Earlier this year SAP entered into an agreement with a long time trusted partner Datalytics Technologies to dramatically improve the scope of data modeling and data management with Rapid Marts. Rapid Marts are essentially pre-configured data mart solutions that enable easy integration to a variety transactional data systems. Datalytics has agreed to develop important integration tools using the latest SAP Data Services tools as well as to update all of the existing Rapid Marts for compatibility with BI 4.1 and Data Services 4.2. Under the terms of this agreement, Datalytics will be able to market and sell the Rapid Marts product. You can meet directly with Doug Corpuel of the Datalytics team at SAPPHIRE NOW at Booth #281.
So why is SAP making this move and why now? First, technology continues to focus more on unstructured and multi-source transaction data – what we used to call OLTP data in the early years of client server. In the early days of Rapid Marts (some of you may remember the Business Objects Warehouse), it was fairly easy and intuitive to build data transports (ETL jobs) from a variety of data sources (including not only SAP ERP but PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, Lawson and Oracle). Further, the target repository could be a simply designed, common business oriented semantic layer. Today, many of these original sources have been consolidated into larger structures. Still, a large number of customers continue to rely on these sources – and likely will continue to do so. In 2012, Datalytics acquired all non-SAP ECC sourced Rapid Marts and with this agreement, they get the ECC piece as well. Datalytics has been meeting customer needs since 1996 providing real-time data warehouses and data marts. Since 2000, they have enjoyed an increasing strategic partnership with SAP building all of the data transport / ETL using SAP Business Objects Data Services – exclusively. In short, they know this space and they understand the needs of Rapid Mart customers.
As Datalytics moves forward with Rapid Marts, you can expect to see more development on HANA for faster, even more reliable data warehousing and BI solutions. Our joint goal (SAP and Datalytics) is to ensure first, that customers’ current investments are protected and that they can continue to productively use their Rapid Marts. Second, we want to be certain that Rapid Mart customers continue to be exposed to innovative data management and BI solutions that utilize the latest SAP tools and technologies.
So what happens to support? SAP will continue to honor existing support commitments for the remainder of the term of the agreement. Once a customer’s current support agreement expires, Datalytics will offer support for all existing Rapid Mart customers for their current product. You will receive the same level of support you are currently getting from SAP. In addition, Datalytics will continue to enhance the product over the next few years and providing current Rapid Mart customers with several options going forward.
Datalytics is keenly interested in directly reaching out to all customers and Partners at Sapphire. There will be one-pagers inserted into EIM and BI presentations available at kiosks throughout the main exhibition hall.
