Item: Astera Centerprise
Rating: 10
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Centerprise Data Integrator to process data into and out of our proprietary and off the shelf software applications. We process data into mainly SQL Server back-ends. Our numerous EDI outputs are to private and government agencies. We have even used Centerprise to automate and schedule reports using custom DLL functions. We even use custom functions in Centerprise to encrypt and decrypt some of the data. Our latest implementation exports an excel file and automatically PGP encrypts it from a SQL server back-end.

Pros and Cons

Allows for integration of custom functions.
Allows us to easily migrate data to and from any data source. Our department has become the go-to for automated data extracts.
We use emails from jobs we run in Centerprise to ensure all jobs run successfully.

I have not upgraded to the latest version, but in the last version, could use better descriptions in error messages.
I have not upgraded to the latest version, but in the last version, it would be nice to have reports we could run or have emailed daily/weekly with success/failure of all jobs scheduled.

Return on Investment

Increased employee efficiency
Allowed us to take more on as a department without added head count
Better turnaround time for data conversions.

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft SQL Server,Adeptia BPM Suite

Centerprise has many more tools built in so you do not have to build from scratch than SSIS. Centerprise is much more cost effective than Adeptia.

Likelihood to Recommend

I can use Centerprise for just about any scheduled task, even if it does not have to do with data because of the custom functions. I even use it for single run tasks when I need to transform data quickly. There are more expensive products out there that may look like they do more or have fancy bells and whistles, but there is nothing I have tried to do that I couldn't with Centerprise.

Users and Roles

3 - Application Developers
IT Manager

Support Headcount Required

2 - Data integration knowledge/experience with Centerprise or other tools such as SSIS, Excel, etc.

Business Processes Supported

EDIs to private and government entities
scheduled data extracts or reports
quick and clean data conversions

Innovative Uses

Scheduled Crystal Reports
Automatic PGP encryption of data extract
Proprietary encryption and decryption of data

Future Planned Uses

automatic SFTP
Transfer of documents into our document management system

Likelihood to Renew

We renew yearly, it is a core part of our department's functionality.

Products Replaced

Key Differentiators

Price
Product Features
Product Usability
Positive Sales Experience with the Vendor
Third-party Reviews

Product features for the price are unbeatable. We have not come across an project too complex to complete in Centerprise.

Evaluation Lessons Learned

I currently rely more heavily on third-party consumer product reviews now before I even call a company up. Back when we got Centerprise, there were not reviews out for any of the products we evaluated.

Implementation Rating

Think outside the box because Centerprise can take on more than just data integration.

Implementation Details / Implementation Partner

Implemented in-house

Implementation Phases

Change Management Lessons

Change management was minimal - Everything we did prior to Centerprise was manual and not centrally managed, so change management was not a huge issue for us. We just took one project at a time and easily moved it into Centerprise over time.

Implementation Issues

Just the learning curve, but once you understand the basics, it is a rather intuitive product.

Support Rating

The Centerprise support team is extremely knowledgeable about the product and they respond very quickly. Our account manager also has no issue getting involved and helping us follow-up. To me, that is an indicator of great customer service, when an account manager still cares if you are having issues and tries to help you interface with other departments such as billing and tech support.

Astera Centerprise Customer Support Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed No escalation required Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response	None

Pros	Cons
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using Familiar	Requires technical support

Easy Tasks

Straight source to new destination type conversion
custom functions
data transformation
scheduling jobs

Difficult Tasks

Using parameters sometimes needs single quotes around it when used in a SQL statement
Dynamic file name

Centerprise makes data integration easy

Software Version

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with Centerprise Data Integrator