategy here. Rather position the strengths of the interface and de-emphasize talking about pricing and licensing. This is mainly FYI, so you know what to expect when going into a MATLAB shop.
Competitive references
- The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its more than 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 50 countries. The users at Robert Bosch use many different tools. They are heavy MATLAB users, have an enterprise license of Minitab, use Visual Excel and Excel, as well many other tools developed in house. There are several experts who develop MATLAB Add-ins for the broad mass, so everyone can use the calculations (mainly without graphics). Their interest in JMP came up because of another JMP customer (Autoliv) they worked with. JMP found its place especially for life distribution analysis, where they have to handle defective subgroups. They do risk analysis on quality data and try to answer how many defects they are likely to expect. Before JMP they did the Defective Subgroup Weibull distribution by hand which was cumbersome and time consuming. In addition, they like the JSL scripting and after the first successful projects they would like to look deeper into the JMP/MATLAB connection via JSL.
- US Air Force HQ AFOTEC -- Under orders from the US Department of Defense to beef up its use of statistical analysis and design of experiments, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Command (AFOTEC) recently added 45 licenses of JMP. AFOTEC is responsible for operational testing of all Air Force systems and platforms – planes, weapons, etc. JMP had been used in pockets of the organization, but there was a lack of consistency in usage and versions. The technical director of AFOTEC HQ wanted to standardize on JMP 11 and get it into the hands of more analysts. As a result of the sale, the JMP footprint at AFOTEC has increased from 80 to 125 licenses, or by more than 50 percent. To move the sale along, the JMP team collaborated with another AFOTEC consultant, the Institute for Defense Analysis, to brief AFOTEC headquarters personnel on the advantages of standardizing on JMP 11, stressing its capabilities for definitive screening designs and MATLAB integration. Then they got Network Security Approval of JMP 11 from the Air Force. “That led to them seeking and securing funding for a procurement to consolidate and upgrade the licenses and a follow-on JMP 11 training session for all of AFOTEC, which we just delivered Sept. 9,” said Tyler Johnson. The fact that Adsurgo, another AFOTEC consultant, uses JMP in its DOE training at all AFOTEC sites provided additional validation.
- Medtronic – They are using MATLAB and JMP together.
