Advances in hardware over the last two decades have enabled us to completely rethink what is possible with enterprise software, particularly when we think about it in terms of the incredible explosion of data happening all around us. Today’s machines can bring large amounts of main-memory, and lots of multi-core CPUs to bear on massively parallel processing of information very inexpensively. When we saw this happening, we realized that we could architect a platform from the ground up that would enable true real-time computing.
The result was HANA – a modern data platform that puts OLTP and OLAP together, doing massively parallel multi-core processing on one copy of data that is all in main memory. This is a radically simplified architecture that kills batch programs, captures data, and powers interactive and instant analytics on transactional data – in real-time. A complex question can be posed to real-time operational data, instead of asking pre-fabricated questions on pre-aggregated or summarized data. HANA also integrates text processing with managing structured data, in a single system. And it scales simply with addition of more processors or more blades. Thus various types of applications, across a company’s lines of businesses, and across application types, can all be run off a single, elastically-scalable hardware infrastructure: a grand dissolving of the layers of complexity in enterprise landscapes. And we can do this in every imaginable delivery model; it is entirely up to the customer. The business impact of this breakthrough innovation is significant. With this platform, every decision is informed in real-time at the time it is needed, collaboration is live and unencumbered, the ways of accessing and interacting with data are limitless. There are no more aggregates, no more delays, no questions that go unanswered. With HANA, businesses can now truly run in real-time.
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About the speaker:
Dr. Vishal Sikka is a member of the Executive Board of SAP AG, heading technology and innovation for the company. Sikka has responsibility for technology and platform products, including database, especially the industry break-through in-memory database – SAP HANA, as well as analytics, mobile, application platform, and middleware. He drives emerging technologies and advanced development for the next-generation technology platform, applications, and tools. He also oversees key technology partnerships, customer co-innovation, and incubation of emerging businesses. He has global responsibility for the SAP Next Business and Technology (formerly SAP Research) organization, academic and government relations.
Sikka has been chief technology officer (CTO) of SAP since 2007, responsible for the overall technology, architecture and product standards across the entire SAP product portfolio. He is the creator of the concept of “timeless software,” which underpins SAP architecture and innovation strategy.
Sikka holds a doctorate in computer science from Stanford University in California, and his experience includes research in artificial intelligence, programming models and automatic programming, as well as information management and integration – at Stanford, at Xerox Palo Alto Labs, and as founder of two startup companies.
Contact information:
Vishal Sikka
SAP