Research and Markets: Hyperion Essbase is Now under New Ownership and Looks Like Becoming Oracle's Primary OLAP Server

Business Wire, April 21, 2008

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c89396)has announced the addition of "Hyperion Essbase 9.3.1: An OLAP Report Review by Nigel Pendse" to their offering.

Formerly a market-leading product, Hyperion Essbase is now under new ownership and looks like becoming Oracle's primary OLAP server. This review covers Essbase 9.3.1, the first new release since the acquisition of Hyperion Solutions by Oracle in April 2007.

Compared to the modest enhancements in version 9.0, version 9.3 is arguably a more significant release with new features including:

- Support for SAP R/3 as a direct data source, using BAPI

- Support for bulk data loading from Teradata using the TelAPI API

- Much improved time handling

- Slowly changing attributes over all dimensions (not just time)

- Trickle feed data into ASO partitions, with no down-time for cube reprocessing

- Support for free-form search, using either Google OneBox or Oracle Secure Enterprise Search.

- The XML for Analysis adapter was brought into line with Analysis Services 2005

With ASO (the Aggregate Storage Option) now firmly established in Essbase and further enhanced in version 9.3.1 reviewed here, the issues of oversized databases and long pre-calculation times which blighted Hyperion in the past appear to have been overcome. As a consequence, Essbase looks to be in a much stronger position to compete in the marketplace.

In addition to a detailed evaluation of the server product, this review includes coverage of add-ins including Smart View, Hyperion's new generation Microsoft Office integration module, and Visual Explorer (OEM'd from Tableau).

The findings and conclusions from this review by Nigel Pendse, OLAP Report lead analyst, will enable you to compare the product not only against other big integrated BI vendors such as Cognos and Business Objects, but other potential options in the marketplace.

Contents:

1. Vendor overview

2. Product commercial issues

3. Pricing

4. Database structure and capacity

5. Aggregate Storage Option

6. Block Storage Option

7. Comparing ASO and BSO

8. Partitioning

9. Essbase Integration Services

10. Architecture and platforms

11. Data access functionality

12. Calculation functionality

13. Reporting flexibility

14. Smart View

15. Web access

16. Visual Explorer

17. Search

18. Automatic detection of exceptions and data mining

19. Time series intelligence

20. Currency support

21. Security and DBMS issues

22. End-user human factors

23. Application building features

24. Hyperion Objects

25. Hyperion Application Builder

26. Performance

27. Conclusions and scores

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c89396