DB2 is a family of relational database software solutions offered by IBM. It includes standard Db2 and Db2 Warehouse editions, either deployable on-cloud, or on-premise.
$0
Google BigQuery
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Google's BigQuery is part of the Google Cloud Platform, a database-as-a-service (DBaaS) supporting the querying and rapid analysis of enterprise data.
$6.25
per TiB (after the 1st 1 TiB per month, which is free)
SAP HANA Cloud
Score 9.0 out of 10
N/A
SAP HANA is an application that uses in-memory database technology to process very large amounts of real-time data from relational databases, both SAP and non-SAP, in a very short time. The in-memory computing engine allows HANA to process data stored in RAM as opposed to reading it from a disk which means that the data can be accessed in real time by the applications using HANA. The product is sold both as an appliance and as a cloud-based software solution.
Implementation and administration complexity, user learning curves, cost considerations, migration difficulties, and possible support and documentation issues are some of the drawbacks of SAP HANA Cloud. With IBM Db2 it is also incredibly safe, effective, and user-friendly. …
Tried tested true and dependable. Main distinguishing factor however is the ongoing time in which it has been relied on, the preference by some stakeholders for ensuring sensitive data security, and its flexibility
We focused more on data volume and less on full application capabilities. All in all, we found that the two solutions complement each other. For integration, some sources were better handled in SAP HANA, particularly other SAP systems where Google Big Query was more suitable …
DB2 and Oracle are more mature products, however, HANA stacks very well against it in terms of reliability and management. Cost is a huge factor in HANA's favor as well, especially given Oracle's excessive costs.
IBM has been a credible name for us as we have implemented
some of the IBM tools and are going great but when it comes to IBM DB2 it was
our not-so-good experience. We planned to save our time and cost with IBM DB2
Multiple things as SAP HANA Cloud is used to handle large volumes of data with smooth use of different data types, including great real-time data storage.
Developer friendly environment and real time data access and processing
Verified User
Vice-President
Chose SAP HANA Cloud
Interestingly Workday financials is getting paired with Workday HCM.. Do not find it a comforting approach if one has to have tight integration with logistics operations
As users are comfortable using SAP HANA and now all solutions available with SAP HANA add-on modules the integration becomes much easier and cost effective else you need to have persons of different skill sets to maintain and operate the systems.
The choice of the SAP HANA solution was mainly determined by the choice of the new company ERP, which having been SAP, naturally led to the choice of its DB solution.
Similar to other big DBMS, but better or equal at stability and technical maintenance. Better or equal at documentation. There is room for improvement at SQL path analyzing.
I have primarily used it as the basis for a SIS - but I have migrated more than a few systems from there database systems to DB2 (Filemaker, MySQL, etc.). DB2 does have a better structural approach, as opposed to Filemaker, which allows for more data consistency, but this can also lead to an inflexibility that can sometimes be counterintuitive when attempting to compensate for the flexibility of the work environment as Schools tend to have an all in one approach.
Event-based data can be captured seamlessly from our data layers (and exported to Google BigQuery). When events like page-views, clicks, add-to-cart are tracked, Google BigQuery can help efficiently with running queries to observe patterns in user behaviour. That intermediate step of trying to "untangle" event data is resolved by Google BigQuery. A scenario where it could possibly be less appropriate is when analysing "granular" details (like small changes to a database happening very frequently).
I think if you have a large organization, it's probably the product and the marketplace to go to. We're a large management consulting firm operating in four to seven countries. And generally speaking, I think that's the size and the scope where it scales best. I can't speak to smaller companies, but I can't see smaller companies leveraging the benefits as much as a larger organization can.
GSheet data can be linked to a BigQuery table and the data in that sheet is ingested in realtime into BigQuery. It's a live 'sync' which means it supports insertions, deletions, and alterations. The only limitation here is the schema'; this remains static once the table is created.
Seamless integration with other GCP products.
A simple pipeline might look like this:-
GForms -> GSheets -> BigQuery -> Looker
It all links up really well and with ease.
One instance holds many projects.
Separating data into datamarts or datameshes is really easy in BigQuery, since one BigQuery instance can hold multiple projects; which are isolated collections of datasets.
Real-time reporting and analytics on data: because of its in-memory architecture, it is perfect for businesses that need to make quick decisions based on current information.
Managing workload with complex data: it can handle a vast range of data types, including relational, documental, geospatial, graph, vector, and time series data.
Developing and deploying intelligent data applications: it provides various tools for such applications and can be used for machine learning and artificial intelligence to automate tasks, gain insights from data, and make predictions.
Please expand the availability of documentation, tutorials, and community forums to provide developers with comprehensive support and guidance on using Google BigQuery effectively for their projects.
If possible, simplify the pricing model and provide clearer cost breakdowns to help users understand and plan for expenses when using Google BigQuery. Also, some cost reduction is welcome.
It still misses the process of importing data into Google BigQuery. Probably, by improving compatibility with different data formats and sources and reducing the complexity of data ingestion workflows, it can be made to work.
