IBM InfoSphere Optim vs Oracle Essbase comparison

IBM and Oracle are both solutions in the Database Development and Management category. IBM is ranked #16 with an average rating of 7.0, while Oracle is ranked #12 with an average rating of 8.6. IBM holds a 2.5% mindshare in DDM, compared to Oracle’s 1.0% mindshare. Additionally, 66% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Oracle users who would recommend it.

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Read 3 IBM InfoSphere Optim reviews

582 Views
240 Comparison Views

66% willing to recommend

Oracle Essbase

Read 14 Oracle Essbase reviews

136 Views
95 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Oracle Essbase

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 23, 2025

Oracle Essbase and IBM InfoSphere Optim are competing products in data management and analytics. Oracle Essbase stands out for its cost-effectiveness and support, while IBM InfoSphere Optim justifies a higher cost with advanced features.

Features: Oracle Essbase features multi-dimensional data modeling, real-time analysis, and efficient analytical capacities. IBM InfoSphere Optim includes comprehensive data lifecycle management, archiving solutions, and advanced data governance functionalities.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Oracle Essbase is straightforward to deploy, complemented by responsive customer service. IBM InfoSphere Optim requires more complex deployment but offers substantial support to assist with its detailed setup processes.

Pricing and ROI: Oracle Essbase offers lower setup costs with quick ROI due to easy deployment and immediate analytics benefits. IBM InfoSphere Optim, though more costly upfront, provides long-term ROI through extensive data management features that enhance data governance and compliance.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Oracle Essbase Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Oracle Essbase

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IBM InfoSphere Optim

Ranking in Database Development and Management

16th

Average Rating

6.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Oracle Essbase

Ranking in Database Development and Management

12th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

5.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Database Development and Management category, the mindshare of IBM InfoSphere Optim is 2.5%, up from 2.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Essbase is 1.0%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Database Development and Management

Featured Reviews

Ajai Lal

Project Manager at Mphasis

Very supportive of Db2 and easy to customize, but IMS features are not user friendly and the support of these features is lacking

We work on two different types of databases, one being IMS and the other Db2. While the solution is very supportive of Db2, it is not so friendly when it comes to IMS databases. When we had questions for the support team conerning the IMS database, we found their knowledge to be lacking, likely owing to lack of experience on their part. I would not say that the initial setup is complex. Neither would I say that it is straightforward. Certain features require technical knowledge.

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RANOJOY PAUL

Analyst at Tata Consultancy

Stores multidimensional data, good customer support and interface is very easy

It is very fast compared to other normal databases, like SQL and MySQL. It doesn't store data in tables in the back end. To load data into Essbase, we need to prepare it in a table format. When we find the data in the table, we need to verify it. This way, you can rate the data. But Essbase stores multidimensional data. We have dimensions, which means the data belongs to some company or some time period. For example, if you work for three years, your salary should be something. In this way, we prepare top-level members called dimensions. The dimension defines your position, the year, and the section you were working in the company. We get an intersection of all these dimensions for certain data, and fetching that data is very fast in Essbase compared to normal SQL. If you store this data in a normal SQL table, you need to prepare a row with your company name, employee name, employee ID, joining date, and everything, and then you need to push it into a SQL table. You can search it using your query, but here, that thing is different. Here, you can collect data using forms, reports, and we use a Microsoft tool, which is an add-in called Smart View. Using that, you would just take that data. Here, you need to just create an integration of all these dimensions, and then only you can find the data.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"I feel the solution to be a bit faster than the traditional methods, which makes it easy to customize."

"We like that we can easily restore the database with just a few clicks. The database is linked as well."

"It's a very powerful analytical engine with Essbase as the back end. We can analyze, transform, or utilize a big chunk of data for our calculations."

"It is highly efficient and easily scalable, particularly for handling large databases."

