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Friday, 20 September 2013

Comparison :- Business Objects vs QlikView



Features of QlikView :-

  1. Self-service
  2. In-memory performance
  3. A lot of the components that you can place on a dashboard, i.e. filters, sliders etc. are handy.
  4. Export to Excel, PDF.
  5. Extremely fast data visualization. We can go from a high level view to the most granular detail in seconds.
  6. Associative search -- there are no pre-defined drill paths. You can visually explore the data and go anywhere you want. You do not have to drill down.and then back up. It makes the data exploration much easier.
  7. Very strong data loading capabilities.
  8. QlikView is really a platform that you can extend. You can incorporate it into web pages, integrate it with the R open source engine, build custom extensions, etc.
  9. QlikView has a "green, white, grey" color scheme. Green is what I selected, white is what is included in that data set, and grey is what is excluded. It is a powerful visualization tool that can show you what is included as well as what is excluded. For data junkies, it is an excellent tool.
  10. Very suitable if users have both development and analytical capacity. Great sharing functionalities among small group of users.
  11. Good for inter-connectivity among different data sources and tools such as Postgres DB, Excel, etc. Ability to query database directly is a huge advantage.
  12. Dynamic reporting functionality with automated scheduled jobs works well across departments, especially where there are end-users that are not Qlikview developers.
  13. Very nice and thoughtful UI. Most business end-users love it because it's intuitive.
  14. With "in-memory", everything that gets consumed from a dashboard is loaded in memory so it is incredibly fast. Although Qlik touts its mobile distribution capabilities. Microsoft and BO do have in-memory capabilities now
  15. The associative model is patented by QlikView. Basically it starts to understand the associations in your data, e.g. if A=B and B=C, then A=C. It means you can build a Qlikview model very quickly. In traditional data warehousing, you work with users and understand their requirements, refine the data model, start to physicality it, tune it, build ETLs. It's a 3 month at best delivery cycle.
  16. It link things up. If it doesn't work, you can change things very quickly. You don’t have to write data definition language.

Some Drawbacks of QlikView:-

  1. Where you get into trouble, is if you load very large data sets into QlikView, memory not as abundant. They are releasing a tool called data explorer which allows you to do a hybrid approach – load some in memory and some in database. If data is going into frequently used dashboards it goes into memory. 
  2. If infrequent access is required and the data set is very large, it makes sense to leave it in the database.
  3. Not good for sharing across a medium-to-large organizations and among mixed user groups, some of whom may not have developer's licence to access apps directly. Even if an app is shared as a web-based version, users have little power to make changes and must always rely on developers on the smallest revisions.
  4. As a developer, quite unpredictable and erratic in the way it handles data. For example, Qlikview will always try to connect fields among different tables without being told that they are the same, so its associative model is sometimes is erratic. Qlikview is trying to be helpful here but that's not how it should work.
  5. Another development issue with Qlikview is with the chart/object property box. It is not intuitive the way they've grouped the various functionalities in different tabs. This makes simple tasks confusing and frustrating. Things that should be found under "Axes", for example, are found in "Numbers" or "Presentation". It took me a year to learn where things are. I think Qlikview should learn from Excel on this.
  6. Can be quite buggy if one tries to do a few things at the same times such as running SQL, reading from external data tables, running incremental loads, and creating variables in load script, not to mention using complex functions and set analyses for the front end. This means it doesn't help with business continuity when people leave their job and an app changes hands.
  7. Problem with Qlikview can increase with the datasize grow rapidly. Qlikview has certain limitation to store 2 billion rows of data .but they are overcoming to this problem with putting off the data to hardrive only data required for visual would be in RAM.
  8. Performance tuning explain plans don’t exist.
  9. Documentation is not so good.
  10. the governance and meta data management is not great. 
  11. Alternate Hierarchies- No concept of Alternate Hierarchies.
  12. Qlikview lack in security features too. basically its not having group and roles kind of security structure that Business Objects strongly support.
so this was the QlikView with its features and drawbacks or can say where QlikView need to be improved.
To know about the Business Objects you can go to Whats New in SAP Business Objects 4.x this can tell you about the what business objects has to offer in its latest version.

The main difference that i see with Qlikview and Business Objects is .Qlikview faster development process,In memory capabilities but its lacks in a proper enterprise reporting solution.

Below is the table that compare Business Objects and QlikView across several points:-

