RapidMiner vs. SAP Predictive Analytics

RapidMiner is the best tool to build models on textual data. It is rich in ML algorithms and reduces the need to manually tune the parameters. It automatically optimizes them, thus providing a better solution. RapidMiner again extends great capability for data preparation, its insane connections to almost every data source pulls in the data easily into one environment. And it can comfortably perform data cleaning and process tasks over that. RapidMiner is not so good with image, audio or video data. These data points cannot be used directly in their raw form. They must be transformed into some intermediate form for performing analytics over it. Moreover, there are no connectors to directly pull data from their varied sources. For example, we don't have a connector to read audio data directly from a switch and then convert it to text (although Google speech API is available for audio to text conversion.)

Incentivized

When you don't have much data science skills or when you need to build something quick, you can get started really fast with SAP Predictive Analytics. There are scenarios, like the ones covered by a neural network, where SAP Predictive Analytics is not well suited, but the big question is usually: "do you really need a neural network to address this use case?"

Incentivized

• RapidMiner Studio offers a superb user interface with an intuitive workflow paradigm that is very easy to learn.
• RapidMiner Studio’s operators make it a complete and powerful tool for data preprocessing, data visualization, and data mining/analytics.
• RapidMiner Studio provides excellent documentation, countless worked examples, training and support via a large user community.
• Every problem is solved using a sequence of operators.
• Statistical analysis capabilities offered with the T-Test, ANOVA, Grouped ANOVA, and ANOVA Matrix operators.
• Textual data mining operators.
• Web-based and cloud computing capabilities.
• Visualization capabilities.
• Marketplace Extensions – especially Finance And Economics.
• Process portability.

Incentivized

• Ability to use built-in algorithms or expand using R. This means that (with training) casual users can take advantage but also data analysts can do their thing!
• Integration and consistency with Lumira. Even Lumira on its own has a quick 'predict' functionality (although limited/black box)
• Ability to do the analysis and then present visually using the Lumira visualization capabilities

Incentivized

• Wish the tool was more efficient in terms of processing power. The tool takes a lot of CPU processing power, even for a small process on a small data set
• Wish there were more options on charts and graphs to visualize the data

Incentivized

• The "User Experience" is sometimes lacking some clear basic things. Maybe a migration to a cloud-based environment will help bridge that gap.
• API is probably the next item on my list. The existing one is not easy to access or use which limits the integration capabilities.

Incentivized

Very fast and user-friendly tool

Incentivized

Very use to use and learn

Incentivized

the UI is a bit dated and available as a desktop tool mostly.

Incentivized

The documentation provides an explanation about what features are available but not necessarily what's happening behind the scenes. On the other side, the "community" has grown since the acquisition and most questions are properly addressed by SAP folks. Since the "product maintenance" mode announcement was made, there wasn't much new content published except on the Smart Predict side (which is built by the SAP Predictive Analytics team)

Incentivized

The other product like RapidMiner Studio that I have used is WEKA. I decided to use RapidMiner because almost all modelling methods and feature selection methods from the Weka machine learning library are available within RapidMiner. Furthermore, RapidMiner Studio is a visual workflow and therefore it is easier to demonstrate and visualise the processes involves in getting the desired results. Visualization of workflow enhances teaching and learning. RapidMiner is rich with algorithms and online learning materials that can assist students in their self-directed learning on data preparation, machine learning, deep learning, text mining, and predictive analytics. Moreover, RapidMiner repository has more than 1500 machine learning algorithms and functions that students can explore for any case study and assignments. The RapidMIner is also an open platform that can seamlessly integrates with other applications programmed with other programming languages like R and Python.

Incentivized

We have typically used Spotfire for data analysis but decided to move to SAP Business Objects due to its innate connection with SAP. I found Lumira to be good for visualizations but it is not meant for data analysis. Therefore, we have introduced Predictive Analytics to see if it can fill that gap. So far, it's been far less intuitive than Spotfire to get started, and as far as I am aware so far, it does not bring many additional capabilities. I do, however, like that it utilizes the Lumira look/feel and integrates very well.

Incentivized

• We saved over $100k on our direct mail program by not mailing to those unlikely to respond to our mailings based on our predictive analysis.
• Our CX team has saved countless hours by automating call scripts to isolate key phrases and code each call.

Incentivized

• Proper forecasting increases our credibility with partners and customers
• Forecasting determines the amount of investment in each sector and reduces the cost of additional costs

Incentivized