"Unlike relational, where you're linking together multiple tables, with Essbase, you basically define what the dimensions are beforehand, and you define the hierarchy, and then load the data. This allows you to do a pretty sophisticated analysis so that you can drill into it and slice and dice the data."

"The solution is scalable."

"Essbase is extremely stable and low-maintenance."

"Essbase is a kind of backbone, or back end, for systems like Hyperion Planning."

"Oracle Essbase is a web integration system that integrates with other data systems."

"The solution is stable and reliable."

More Oracle Essbase pros

Cons

"We're looking for a solution that can be implemented on AWS. IBM InfoSphere Optim can be implemented on AWS, but it costs more than double what we're currently paying. So, it's not really of good value for us."

"While the solution is very supportive of Db2, it is not so friendly when it comes to IMS databases."

"The reporting tool of Essbase needs improvement."

"The initial setup is pretty complex."

"Essbase has a programming language, and it has a couple of functions to do forecasting, however, their feature set for that is not that good."

"The ability to drive external reporting out for development could be improved."

"The initial setup could be simplified."

"The consolidation engine, which is HFM or FCCS, needs some room for improvement."

"The main concern is that Oracle is ending on-premises server support, so it would be better if there was a cloud platform available for Oracle Essbase."

"There is room for improvement in terms of cost-effectiveness."

More Oracle Essbase cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"IBM InfoSphere Optim is a very expensive solution. Actually, it's the most expensive archiving solution that we have."

"It is a costly solution."

"Essbase is competitively priced."

"I believe the licensing is on a monthly base."

"The solution is expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

27%

Insurance Company

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

Financial Services Firm

23%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Essbase?

It's not that expensive, but also not cheap. I'm not sure because it's a private license.

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What needs improvement with Oracle Essbase?

If I got the opportunity to work with Hyperion, which is the best product, I would definitely go with that. The main concern is that Oracle is ending on-premises server support, so it would be bett...

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What is your primary use case for Oracle Essbase?

We provide complete ownership of this application to Walmart projects. In the UK system, we support and develop for the Asda account, known as Eltham. We provide installation and support to over 50...

See all answers

Comparisons

Informatica Data Archive vs IBM InfoSphere Optim

Compared 55% of the time

Solix Enterprise Data Management vs IBM InfoSphere Optim

Compared 45% of the time

More IBM InfoSphere Optim Competitors

Microsoft Power BI vs Oracle Essbase

Compared 30% of the time

SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence Platform vs Oracle Essbase

Compared 16% of the time

SAP Analytics Cloud vs Oracle Essbase

Compared 14% of the time

IBM Planning Analytics vs Oracle Essbase

Compared 7% of the time

Tableau vs Oracle Essbase

Compared 6% of the time

More Oracle Essbase Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Database Development and Management

March 2025

Download IBM InfoSphere Optim product report

Buyer's Guide

Oracle Essbase

March 2025

Download Oracle Essbase product report

Also Known As

IBM Optim, Optim

Essbase

Overview

IBM Optim solutions manage data from requirements to retirement. They boost performance, empower collaboration, and improve governance across applications, databases and platforms. By managing data properly over its lifetime, organisations are better equipped to support business goals with less risk.

IBM

Oracle Essbase is an OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) Server that provides an environment for deploying pre-packaged applications or developing custom analytic and enterprise performance management applications.

Oracle

Sample Customers

Durham Police Department, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., Continental, KCE Electronics Public Company Limited, The University of Adelaide, Migros Zurich, COPROB

CHU de Rennes, Bellco Credit Union, Akindo Sushiro Co. Ltd, Deutsche Telekom AG, Samarco MineraÊo S.A., PCCW Ltd., QDQ media S.A.U., Boiron Italia, Specialized Bicycle Components Inc., Akindo Sushiro Co. Ltd., Air Canada, Daelim Industrial Co. Ltd.

Buyer's Guide

IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Oracle Essbase

March 2025

Free Report: IBM InfoSphere Optim vs. Oracle Essbase

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