#ProductBusiness ObjectsQlik View
AProduct
1ProductBusiness ObjectsQlikView: World's Fastest Growing BI tool. With 10.3 customers being added every working day.
2VendorSAPQlikTech
QlikView is an IN-memory based BI tool which can be deployed in a week's time. It comes at HALF the TCO and delivers TWICE the value compared to any OLAP based BI Solution In QUARTER of the TIME
CApplications
1Business intelligenceYesQlikView is a single integrated tool for ETL, DW, Multi Dimensional Analysis, Dash boarding, Reporting, as per the Butler group user takes couple of hours training instead of weeks taken by traditional OLAP based tools
2Multi dimensional view
3Strategic planningYes
4BudgetingYes
5ForecastingYes
6ConsolidationYes
7Score cardingYes
DHardware and Licenses
1Warehousing is (Mandate/ Optional)MandateNOT REQUIRED, One of the major advantage of using QlikView is, it does not require database which saves money and very well skilled human resource. With no data warehouse required QlikView can be implemented in a couple of weeks saving a lot of TIME, MONEY AND RESOURCES.
2Server Licenses(Named/CPU)NamedNamed
3User Licenses (Name/Concurrent/Unlimited)NamedNamed
4Web UsersUnlimitedUser lic
5If preparatory Database specify (Technical and Methodology)NONO: QlikView uses its integrated Robust ETL to Extract data from multiple data sources and forms a data repository using its patented Technology (AQL: Associative Query Logic) This technology overcomes the efforts and time required to build data warehouse, normalization, schema writing, creation of cubes. And Empowers the customer to be independent of the vendor to create and use analytics
ETechnology
1Supported databaseAny OLEDB, ODBC complains which covers althea database in the world today + FLAT FILE, WEBFILE. TEXT FILE DELIMITED FILE. ALSO WORKS WITH SYBASE
Microsoft SQL ServerYY
OracleYY
Pervasive SQLYY
IBM DB2YY
InformixYY
AccessYY
FoxProYY
ProgressYY
MySQLYY
2Supported networks
MicrosoftYYES
LinuxYY TO CONNECT TO THE DATABASE
UnixYY TO CONNECT TO THE DATABASE
AIXYY TO CONNECT TO THE DATABASE
Novell NetwareY TO CONNECT TO THE DATABASE
IBM AS/400 (OS/400)YY TO CONNECT TO THE DATABASE
3Development tools used to build applicationNO THIRD PARTY DEVELOPMENT TOOL REQUIRED. THE CUSTOMER BECOMES VENDOR INDEPENDENT FOR ANY NEW APPLICATION/ CHANGES REQUIRED
4Report writer used - which one(s)?CrystalNO THIRD PARTY TOOL REQUIRED
5Data Extract Transform Load (ETL) tools - which one(s)?All Major ETL Tools (bobj Data Integrator)NOT REQUIRED: QLIK VIEW HAS ITS OWN ROBUST ETL INTEGRATED AS A QLIKVIEW SUITE. THE ETL IS WIZARD DRIVEN CAN BE LEARNT IN A FEW DAYS AND OPERATED BY CUSTOMER HENCE EMPOWER THEMSLEF TO CREAT OWN APPLICATION AS AND WHEN DEMAND ARISES
6Cubes supported - which one(s)?All Major OLAPIN ADDITION TO ITS OWN DATA REPOSITORY QLIKVIEW SUPPORTS ALL MAJOR OLAP CUBES
7Existing integration to accounting and ERP systems - which systems?SAP, PeopleSoft, JDE, SSA Global/BAAN, Portal integration kitsALL ODBC COMPLAINT DATABASE(all the current database in the market) IRRISPECTIVE OF THEIR FRONT END, SAP USING A SAP CERTIFIED CONNECTOR
8Existing integration to customer relationship management systems - which systems?SiebelBY MEANS OF THE GLOBAL STANDARD ODBC, OLEDB CONNECTIONS (all major crm system)
9Existing integration to payroll systems - which systems?All Payroll systems on an ODBC data source.BY MEANS OF THE WORLD STANDARD ODBC, OLEDB CONNECTIONS( all major payroll system)
10Existing integration to HRMS systems - which systems?All Payroll systems on an ODBC data source.BY MEANS OF THE WORLD STANDARD ODBC, OLEDB CONNECTIONS (all major hr system)
FFeatures
1Analytic functionalityYesYES
2Bubble up exceptionsYesThis feature is better handled where the exceptions are managed at the lower level and not popped to the upper layer and confuses the user. However all precautions are taken to handle the exceptions efficiently.
3Drill downYesYES
4Drill through to source dataYesDRILL DOWN TO THE TRANSACTIOANL LEVEL. AS AGAINST TO THE AGREGATED DATA IN CASE OF OLAP BASED APPLICATIONS
5RankingYesYES
6SortingYesYES
7Restrict results by date range YesYES
8Includes dashboardYesYES
9Time trending (for example, over 12 months)YesYES AS MANY YEARS AS THE DATABASE HOLDS
10Pareto filtering (automatically groups the categories that amount to less than 20% of a row or column total into "other")YesYES
11CalculationsYesYES
12CountsYesYES
13Percentage of totalYesYES
14AllocationsYesYES
15Total and Sub-totalYesYES
16Create OLAP cubesYesNOT REQUIRED
