Ample space for BI data: 5GB in the cloud (screenshot: SAP)
On-Demand Software for BI Beginners
With its new software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution, SAP is making business intelligence functionality affordable. SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemand is now available in three variants – including the free Personal Edition.
SAP is making it even easier to get started in business intelligence: With SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemand, the company is bringing to market rentable software based on SAP BusinessObjects Explorer. The solution offers many of the same advantages as the software at its foundation, including access to easily understandable business intelligence for those who have little or no previous experience with analytical tools (click here for a detailed article on SAP BusinessObjects Explorer). However, instead of pulling data from the memory of an SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse Accelerator system, SAP BusinessObjects BI OnDemand stores its information in the SAP cloud.
Customers can select a price model that offers the amount of data storage they need. While the free Personal Edition (available at www.ondemand.com) includes a fairly limited 10 megabytes and 2,000 data rows, those who opt for Essential Edition will have two gigabytes at their disposal.
Advanced Edition, meanwhile, provides more space (five gigabytes), more security features, a development environment, and the option of integrating locally stored data. Additional functions such as single sign-on are to be added later this year. SAP has also indicated that the cost of the software will be in line with “other popular SaaS solutions.”