The base running on AS400 is dedicated toward accountancy. It is a text system mode based on a 15 year old of age OS activated by processors whose technology approach I286. This system is however reliable and protected. As long as one asks it to add with the figures in fields, it worksperfectly.
A question to which I do not still have the answer t : how many AS400 are installed in France ? In the world ? In my point of view AS400 is with the information system for the company what the Minitel is with internet : the size of the installed park is a barrier to the diffusion of new technologies.
Why the current explosion of datamining tools ?
The emergence and the power of the database Systems like ORABLE, SYBASE, INFORMIX, or SQL SERVER (if LARRY ELLISON read me...) who already offer on OS open (NT, UNIX) graphic display, compatibility with Internet ( new series e of AS400 proposes it) but especially a power in term of request, crossings of the criteria allowing datamining mining, using SQL Language etc... to an incomparable power, makes AS400 far away in power, ergonomy, time consuming, maintenance costs...
But, to change its information system completely is an expensive, long and hazardous project. However there exists on the market powerful tools of request able to be interfaced on AS400 and other plateforms, without writing a code line, at a relatively moderate cost. From $5000 to $100 000 let us say, for a starting configuration.
The principle.
It is about a software overlay which is installed on the server, and on the client stations. The client stations can be PC Windows based Systems. Generally one finds Query Systems and of Tool for analysis concept . The clients have tools for analysis and may be a direct query system to directly request the main database according to granted rights'.
The Query system can interface itself on the central basis in native mode or via a ODBC footbridge.There still there are specific tools intended to extract the data of the central base in native mode like LEONARD MAGIC. Compulsory if more than, let say 20 people queries the central database in your company. If you want to keep acceptable waiting times, those tools justifies quickly a $20000 investment.
Another concept with COGNOS and BUSINESS OBJECTS , two leaders of the market which we consulted is the working environment. That consists of a space of work for each customer, the data, the requests which it generally uses are compressed in the form of core on client station.
Advantages.
- Very important, the administrator of AS400 does not fear any more for his job. On the contrary it is emphasized. More users, more complexity, an optimization of the resources. Perhaps even he will engage additional people. If one invests on this system, the company is not ready to launch out in a SGBDR ORACLE which he would be unable to administrate. Social cohesion.
- The power of these specialized queries allow to cross tables, to handle the data with an ease, and a speed such as the clients, will not need more to call upon the administrator for the least request. Batch treatments which require three meetings and two weeks of Development.
- The power of the clients of analysis is really astonishing. It makes it possible to make 3D or even 4D queries i.e. by year, salesman and product in a wink and two clicks. One really makes speak the figures. Excel is not anymore useful to establish criteria of monitoring, to forecast on large volumes of data, to make mining went back.
All this contributes in fact to a better reactivity of the company since this monitoring could not be made before.
Actors.
My intention here is not to give an opinion on the two products which we evaluated. BUSINESS OBJECTS is beautiful a sucess story. Founded at the beginning of the Nineties by two former sales people from ORACLE who felt new customer needs. BO experienced a spectacular Development until last year. BO has been introduced in 1995 on the NASDAQ. Since Denis PAYRE, one of the founders sold its shares for about $50 millions...
COGNOS is a large Canadian company which employs several thousands of people. More reactive, more means also, they stick better to the expectations of the market: dated mining, internet... Their products are more oriented toward complex queries rather than analyzes like BO. For this reason some large accounts rock towards COGNOS.