SAP IQ closely resembles OpenText, which I use in conjunction with the SAP ECC ERP system. However, for BW, I utilize SAP NLS instead of OpenText, which functions as a storage unit for my data. The process is straightforward as I move the data from SAP HANA to NLS. Generally, there isn't much activity with SAP NLS, and I only retrieve data from it occasionally upon request. It isn't a system that presents any daily challenges, and mostly, it remains inactive, managing my legacy data in the background. Overall, I'm satisfied with its performance, and I don't have any current plans to modify the system.

We are using SAP IQ because it was available from SAP to support archiving. SAP BW, was SAP NLS. They never recommended an OpenText or there was no path to archiving in SAP BW. The standard setters use SAP NLS and SAP NLS runs on SAP IQ.

My advice to others is if they have SAP BW, then they should use SAP IQ, but if they have SAP BW, but have other SAP systems that might not need SAP IQ, they can look for other options.

I rate SAP IQ a seven out of ten.

Overall the solution is easy to use and highly stable.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Data, and getting insight from data, is very important when it comes to competing with your competitors. You have to be fast and agile, in terms of implementing a system and development, in order to get that data insight.

Do the research. This is an excellent product.

The product is very good as a DWH & Reporting tool. It is performing well on large tables for DML operations and queries.

In rating the product, I would give it at least an 8 out of ten. The only thing really needed to make it a ten out of ten for us and our usage is better support from the vendor. Well, I say better support but also better vision into the future. I do not think the company is doing sufficient work in development.

My advice for other people and companies considering this product as a solution is to find out if you can get proper support. I really think that's the biggest challenge facing people who use the product. The current company that owns the product, SAP, is very laid back about supporting the product.

It may be helpful to note that the solution does not require a lot of maintenance. We've really got only one or two DBAs looking after it and it is not even a full-time job. If you have a multiplex setup you may require more dedicated DBA staff for maintenance.

Once the setup is done correctly, the maintenance comes down to monitoring. There's not a lot of other effort involved in keeping things running.

Take into consideration your multiplex environment and storage IOPS balance.

IQ is a niche product and is good for data storage with it's massive compression ability and adhoc querying. With the emergence of in-memory databases and MPP platforms (like Cassandra, HANA, Greenplum,etc.). I see IQ being used as more of a data store than interacting with the end users or apps if shops chose to use these new technologies.

Come up with clear requirements and a problem statement and see what you are trying to solve with this new implementation. Look beyond current problems by at least three to five years and be proactive and addressing them. You also need your senior management to buy into your approach and budget constraints, otherwise it will be challenging to make it successful.

Evaluate, carry out benchmarks, and do an ROI before buying.

Save for a 100% guarantee, you will get the performance you are looking for with SAP IQ. It is just not for a normal solution, but I recommend it if you have performance issues and you have a huge database of data, for that it is the best product. For these type of issues, I would operate SAP IQ, over even SAP HANA.

I would go for SAP IQ. I am a HANA person, but I will still recommend IQ over HANA.

Estimate the storage requirements, performance requirements, and the number of users during the planning phase. Review the documentation related to hardware sizing and best practices available on the SAP website. There is a hardware estimation guide too which helps in estimating the hardware requirements. Lastly, review the multiplexing option too and understand the implication of columnar storage in a database server.

Make sure you can back it up, load data from local host, and do real load tests.

Make sure you can back it up, load data from a local host and do real load tests. The performance is amazing, but the stability issues, and the expense of the product, coupled with less than top-tier technical support, should be considered when evaluating the product for your specific environment.

Good luck with it, putting in hard work will give you good returns.