Sagent Technology has announced Sagent DirectLink for SAP, a direct extraction technology for SAP R/3 that will enable users to report on and analyse SAP data.
This is the first step in Sagent`s long-term strategy to support SAP customers` business intelligence needs. Future efforts will include integrating Sagent`s Data Mart Solution with SAP`s Business Information Warehouse.
Sagent DirectLink for SAP removes the complex processes and programming previously required to extract SAP data for reporting and data analysis. It provides users with the ability to easily map, extract and transform business data from SAP R/3 into the Sagent Data Mart Solution quickly and easily - giving them greater control of and quicker access to their data.
"From my experience, SAP users often feel that their data is locked away," says Ralph Kimball, president of Ralph Kimball Associates. "They want to be able to get their data out of the system and perform query, analysis and reporting. Until now, the alternatives for getting access to SAP data have required special programming resources, and pose a performance hit. Sagent DirectLink for SAP will really help users leverage the data in their SAP systems for decision support."
As the only direct extraction solution for SAP R/3, Sagent DirectLink for SAP automatically extracts data from SAP R/3 by going directly against the complex SAP R/3 table environment without the need to generate complicated code, the Advanced Business Application Programming (ABAP). This direct approach delivers high performance when extracting large amounts of data from an R/3 environment.
"After studying the ways SAP customers were trying to access their data, we concluded that ABAP was too slow for large data transfers to star schemas, says Ken Gardner, president and CEO of Sagent. "It`s clear that SAP customers want to gain control of their data. Sagent DirectLink for SAP is a very compelling product for the SAP customer."
Taming R/3 complexity
Sagent DirectLink for SAP consists of a graphical metadata browser coupled with advanced data transformation technology, enabling customers to penetrate the complexity of R/3. By automatically translating the underlying R/3 table structure, the metadata browser demystifies R/3 for both technical and business users. Table names can be instantly "toggled" from physical code names to English. With the structure of the R/3 database represented in business terms, SAP R/3 data can be readily exploited with Sagent Data Mart.
In addition, Sagent DirectLink for SAP enables organisations with heterogeneous computing environments to combine data from SAP and non-SAP systems and consolidate it across the enterprise, providing a single, integrated decision support environment.
Once users gain access to their SAP data, they can take advantage of Sagent Data Mart for a range of leading decision support capabilities.
Sagent Data Mart comprises software that integrates products for building, managing, and accessing Web-based data marts, as well as professional services to guide users through the design and implementation process.
* Sagent is represented in South Africa by 360 Solutions.
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