Requires higher processing power, otherwise it won't fly. How ever computing costs are lower. Incase you are migrating to cloud please do not select the highest config available in that series . Upgrading it later against a reserved instance can cost you dearly with a series change
Lack of clarity on licensing is one major challenge
Unless S/4 with additional features are enabled mere migration HANA DB is not a rewarding journey. Power is in S/4
The DB2 database is a solid option for our school. We have been on this journey now for 3-4 years so we are still adapting to what it can do. We will renew our use of DB2 because we don’t see. Major need to change. Also, changing a main database in a school environment is a major project, so we’ll avoid that if possible.
We have to use this product as its a 3rd party supplier choice to utilise this product for their data side backend so will not be likely we will move away from this product in the future unless the 3rd party supplier decides to change data vendors.
We would rate our likelihood of renewing at 9/10. SAP HANA Cloud has proven to be a highly reliable and scalable data platform that consistently delivers strong performance. Its seamless integration with our overall SAP landscape, combined with improved analytics and real-time data capabilities, makes it a core part of our long-term technology strategy.
You have to be well versed in using the technology, not only from a GUI interface but from a command line interface to successfully use this software to its fullest.
I think overall it is easy to use. I haven't done anything from the development side but an more of an end user of reporting tables built in Google BigQuery. I connect data visualization tools like Tableau or Power BI to the BigQuery reporting tables to analyze trends and create complex dashboards.
It is very useful solution which provides you speedier data processing, real-time analytics. It helps you manage diverse data types. It also offers you excellent disaster management. It has user friendly interface which helps you navigate system and transactions easily and perform task smoothly.
I have never had DB2 go down unexpectedly. It just works solidly every day. When I look at the logs, sometimes DB2 has figured out there was a need to build an index. Instead of waiting for me to do it, the database automatically created the index for me. At my current company, we have had zero issues for the past 8 years. We have upgrade the server 3 times and upgraded the OS each time and the only thing we saw was that DB2 got better and faster. It is simply amazing.
I have never had any significant issues with Google Big Query. It always seems to be up and running properly when I need it. I cannot recall any times where I received any kind of application errors or unplanned outages. If there were any they were resolved quickly by my IT team so I didn't notice them.
I would rate SAP HANA Cloud’s availability as an 8 out of 10. In general, the platform is available when we need it and provides a reliable cloud environment for our data, reporting, and integration use cases.We have not experienced availability as one of the main issues compared with areas like configuration, troubleshooting, or support response quality. However, I would not rate it a 10 because, like any cloud platform, availability can still be affected by occasional service issues, application errors, maintenance windows, or dependencies with connected systems.Overall, SAP HANA Cloud has been reliable for our needs, but continuous monitoring and clear communication around incidents or maintenance are still important.
The performances are exceptional if you take care to maintain the database. It is a very powerful tool and at the same time very easy to use. In our installation, we expect a DB machine on the mainframe with access to the database through ODBC connectors directly from branch servers, with fabulous end users experience.
I think Google Big Query's performance is in the acceptable range. Sometimes larger datasets are somewhat sluggish to load but for most of our applications it performs at a reasonable speed. We do have some reports that include a lot of complex calculations and others that run on granular store level data that so sometimes take a bit longer to load which can be frustrating.
I would rate SAP HANA Cloud’s performance as an 8 out of 10. In general, performance is strong and reports usually complete in a reasonable time frame, especially when the data models, queries, and calculation views are well designed.The platform handles large data volumes well and supports fast analytics for many enterprise scenarios. It also works effectively with connected systems when the integrations are properly configured.I would not rate it a 10 because performance can depend heavily on architecture, query design, data volume, custom code, and integration complexity. In some cases, complex reports, large datasets, or custom logic require additional tuning and testing to avoid slow response times or delays in connected processes.
Easily the best product support team. :) Whenever we have questions, they have answered those in a timely manner and we like how they go above and beyond to help.
BigQuery can be difficult to support because it is so solid as a product. Many of the issues you will see are related to your own data sets, however you may see issues importing data and managing jobs. If this occurs, it can be a challenge to get to speak to the correct person who can help you.
However, I am not the right person to answer this as we have another department to handle support and contact the service provider for any support required. Although i will say that they are the quick respondent and knows how to handle querry of the customers and provide quick and better support.
I would rate the online training as an 8 out of 10. The training materials are generally useful, well-structured, and helpful for understanding the main capabilities of SAP HANA Cloud, including data modeling, administration, integration, and analytics.The content is especially valuable for building a foundation and learning the standard features of the platform. However, I would not rate it a 10 because some advanced or real-world scenarios, such as complex integrations, troubleshooting, performance tuning, and custom code, could benefit from more practical examples and deeper technical guidance.Overall, the online training is strong, but it could be improved with more hands-on exercises and more examples based on enterprise implementation scenarios.
would rate our satisfaction with the implementation as a 6 out of 10. The implementation was completed and the solution provides value, but the process was more complex and time-consuming than expected.The main challenges were related to technical configuration, integrations, permissions, and troubleshooting. In some cases, getting clear answers or resolving issues required several iterations, which slowed down the implementation.Overall, the final result is useful, but the implementation experience could have been better with clearer documentation, more straightforward configuration steps, and more effective support during the process.
