SAS Business Intelligence Review

PROS: I think that SAS BI is the jack of all trades, and I used to think this even when the product was simply SAS's compute engine. I see serious improvement now, especially since I started using their amazing storage capacity, the portal, and the information road map. For me, SAS BI means that I can create websites on any topic, at any time; and I want prospective users to understand that this is a tool that will make them more powerful!

CONS: Even if SAS BI provides for managing data and content, the overall process is not synchronized. I miss an organized workflow as the one a system administrator is supposed to have, and I wish less administrative tasks were performed by me (sometimes, I don't even feel like I'm benefiting from the system). Together with the lack of consistency, I mind not having a bird-eye on employees and information, and I don't see too much effort on promoting governance (maybe just Metadata and OS Security). Being familiar with SAS for years, I understand why all of this is happening: SASs are made for individuals, not teams, and the developers obvioulsy saw no reason to change this in BI.

PROS: SAS Business Intelligence is very powerful, having in mind all those beautiful and advanced tools you get to use against a modest price. The thing that makes it shine, however, is the speed of performing complex analytics and drafting statistical reports, and of course the flexibility that allows you to customize it to work for the specific needs of your business.

CONS: Building queries is awesome, but I can't say the same about sharing. I dislike sharing as an option, and I think there should be less people involved in working with sensitive information.

PROS: We are using base SAS, and we are abolutely satisifed with the statistical techniques coverage. SAS works with a developed programming syntax, fairly simple and easy to learn compared to similar softwares and their high-level languages. The thing that makes it shine, though, is the rich library of predefined users and functions, and the macro programming which covers a large scope of local and global variables. Overall, a well-planned product!

CONS: I was comparing it with SQL, and even if perceive it as a statistically powerful tool, I can't bet it is the best in terms of exporting and manipulating information. For instance, if you want to merge two different datasets, you have to open and review each set separately, unlike SQL that does this at the very moment.

PROS: I think SAS BI is a fantastic product, and I am especially grateful for the Data Visualization Package they are offering. Being able to have an eye on all data was a blessing for my work, due the fact that I'm holding a representative position, and I have to deliver multiple presentations and reports every day. The shift from traditional SAS software to this one was not as difficult as I expected it to be, and I learned how to use the program very fast.

CONS: I was honestly overwhelmed by features at the beginning, and it scared me. I gues this happens to every novice users, advanced coders shouldn't have an issue with it.

PROS: If there is one BI tool you could prescribe unconditional power to, that's SAS Business Intelligence. I worked on its development, but I'm being realistic, rather than biased, and I am stating facts. SAS dives deep inside the core of complex analytics, and transforms them into few lines of coding. I'll mention large contract research organizations as the best end-users (they used to be our prototype community), because I've seen them deliver listings they used to generate millions of times, with a single click.

CONS: Its syntax is honestly one of the hardest languages I've worked it, and it automatically triggers a long and painful learning process. However, you need to understand that you're doing this for your own good, and you need to adopt the system in order to harvest the fruits. Another serious drawback is price: There is no such thing as SAS BI for free, and transitions can dry your pocket if you're not a fast learner.

PROS: SAS has a lot to offer compared to similar business intelligence products, which is why it ranks so high in this industry. I've seen it perform marvelously, and I can guarantee that it is capable of performing all actions between tricky ETL work and the final creation of information boards. I'd recommend it to large companies in particular, because I believe it can do some serious metadata management, and to display and screen every semantic layer and structure at the very moment when such thing is requested.

CONS: I was a little bit unmotivated when I heard the licensing price, and I believe such thing will push away a lot of small/mid-sized companies looking for their first BI software. Another annoying thing you will meet in this program is talent shortage, even if providing such is essential for every business intelligence tool. I am already using it, and I don't want to look back, but I am absolutely convinced that installation was more difficult than it would be with any similar product. I think that some serious SQL knowledge is necessary here to cover the problem.

PROS: We are discussing a very robust system that can no longer justify unnecessary delays in doing complex analytics, but time is not all there is to it. SAS BI is enriched with most advanced features, which you could use to maximise your productivity assuming that you have certain business knowledge. For what I know, SAS BI handles large data loads easily, takes no time, and offers reliable customer support at any moment.

CONS: It' not exactly a pie to those who come without experience, I'd rather put it in the hands of someone doing advanced coding. The other way is to undergo a long learning curve, potentially dealing with a lot of research to root problems and difficulties out. Besides, SAS uses a specific coding language, and I'm not really sure that SQL experience would be valuable in the case. Once you start using it, you will see that you're not relying on some admirable support for distributed systems and chunk processing. the final disadvantage is paying for the program, I guess we all hate the fact that it is not free.

PROS: I don't think I can explain every feature of this product enough to capture is value via text, and I'd kindly ask you to compare between users from various sectors in order to have the full picture. My role is the role of an overwhelmed user, who had the chance to familiarize even with the most complex features of this system, and to learn how to modify them in order to reduce the burden BI staff is already carrying. Overall, I like how it has eniched my analyses, providing me access to accurate reporting and store processes I didn't have before.

CONS: Inserting credentials whenever a new serie of clients is created. I know this is nothing important, but just to mention something. Who knows, maybe BI developers will read this after all, and they'll consider my request.

PROS: SAS BI has what one would call a predicatble analytic suite, managing data mining in a seamless and powerful manner. There are many features to like about the system, but my personal favorites are: In Memory Statistics (Visual Statistics and Visual Analytics), Enterprise Miner, Enterprise Guide, BI Dashboard, Information Map Studio, Web Report, and OLAP Cube Studio.

CONS: I am not such a fan of SAS's Access to Hadoop interface, both in terms of aesthetics and capacities. I believe that for a modern concept and technology like Hadoop, there should be a stable and intuitive interface (I was using Guinea Ping, for instance, because this was an absolute breakthrough in the industry).

PROS: I was not familiar with BI software at all, so it was a pleasant surprise to discover that I can do analytics with basic SQL knowledge. Learners are happy to count on a program like this, since there are a lot of documents available online, and a responsive customer support to deal with all sorts of inquires. I must say that my questions were that complex and I thought nobody could solve them, but it turned out SAS has a fantastic support team. Coding happens simply and in few lines, and you're allowed to build your own macros.

CONS: SAS is a contemporary tool, but the UI is not close to the meaning of contemporary at all. It is rather clunky and outdated, and I can't understand why they are not fixing it…I mean, I'm not such a design freak after all, but snapping windows and rearranging elements shouldn't be that hard. I know that certain level of customization is included in higher plans, but the price is not exactlly as friendly as to let me upgrade whenever I decide.