Right now I’m handling ETL processes and data transformation using Power BI for about 20 different data sources. The manual work is really overwhelming and takes way too much time.
Our team was originally planning to use Dell Boomi for data integration tasks. But now our company just purchased Incorta licenses and management wants us to use that instead. From what I understand, Incorta works more like a business intelligence platform similar to Power BI with reporting capabilities and data storage features.
I’m wondering if going with Boomi would actually be more efficient for our data processing needs? Are the training requirements similar when comparing Boomi versus Incorta?
I know Boomi handles data extraction and loading really well, and we could still use Incorta for creating reports and dashboards. Just trying to figure out if this approach makes sense from both a cost and productivity standpoint.
Been there - dealt with 30+ sources when management bought Tableau Prep licenses and wanted us to scrap our ETL pipeline.
We wasted 6 months forcing everything through one platform. The real problem isn’t your tools - it’s all that manual transformation work that shouldn’t exist.
With 20 sources, ask yourself why you’re manually transforming so much data. Half those sources probably have APIs or better exports you’re not using.
Start with your 5-7 cleanest sources in Incorta. Pick the ones that don’t need complex joins or heavy transformation. Show management what’s possible.
For the messy data, track every hour you spend fighting Incorta’s limitations. When you ask for Boomi later, you’ll have real numbers.
Everyone gets training backwards. Incorta looks easier but you’ll spend months learning workarounds. Boomi’s harder upfront, but once you build templates, everything speeds up.
Don’t fight the Incorta decision. Use it to prove you need proper integration tools.
The Problem: You’re handling ETL processes and data transformation for 20 data sources using Power BI, finding the manual work overwhelming and time-consuming. Your company purchased Incorta licenses, but you’re questioning whether using a hybrid approach—Incorta for reporting and Dell Boomi for data integration—would be more efficient and cost-effective. You’re also considering the training requirements for both platforms.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Many organizations face challenges when integrating numerous data sources. Manual ETL processes are inefficient and prone to errors. While Incorta offers a streamlined approach to data integration and reporting, its capabilities may be limited when dealing with complex data transformations and data quality issues from diverse sources. Using Incorta for reporting and a dedicated ETL/integration tool like Boomi for data transformation can offer a more robust and scalable solution. This hybrid approach leverages the strengths of each platform, optimizing for both speed and data quality. Choosing the right toolset depends heavily on the complexity of your data and the skill set of your team.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Pilot Incorta with Simple Sources: Before committing fully, start by integrating your 5-7 easiest data sources into Incorta. Focus on sources with minimal transformation needs. This allows you to:
Familiarize your team with Incorta’s interface and capabilities. If your team is already proficient with Power BI, the learning curve should be relatively smooth.
Assess Incorta’s performance and limitations firsthand. Observe how it handles data ingestion, transformation, and reporting for these simpler datasets.
Gain early, demonstrable successes to showcase Incorta’s value to management.
Track Time Spent on Complex Transformations: As you work with more complex data sources in Incorta, meticulously track the time spent on data transformations that require workarounds or exceed Incorta’s capabilities. Document each instance, noting the specific challenges faced and the time invested in resolving them. This data will be crucial for justifying the use of Boomi later.
Identify Sources Requiring Boomi: After the Incorta pilot, clearly identify the data sources that proved too complex or time-consuming to handle efficiently within Incorta. These are your candidates for integration using Boomi.
Develop a Hybrid Approach Proposal: Based on your findings, propose a hybrid strategy:
Incorta: Use Incorta as your primary reporting and dashboarding platform, focusing on data sources it can handle effectively.
Boomi: Utilize Boomi for ETL and data integration tasks for complex data sources and those requiring substantial transformation. Leverage Boomi’s capabilities to clean and prepare data before it reaches Incorta for reporting.
Present a Cost-Benefit Analysis: Compare the cost of additional Boomi licenses to the cost of continued manual work and potential delays caused by Incorta’s limitations in handling complex transformations. Highlight the improved efficiency and reduced manual effort that a hybrid approach would provide. Quantify the time savings using the data collected in Step 2.
Secure Management Buy-In: Present your proposal to management, emphasizing the data-driven cost-benefit analysis and the benefits of a hybrid approach. Showcase the early successes achieved with Incorta and demonstrate how Boomi can address the remaining challenges.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Underestimating Incorta’s Limitations: Incorta is powerful, but it isn’t a universal solution. Understand its limitations regarding complex data transformations and data quality issues. Don’t try to force-fit every data source into Incorta.
Ignoring Data Quality: Address data quality issues early in the process. Boomi can help with data cleansing and transformation before loading data into Incorta for reporting.
Insufficient Training: Plan for thorough training on both platforms. While Incorta’s interface is generally intuitive, Boomi requires more specialized knowledge.
Lack of Clear Roles: Define clear roles and responsibilities for your team members when working with both platforms.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
classic management move - buy the shiny new tool and force everyone to use it. incorta’s decent but don’t expect miracles with 20 sources right off the bat. if you know sql, you’ll pick it up pretty quick, but the data modeling takes time to get. i’d test it on your easiest sources first and keep power bi running alongside it.
I’ve used both platforms a lot, and the choice really comes down to your data complexity and what your team knows. Incorta’s Direct Data Platform skips traditional ETL by building a unified data layer - sounds great for 20 sources, right? But here’s the catch: data quality issues and business rules get tricky without proper transformation layers. The learning curves are totally different. Incorta means learning their modeling concepts and SQL optimization tricks. Boomi’s all about integration patterns and connector setups. Your Power BI background will help more with Incorta’s analytics piece. Start with Incorta for basic reporting but keep Power BI for complex transformations. This lets you test Incorta’s transformation features without breaking your current setup. If performance tanks or you hit transformation walls, you’ll have solid proof when pitching the Boomi investment to management.
Been there - management bought expensive licenses and wanted everything crammed into one tool.
Incorta’s decent for analytics but clunky for ETL compared to real integration platforms. You’ll waste time wrestling with data prep instead of analyzing.
Push back on the single tool thing. We run both - integration platform handles heavy ETL, BI tool does what it’s good at. Way more productive.
Training-wise, Boomi’s tougher upfront but once your team gets it, you’ll fly. Incorta’s ETL is easier to learn but you’ll hit walls fast with complex stuff.
Since you’ve got Incorta licenses, start there for simple sources and see how far you get. When complex transformations or performance tank, there’s your business case for Boomi.
Document every pain point and workaround time. Makes selling the hybrid approach to management way easier.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Step-by-Step Guide:
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!