What is SAS Enterprise Guide?

SAS Enterprise Guide is an advanced analytics, data management, and reporting solution designed for users of all skill levels. It provides a point-and-click interface to the powerful SAS analytics platform. The latest version, SAS Enterprise Guide 8.3, was released in August 2020 and is the most current edition as of now.

Recent Versions and Features

The 8.3 version leverages the latest .NET Framework and VC++ for enhanced performance, and includes essential hot fixes and security patches. SAS Enterprise Guide 8.3 supports Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise editions since November 2021.

Preceding version 8.2, launched in November 2019, introduced direct connections to workspace servers, a new Git integration interface, and the ability to access and execute tasks from SAS Studio 5.2. Additionally, it allowed users to manage keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.

Version 8.1 of SAS Enterprise Guide, released in June 2019, revamped the user interface to be more modern and flexible, with tab-based content organization and enhanced window management. This version also simplified multi-tasking by allowing users to run multiple items simultaneously without locking the interface and introduced drag-and-drop functionality for datasets and variables into programs. The new search pane, updated favorites, and general enhancements streamlined the user experience. It also provided documentation in the Help Center on support.sas.com.

What is Zendesk Explore?

Zendesk Explore is a reporting and analytics solution that provides insights into customer support operations. It enables organizations to analyze and visualize their customer support data, helping them to understand customer interactions across multiple channels. Users can create custom reports and dashboards to track key performance indicators, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve customer service.

SAS Enterprise Guide vs Zendesk Explore

Functionality and Usage

SAS Enterprise Guide is primarily a Windows GUI tool designed for analytics, report generation, and data manipulation, catering to the needs of analysts and business intelligence departments. In contrast, Zendesk Explore serves as a reporting and analytics platform focusing on customer service and engagement data.

Data Handling and Analysis

While both tools offer analytic capabilities, SAS Enterprise Guide excels in handling large datasets and performing complex data cleaning and analysis tasks. It is frequently used in domains like Credit Risk Analytics for model validation and analytics queries. Zendesk Explore, however, is tailored towards analyzing customer service interactions and trends.

Report Generation and Business Application

Both platforms provide report generation features, but SAS Enterprise Guide is more versatile in terms of the types of data it can shape for reports, such as those needed by research departments. Zendesk Explore's reports are specialized for customer support metrics and service operations.

Integration and Process Management

SAS Enterprise Guide offers the ability to schedule, run, and track version history of processes, including from a SharePoint site, a feature not typically associated with Zendesk Explore, which focuses on seamless integration with the Zendesk customer support ecosystem.

User Interface and Experience

The point-and-click interface of SAS Enterprise Guide is designed for creating graphics, transforming data, and performing statistical analysis without the need for advanced programming skills. Zendesk Explore also provides a user-friendly interface but is tailored towards visualizing customer service data and metrics.

Regulatory Compliance and Data Management

SAS Enterprise Guide is praised for its capacity to manage large datasets and adhere to regulatory requirements, an essential feature for industries with stringent data governance standards. Zendesk Explore, while offering data visualization and reporting, does not specifically emphasize regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the latest version of SAS Enterprise Guide and when was it released?

SAS Enterprise Guide 8.3 is the latest version and it was released in August 2020.

What are some of the new features included in SAS Enterprise Guide 8.3?

SAS Enterprise Guide 8.3 includes upgrades to the .NET Framework and VC++, hot fixes, security patches, and support for Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise.

Can SAS Enterprise Guide connect directly to workspace servers?

Yes, SAS Enterprise Guide 8.2 and later allows users to connect directly to workspace servers.

Does SAS Enterprise Guide offer any integration with version control systems?

SAS Enterprise Guide 8.2 features a new Git integration user interface, facilitating version control.

Is SAS Enterprise Guide compatible with Windows 11?

Yes, starting in November 2021, SAS Enterprise Guide is supported on Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise.

Sourcetable: A No-Code, Data-Centric Alternative

Sourcetable stands out as a flexible alternative to SAS Enterprise Guide and Zendesk Explore, offering a robust no-code environment for data analysis. With its capacity for bulk CSV analysis and over 100 integrations, Sourcetable streamlines data consolidation, making it a one-stop solution for data handling.

Unleash the power of business intelligence without complex coding. Sourcetable's spreadsheet interface simplifies querying, enabling real-time data manipulation. Its automated reporting and interactive visualizations transform data into actionable insights without the steep learning curve of SAS or the customer service focus of Zendesk.

Optimize your data infrastructure with Sourcetable's turnkey data warehouse. It ensures data integrity with end-to-end encryption and backup systems, while preventing data overwriting. Its AI assistant and templates accelerate report generation, fostering efficient data collaboration across teams.