Enterprise Data Mashup – InetSoft’s StyleBI is built upon an enterprise data mash-up platform, while SAP’s BI solutions are based on an ETL and data warehouse approach. Enterprise data mashup refers to the ability to pull source data from any location and in almost any format and mash it up on the fly for dynamic information requests. The result is a structured virtual data model that consists of reusable data blocks that can be queried in real-time for presentation in Style Intelligence dashboards and reports, or used by 3rd-party applications.
Self-Service – InetSoft's data mashup functionality is available to both business and IT users which helps maximize self-service. Through a drag-and-drop design interface, business users can create interactive visual analyses, dashboards, and reports to answer unanticipated questions without IT's help. In contrast, any unanticipated data manipulation in SAP requires significant IT intervention to redefine data models. InetSoft enables further levels of self-service for less sophisticated users such as point-and-click personalization and modification of IT-built dashboards and analyses.
Data Cache Parallelization – InetSoft's data cache parallelization architecture sits below the enterprise data mashup platform and delivers massive query performance boosts by relieving source data systems of potential overload from user queries. The architecture was inspired by columnar database technology and the Map Reduce algorithm allowing data in InetSoft's virtual data model to be cached and queried in parallel across servers. SAP requires investment in heavy-duty data warehousing appliances.
Applications – InetSoft’s StyleBI is an all-inclusive BI platform with a unified interface for dashboarding, data discovery, and reporting from any browser-enabled device including mobile phones and tablets. SAP charges extra for each module including mobile access leading to higher up-front licensing costs.
Deployment – InetSoft deployments typically take between 1-2 weeks to launch with minimal business intelligence expertise required. SAP deployments may take 5-6 months to launch, and since SAP is a loosely coupled group of acquired products, multiple SAP product experts are required to launch a solution. Due to a less user-friendly, intuitive interface, SAP training is necessary for all SAP users. Because of the solution’s complexity and lack of agility, enterprises may find themselves spending magnitudes more on consultants than licenses.
Since 1996 InetSoft has been delivering easy, agile, and robust business intelligence software that makes it possible for organizations and solution providers of all sizes to deploy or embed full-featured business intelligence solutions. InetSoft solutions have been deployed at over 5,000 organizations worldwide, including 25% of Fortune 500 companies, spanning all types of industries. InetSoft was ranked among the top 5 BI vendors in Gleanster's customer survey report.
| #1 Ranking: Read how InetSoft was rated #1 for user adoption in G2's user survey-based index | Read More |
For many companies using SAP Business Objects (BO), the increasingly complex and legacy-bound infrastructure has become a limiting factor in digital transformation. As more organizations pursue modern, self-service analytics, InetSoft's StyleBI has emerged as a compelling alternative. Here's a closer look at why migrating from SAP Business Objects to StyleBI makes strategic and operational sense.
SAP Business Objects has long been known for its enterprise reporting capabilities. However, its reliance on a traditional, centralized, and often cumbersome architecture has made it difficult for businesses to embrace agile methodologies. In contrast, InetSoft's StyleBI is designed from the ground up for modern analytics—supporting microservices, containerization, and cloud-native deployments. This architectural edge gives StyleBI significant advantages in terms of scalability, speed of deployment, and integration with other modern tools.
One of the major gripes with Business Objects is the steep learning curve and dependence on IT teams for ad hoc reporting. StyleBI eliminates this bottleneck with its drag-and-drop interface and flexible data block modeling. Business users—from marketing analysts to operations managers—can independently explore data, create dashboards, and build reports without waiting in IT queues. This democratization of data access fosters a data-literate culture across the organization.
SAP BO typically requires batch-style ETL processes and rigid data marts. StyleBI's robust data mashup engine changes the game by enabling real-time data blending from disparate sources, including SQL databases, REST APIs, flat files, and even web services. This flexibility allows teams to analyze fresh data without the lag and overhead associated with traditional ETL pipelines.
InetSoft's approach to dashboards is dynamic and responsive. Unlike BO's rigid Web Intelligence or Crystal Reports framework, StyleBI allows users to build interactive, mobile-ready dashboards that adapt to both technical and business user needs. Additionally, its embeddable dashboard microservices mean organizations can seamlessly integrate analytics into external applications, customer portals, or IoT platforms—extending the value of insights well beyond internal users.
Migrating to StyleBI can significantly reduce TCO. Business Objects often comes with high licensing fees, specialized infrastructure requirements, and heavy IT resource consumption. InetSoft offers more cost-effective pricing models and lower infrastructure overhead—especially for organizations looking to deploy in hybrid or cloud-first environments. Furthermore, StyleBI's efficient administration tools and minimal need for IT intervention translate into measurable long-term savings.
While SAP BO has robust governance models, many organizations find them overcomplicated and difficult to maintain. StyleBI provides a streamlined approach to data security and governance. With support for row-level security, role-based access control, and integration with LDAP and SSO systems, enterprises retain confidence in protecting sensitive data while maintaining agility in access management.
SAP's focus in recent years has shifted toward cloud-based solutions like SAP Analytics Cloud, leaving Business Objects in maintenance mode. InetSoft, on the other hand, continues to invest in StyleBI’s roadmap—adding features like natural language query, AI-augmented insights, and expanded support for custom visualization libraries. Organizations that migrate gain not only better technology today but also a forward-looking platform for future needs.
Because of its self-service orientation, lighter infrastructure footprint, and rapid data integration capabilities, StyleBI accelerates the timeline for deployment and value realization. Reports that once took weeks to build in BO can often be replicated—or improved—within days using StyleBI. This faster turnaround enhances agility and encourages iterative improvements in business operations.
InetSoft is renowned for its responsive, personalized customer service. Smaller than SAP but more nimble, InetSoft can provide the kind of hands-on support and customer-driven development that large vendors often struggle with. For organizations tired of generic ticketing systems and slow SLA times, this responsiveness is a breath of fresh air.
One of the primary concerns when leaving a platform like Business Objects is preserving legacy reports and data structures. InetSoft offers migration pathways that allow teams to replicate existing BO reports using StyleBI's flexible layout and scripting capabilities. Moreover, InetSoft’s professional services team can assist in converting high-priority dashboards and training internal users, ensuring a smooth and confident transition.