Overall Satisfaction with SAS Analytics
We utilize SAS first and foremost to construct and implement multiple predictive models across our business units. Not only does it allow for quick and easy model construction, but the time it takes to cleanse the data between large or small datasets is relatively similar so dataset size is not an issue. In addition, we are also in the early stages of using SAS and SAS Office Analytics to create an intelligent reporting platform via Microsoft Office products and the SAS Web Portal. This allows our organization to traffic important data and information to non-SAS users through automated processes. SAS also has impeccable format style making the final drafts look very nice and easy to understand. SAS Enterprise Guide is our point and click interface that allows power users to access the full potential of SAS without needing to know coding off hand, but can also choose to do so if need be. We can also access any datasource using the ODBC connection that comes with SAS Office Analytics so accessing the data from any server or database is not an issue at all.
- Predictive Analytics
- Business Intelligence
- Report Automation
- Statistical Analysis
- Expanded point and click options under the data tab.
- Better resource information to help with circumstantial issues (i.e. graphing).
- Better scoring, better work sloping, better ROI for every dollar spent.
- Automation of information through Task Scheduler.
- Increased professionalism of final reports.
- Shorter time having to cleanse data.
SAS allows the user a wider range of capabilities to cleanse and manipulate the data. Not only can the data be pulled directly into SAS, but before it is finalized it can be transposed, graphed, or altered in any way imaginable which puts it a step above the Business Objects and Crystal Reports. Not only that, but full reports can be created in SAS allowing the user to expand on the presentation of the data using charts, graphs, or lists. In addition, all SAS projects can be automated to update at a time chosen by the user which allows them to focus on other projects rather than on manually running projects repeatedly.
Using SAS Analytics
2 - Predictive Analytics, Business Intelligence, and Reporting.
1 - Experience is everything. It takes a long time to become familiar with SAS. Not to mention, that this is a product that is changing on a quarterly basis so users must keep up with the education. However, doing so will only benefit the organization. There are more online resources than one can count, so users can also go to the web for a lot of the help they would need.
- Predictive Analytics
- Statistical Analysis
- Reporting Automation
- Utilize SAS Web Portal to automate tasks once done by hand.
- The ability to send the information to the people that require it, rather than them seeking it out.
- Utilize its permanent libraries to create multiple stored processes accessible to non-users via the Web Portal.
- Allow clients to view their data via the Web Portal.
Evaluating SAS Analytics and Competitors
Yes - Business Objects and Crystal Reports. They were replaced by SAS due to their lack of user functionality. They are not very dynamic tools and SAS allows us to dynamically manipulate the data in ways that we previously could not. As a result, we have views of data that was once inaccessible.
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Prior Experience with the Product
- Vendor Reputation
When we were choosing a tool we mainly looked at what the tool could do for us 5 years down the line. Purchasing a data analysis tool can be costly, which makes it a long-term decision. We looked at how this tool could not only help us now, but what it can do to expand our business intelligence in the future. SAS is great because they have so many different modules and products that a company can simply add capabilities as they grow their internal business intelligence division.
I have worked previously with SAS, so we went right to them as an initial resource. Call it luck, but I didn't even realize their depth of capabilities. One thing I would change about the process is being more thorough. It is hard to translate your business needs to a SAS representative and things can get lost in translation. Be diligent in expressing your business needs since SAS has technical resources they can use to help navigate you to the right software.
SAS Analytics Implementation
- Implemented in-house
- Professional services company
Pinnacle performed all of the downloading and installing of SAS Office Analytics. They were very knowledgable and everything loaded without an issue. Plus, if there were any issue they were glad to take on any troubleshooting until they could fully hand of the software support to SAS. The installation is very IT friendly and requires minimal employee resources to perform. The only thing that is required at the time of install is the necessary hardware to store and run SAS, which is typical.
Change management was a big part of the implementation and was well-handled - The great part about SAS is that they utilize a third party to install everything your company will need. The only required of the company is to have the hardware necessary at the time of the install to support SAS. Otherwise, everything is handled through the third party installer until implementation and use is confirmed.
- The only issues we saw were on our side, getting to know the new functionality and migrating projects.
- SAS products are fully integrated with each other so upgrading and adding new software is seemless.