17Data extraction and transformation toolsYesINTEGRATED
18Incremental extractionYesYES
19Impact analysis - objects impacted by changeYesYES
20Can schedule process to run overnightYesYES
21FormattingYesYES
22By dimensionYesYES: N DIMENTION
23By levelYesYES
24By cellYesYES
25Zero-row suppressionYesZERO/NULL FIELD SUPPRESSION
26Conditional formatting by cell, e.g., highlight cells below thresholdYesYES
27Returns text (e.g., if value > 90, returns "excellent")YesYES
28French versionYesUNICODE: CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN ANY LANGUAGE
29ScreensYesYES
30ReportsYesYES
31DocumentationYesYES
32MetadataYesYES
33OLAP functionalityYesNOT REQUIRED
34Skip missing levels - support ragged dimensionsYesYES
35Write backYesNO
36With audit trailYesYES
37Includes charting toolsYesYES
38Access multiple cubes at a timeYesYES
39Excel clientYesYES
40Internet Explorer clientYesYES
41Netscape clientYesFirefox
42Geographical representation YesYES
43Drag and dropYesYES
44Attach notes to cubeYesCUBES NOT REQUIRED SAVES TIME AND MONEY
45Attach notes to cellsYesCELLS NOT REQUIRED SAVES TIME AND MONEY
46Password securityYesYES: UP TO THE FIELD LEVEL( BETTER THAN THE LISTING BELOW)
47By companyYesYES
48By department or divisionYesYES
49By menuYesYES
50By function (view, add, change, delete)YesYES
51By dimensionYesYES
52By levelYesYES
53By cellYesYES
54Respect active directory authenticationYesYES: CAN BE INTEGRATED WITH ACTIVE DIRETORY AUTHENTICATION FOR A SINGLE LOG ON PER USER
55Respect database securityYesYES
56Portal generation that includes HTML reportsYesYES
57Report writerYesNOT REQUIRED: INTEGRATED FEATURE
58Web-basedYesYES
59Generate cubeYesNOT REQUIRED: OVERCOMES CUBE DRAWBACKS
60Drag and dropYesYES
61WYSIWYG report designYesYES
62TechnologyYesYES (AQL)
63API-enabled (SDK provided) YesYES
64Web-based (only need browser at client)YesYES
65For entire applicationYesYES
66Support for .NET web servicesYesYES
67Support for Java web servicesYesYES
68Transfer data to:Yesyes
69Report writerYesQLIKVIEW IS NOT A REPPORT WRITER HOW EVER IT SUPPORTS GENERTING REPORTS AND THIS FEATURE IS INTEGRATED PART OF QLIKVIEW.
70ExcelYesYES
71PivotTableYesYES
72HTMLYesYES
73PDFYesYES
74PowerPointYesCOPY PASTE (CTRL+C, CTRL+V)
75XMLYesYES
76ViewsYesYES
77CrosstabsYesYES
78ChartsYesYES
79Both crosstabs and chart at the same timeYesYES
80Work flowYesOpen to function with third party tools
81Alerts can be automatically triggeredYesYES IN THE FORM OF POPUPS AND CAN BE USED TO AUTOMATE SENDING OF MAILS, ACTIVATE/RUN OTHER APPLICATIONS
82Dynamically summarizing data without having to rebuild data?ANALYSIS AT TRANSACTION LEVEL, WITH DRILL DOWN CAPABILITY FROM THE CONSOLIDATED ANALYSIS
83Ability to pre-calculate results (aggregate) when they are available, or dynamically generating result from atomic information when necessaryYES
84Ability to control and design cube aggregationsDOES NOT REQUIRE CUBES WHICH CAN HANDLE 3-10 DIMENTIONS ONLY. QLIKVIEW IS BASED ON AQL THAT CAN HANDLE AS MANY DIMENTIONS AS THE FILEDS AVAILABLE
85Ability to monitor cube performance and tune the cube aggregations accordinglyDOES NOT REQUIRE CUBES WHICH CAN HANDLE 3-10 DIMENTIONS ONLY. QLIKVIEW IS BASED ON AQL THAT CAN HANDLE AS MANY DIMENTIONS AS THE FILEDS AVAILABLE
86Can the cube be built using either of ROLAPMOLAP, HOLAP techniquesDOES NOT REQUIRE CUBES WHICH CAN HANDLE 3-10 DIMENTIONS ONLY. QLIKVIEW IS BASED ON AQL THAT CAN HANDLE AS MANY DIMENTIONS AS THE FILEDS AVAILABLE
87A hybrid database that stores data in relational form and multidimensional form, as appropriateQLIKVIEW DOES NOT NEED THIRD PARY DATABASE.
88Is 'What-if" analysis supportedYES
89GUI based Data Mining CapabilitiesYES
90Enterprise PlatformYES
Statistical Analytical ModelingYES
91StatisticsYES
92Data & Text MiningYES
93Model Management & Deployment
94ForecastingYES
95EconometricsYES
96Quality Improvement
97Operations Research
98Data QualityAQL TAKES BUSINESS INTELEGENCE ONE STEP FURTHER THAN THE TREDITIONAL DATA WAREHOUSE ARCHITECHTURE - OLAP BASED SOLUTIONS
Initial implementation time1/10 time than Cognos and BO
Initial implementation cost1/6 time to implement than Cognos or BO
Time to proficiencyOnly five day Application development training required. Time to become proficient is in days not in month that is 1/6 than Cognos and BI
Project Success rate98 % in Comparison to 38 % in OLAP based BI Software.
TCO1/2 than any BI tool
ValueTwice than Cognos and BO

1 comment:

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