Big Data Analytics: Teradata Launches Aster Discovery Platform

Teradata (TDC) announced the Aster Discovery Platform - part of a new generation of solutions that includes Aster SQL-GR, a graph engine, and the Teradata SNAP Framework (Teradata Aster Seamless Network Analytic Processing Framework).

“Recent IDC research revealed that only 10 percent of organizations have the features and functionality needed to explore data and discover insights. There are clearly many opportunities for improvement,” said Dan Vesset, program vice president, Business Analytics and Big Data, IDC. “An integrated data discovery platform should be part of every organization’s portfolio. Without this capability, organizations have a real void in their business analytics strategy.”

Able to scale to millions of nodes or processing units the Aster SQL-GR graph engine is unique because it is scalable, processes big data in parallel, and is not limited by system memory. It enables native processing of large-scale analytic graph queries and pre-built graph functions and can be used for customer churn, product affinity, fraud detection, and recommendation engines.

Teradata SNAP Framework enables multiple analytic engines and file stores to be seamlessly “snapped” together based on the customers’ tailored discovery needs. The tightly integrated components within the Teradata SNAP Framework empower users to delve deeply into data for new competitive insights by leveraging multiple analytical capabilities – like graph, MapReduce, text, statistical, time series, and SQL-based analytics.

“The innovative design of the Aster Discovery Platform will liberate data scientists around the world by reducing complexity, breaking down analytic silos, and magnifying analytic ability,” said Scott Gnau, president, Teradata Labs.

The power lies in performing one iterative SQL statement to invoke one or all of the SQL, MapReduce, text analytics, statistical analytics, or graph analytics capabilities in a single solution. The new capabilities will accelerate the discovery process and empower business users to visualize information in exciting and valuable ways. For example, retailers search for specific low profit margin food items that influence the purchase of high profit items.

Teradata has added new pre-built functions that can be accessed from a common SQL framework. Aster Discovery Platform also extends in-database analytics and discovery with the integration of Fuzzy Logix’s 600-plus advanced analytic algorithms. The analytic functions further empower the data scientist and analyst to rapidly dig into data with the insightful, interactive visualizations delivered through a Web browser and common business intelligence tools.

“We use the Teradata Aster Discovery Platform to better understand our customers’ unique needs. The resulting insights help us update the Gilt Group website with the most relevant, personalized product offers,” Geoff Guerdat, Director of Data Engineering, Gilt Group.