SAS Analytics Training
- Online training
- Self-taught
Yes, I found it very easy to learn through Enterprise Guide. There are so many online resources like blogs and SAS tech support websites that the user has a neverending supply of examples and information to help them assess their issue. Education credits are also fairly cheap if users want to go one step further with their self-training.
Configuring SAS Analytics
We currently run SAS off of an internal server with the users accessing the server through SAS Enterprise Guide installed on their local machine. This allows the user to personal projects and save them where necessary, but also give the software the speed and power that comes with using a server.
No - we have not done any customization to the interface
Some - we have added small pieces of custom code - If the user has no experience with coding this may be an issue at first. However, given the amount of online resources SAS has available the user will find ample information to tell them how to proceed. If they do this enough times it will become very easy and they will be able to customize their projects with custom coding.
Not yet. SAS is such a vaste tool that it takes a long time to accumlate enough knowledge to be comfortable with customization. Not that it is hard to do, but simply because the user will be preoccupied with navigating the software to first figure out its capabilities before customizing those capabilities.
SAS Analytics Support
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed No escalation required Immediate help available Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response | None |
No - SAS has many channels that allows the user to utilize their technical support. Not only does this come with the yearly subscription, but the education of the technical support personnel is very high. They have worked with the tool for years and can discuss issues using SAS rhetoric allowing the user to fully describe their issue.
We had just upgraded to SAS Office Analytics and could not get my SAS tasks to run on my Windows Task Scheduler. I reached out to SAS for help and this amazing representative named Tiffany helped me via phone and WebEx to not only solve the issue, but change the settings in SAS to be more user friendly on my local machine. She absolutely went the extra mile.
Using SAS Analytics
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Technical support not required Well integrated Consistent Convenient Feel confident using | None |
- Any data analysis using SAS Enterprise Guide is very easy as it is a point and click interface.
- Basic Graphing is also very easy.
- If a user needs predictive analytics, SAS made model building a drag and drop system.
- Coding can be quite difficult if the end user has had no experience with it.
- Creating stored processes require ample knowledge of SAS.
SAS Analytics Reliability
Integrating SAS Analytics
- Windows 7 64-bit
- Windows 7 32-bit
The integration is basically seemless. SAS can anything from Windows to Linux, from 32-bit to 64-bit.
- File import/export
SAS is basically an ETL tool in itself. The PROC SQL function allows the user to be integrated with any ODBC connection they choose. SAS can also handle any text file the user would like to import including Excel files. Exporting is easy too allowing the user to choose from many different formats that can be utilized in other software.
If you are using basic Windows software and plan on using SAS for basic analysis and file creation you can assume that the integration will be absolutely seemless. However, if SAS will be used to integrate not only from but to databases more questions need to be asked to the SAS representative to make sure that capability is possible.
Relationship with SAS
Most SAS subscriptions are comprised of an initial software purchase, and then yearly subscriptions thereafter that include unlimited support and software upgrades. The yearly subscriptions are never locked in and can rise due to inflation. However, the increases are never obscene and SAS is very flexible with small and medium businesses when it comes to purchase price.
Honestly, I do not besides to ask a lot of questions. Make sure you are comfortable with the products you are buying so the company does not buy too much software or limit themselves and buy too little. SAS is a great partner to work with and they fully understand the needs of a business.
Upgrading SAS Analytics
Yes - Upgrades are totally seemless. A company's IT resource will receive any upgrades via email and they simply click on the link, enter the necessary credentials, and install the software. Every upgrade is automatically integrated with any older versions so no migrations are necessary. End users will not even notice the upgrade except for the augmentations SAS made to the interface.
- SAS added a feature that allows you to select what dataset you want when coding.
- Honestly, I do not know.
Yes - We upgraded from BASE SAS/GRAPH SAS/Analytics Pro to BASE SAS/GRAPH SAS Office Analytics. Office Analytics comes with MS Office integrations and Web Portal access which expands non-user data access. The only cost increase was the initial purchase price which SAS gave us a credit for our current licenses. Our capabilities became more robust with Office Analytics, and the change was very easy.
Yes - Eventually, we will need to upgrade software again as our business intelligence platform increases and our needs expand. SAS allows businesses to purchase only what they need with the capability of easily upgrading when the time comes. This gives companies the chance to look years ahead to determine what they will need rather than overpurchasing software and having it sit idle.