DB2 was more scalable and easily configurable than other products we evaluated and short listed in terms of functionality and pricing. IBM also had a good demo on premise and provided us a sandbox experience to test out and play with the product and DB2 at that time came out better than other similar products.
PowerBI can connect to GA4 for example but the data processing is more complicated and it takes longer to create dashboards. Azure is great once the data import has been configured but it's not an easy task for small businesses as it is with BigQuery.
I have deep knowledge of other disk based DBMSs. They are venerable technology, but the attempts to extend them to current architectures belie the fact they are built on 40 year old technology. There are some good columnar in-memory databases but they lack the completeness of capability present in the HANA platform.
I would rate the contract terms and pricing structure for SAP HANA Cloud as a 7 out of 10. Overall, the pricing model is reasonable for an enterprise cloud platform, especially considering the scalability, integration capabilities, and performance benefits it provides.However, there are some aspects we would improve. The pricing model could be more transparent and easier to predict, especially when usage grows across multiple departments, data volumes increase, or additional capacity is required. It would also be helpful to have clearer guidance on how configuration, storage, compute, and scaling decisions affect overall cost.If we could change anything, we would prefer simpler pricing, more predictable billing, and more flexibility to adjust capacity without creating unexpected cost increases.
By using DB2 only to support my IzPCA activities, my knowledge here is somewhat limited.
Anyway, from what I was able to understand, DB2 is extremely scallable.
Maybe the information below could serve as an example of scalability.
Customer have an huge mainframe environment, 13x z15 CECs, around 80 LPARs, and maybe more than 50 Sysplexes (I am not totally sure about this last figure...)
Today we have 7 IzPCA databases, each one in a distinct Syplex.
Plans are underway to have, at the end, an small LPAR, with only one DB2 sub-system, and with only one database, then transmit the data from a lot of other LPARs, and then process all the data in this only one database.
The IzPCA collect process (read the data received, manipulate it, and insert rows in the tables) today is a huge process, demanding many elapsed hours, and lots of CPU.
Almost 100% of the tables are PBR type, insert jobs run in parallel, but in 4 of the 7 database, it is a really a huge and long process.
Combining the INSERTs loads from the 7 databases in only one will be impossible.......,,,,
But, IzPCA recently introduced a new feature, called "Continuous Collector".
By using that feature, small amounts of data will be transmited to the central LPAR at every 5 minutes (or even less), processed immediately,in a short period of time, and withsmall use of CPU, instead of one or two transmissions by day, of very large amounts of data and the corresponding collect jobs occurring only once or twice a day, with long elapsed times, and huge comsumption of CPU
I suspect the total CPU seconds consumed will be more or less the same in both cases, but in the new method it will occur insmall bursts many times a day!!
We have continued to expand out use of Google Big Query over the years. I'd say its flexibility and scalability is actually quite good. It also integrates well with other tools like Tableau and Power BI. It has served the needs of multiple data sources across multiple departments within my company.
I would rate SAP HANA Cloud’s overall scalability as an 8 out of 10. The product provides strong scalability for enterprise scenarios, especially when it needs to support multiple departments, growing data volumes, and more complex analytics or integration requirements.The cloud-based architecture makes it easier to expand capacity compared with traditional on-premise environments, and it gives the organization flexibility as usage increases across different teams or locations.I would not rate it a 10 because scalability still depends heavily on good architecture, correct configuration, performance tuning, and cost control. As the environment grows, it is important to monitor resource consumption, optimize queries and data models, and make sure the solution is designed properly to avoid performance or cost issues.
Google Support has kindly provide individual support and consultants to assist with the integration work. In the circumstance where the consultants are not present to support with the work, Google Support Helpline will always be available to answer to the queries without having to wait for more than 3 days.
I would rate the professional services for SAP HANA Cloud as a 6 out of 10. The professional services were helpful in moving the implementation forward and provided useful knowledge around the platform, configuration, and technical setup.However, the experience was not perfect. Some areas, such as complex integrations, custom code, permissions, performance tuning, and troubleshooting, required more effort and follow-up than expected. In some cases, we would have benefited from clearer guidance, more practical recommendations, and faster resolution of technical questions.Overall, the professional services added value, but there is room for improvement in terms of proactivity, hands-on support, and helping customers handle complex real-world implementation scenarios.
Previously, running complex queries on our on-premise data warehouse could take hours. Google BigQuery processes the same queries in minutes. We estimate it saves our team at least 25% of their time.
We can target our marketing campaigns very easily and understand our customer behaviour. It lets us personalize marketing campaigns and product recommendations and experience at least a 20% improvement in overall campaign performance.
Now, we only pay for the resources we use. Saved $1 million annually on data infrastructure and data storage costs compared to our previous solution.
