The LeapFrogBI Platform

Hyper-fast SQL Server ETL development.

The LeapFrogBI Platform automates development of SQL Server data solutions. Now you can speed development without spending a fortune.


Development Level

Efficiency Advantage

Quality Control

Flexibility

Total Cost

Automation

10x faster

Best practices built-in

Unlimited customization

Lowest

ETL Tools

Accelerator

2x faster

Developer dependent

Unlimited customization

High

SQL

Manual coding

None

Developer dependent

Unlimited customization

Highest

Cut Development Hours by 90%

Problem

Data must be transformed before it can be utilized by reporting tools. This requires (ETL) programming, and in the case of a data warehouse it is incredibly challenging, even for experts, typically accounting for 70% of total project effort.

Until recently, there was no way around it. Whether you used SQL, or tools like SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), Data Stage and Informatica, the process was painstakingly slow. This, in turn, made it impossible to apply modern, agile development principles to BI projects. These tools also did little to enforce best practices or prevent errors. All of which has led to the high cost of business intelligence projects.

Solution

With LeapFrogBI, developers can go from design to deployed data solution in 1/10th the time required to develop ETL code using traditional methods. It automates routine development tasks which saves time, enforces best practices and reduces errors. It removes 90% of development costs, and enables an iterative BI process that produces superior outcomes.

Using LFBI for industrial grade ETL I’m amazed at how it accelerates development, seamlessly documents, and yields a complete solution including persistent staging, parallel execution, and 360° reports. Streamlined maintenance means LFBI adeptly pays for itself. Wholeheartedly recommend!

— Rob Newkirk [Solution Architect, Willis Towers Watson]

Get To Know The Platform

Platform Introduction – 2 Minutes

Watch this short video to see how using the LeapFrogBI Platform differs from other ways of developing ETL code. You’ll immediately understand why we use it every day to deliver services to our clients.

Take the challenge

Match your ETL coding skills against LeapFrogBI. How long would it take you to develop a simple star-schema data warehouse, including one fact and four dimensions? Watch as we use the platform to do it in just 15 minutes!

Develop in the cloud without putting your data in the cloud.

The LeapFrogBI Platform gives you the best of both worlds. Access it anywhere, anytime, using any web browser. There’s no need to contend with software installation or maintenance.

When it comes to data security, using LeapFrogBI is no different from developing on premise. Your data never leaves your data center. In fact, LeapFrogBI never connects to your data sources or destinations. Instead, it utilizes only your data’s structure – its metadata – to facilitate development. When finished, LeapFrogBI generates SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) packages that you can download and deploy.

The tool is easy to use and simplifies the entire design, deploy, and support process. In addition, the LFBI team is great to work with.

— Erik Skov [Managing Consultant, Catapult Systems]

Features that will make your day

The LeapFrogBI Platform is all about enabling you to build, extend, and modify your data solution efficiently.  What is efficiency?  Automate repetitive tasks.  Work at the highest level a task allows.  Use heuristics.  Or in other words, when we find a problem that seems to be wasting time, find a smart way to solve that problem without brute force.

  • Dimensional modeling built in

    Implementing a dimensional model is much simpler when your tools understand dimensional modeling concepts.  The LeapFrogBI Platform is designed to implement dimensional models.  So, if you need a degenerate dimension in your fact table or an attribute to be tracked SCD2 then simple click the right button.  LeapFrogBI understand the behavior you are requesting and generated assets to match.

  • Load status email notifications

    Monitoring the load process is an important maintenance step.  LeapFrogBI simplifies this task by generating email notifications when the load process start, completes, and/or fails.  You can use your own email server and setup email recipients for each environment independently.

  • Automated load process

    LeapFrogBI automates the load process.  All you need to do is define the load time and deploy the solution.  LeapFrogBI will setup the load process and execute it on the prescribed schedule.  Both functional and resource constraints are taken into account to ensure the load process is completed as efficiently and accurately as possible.

  • Custom naming standards

    Naming standards are important to both the development team and the end user of all data solutions.  LeapFrogBI enables you to designate naming standards at the project level so that each component within the project is required to conform to the prescribed standard.

  • Easy upgrade / downgrade

    Your SQL Server version is eventually going to change.  The last thing you want to do when SQL Server is upgraded is manually upgrade all of your ETL assets.  LeapFrogBI makes upgrading very simple.  Set your project to deploy to the new version of SQL Server, queue a build, and deploy.  All done.

  • Generate native code

    Nobody likes to deal with proprietary assets that can only be understood by the vendor that created them.  LeapFrogBI understands this clearly which is why LeapFrogBI has zero, none, nada, zip post deployment dependencies.  This means that every bit of code that LeapFrogBI generates is native code.

  • Project lifecycle management

    Lifecycle management is important to all projects.  You must have a very systematic way to deploy to your development environment followed by test and eventually the production environment.  In the LeapFrogBI platform you declare your environments at the project level.  When you queue a build the output will use the selected lifecycle’s environment specific values.  Connections are also defined for each lifecycle which makes dealing with minor topology differences between environments easy to deal with.

  • Redirect source

    Sometimes our source systems change.  This reality demands that we are able to redirect to a new source as efficiently as possible.  Components in LeapFrogBI can be redirected to a new source quickly and easily.  The platform will prompt the user with a list of in use assets and enable these assets to be mapped to a new source.  Click update and you are done.

  • Pattern Based Development

    Pattern based development is super nice way to expedite development while ensuring that a consistent process is followed.  Building a data solution often requires hundreds of steps to be completed.  Design patterns can be used to implement groups of steps nearly instantly.  For example, when loading a dimension, we need to collect data from our source, apply delta load logic, consolidate the data, track load status, ensure the data is at the appropriate grain, load the target dimension, and mark the record as being processed.  A design pattern can do all of these steps in just a few clicks.

  • Extended Logging

    Maintaining accurate logs is important to troubleshooting and performance optimization.  LeapFrogBI generates logs specifically designed for data solutions such as component lapse times, record counts, and upsert counts.  Platform users do not need to lift a finger.  This is 100% automatic.

  • Prebuilt monitoring solution

    LeapFrogBI not only generates logs, it also gives you a nice monitoring solution to easily access the logs.  A prebuilt SQL Server Reporting Services project exposes logs and present key trends in visualizations.  You always have access to verbose logs either via the monitoring solution or by accessing logs directly through SQL Server facilities.

  • Fully validated expression builder

    Not everyone is a coder.  An easy to use expression builder is built into the platform exposing the full power of the T-SQL language to all users.  Grammar and syntax are checked to ensure that expressions are successfully executed.  Not sure what value is required for the first argument of the DATENAME function?  No problem.  LeapFrogBI has you covered.

  • Statistics collection

    All fields can have statistics collected.  These statistics can be used in your project for things like delta load logic or they may be used to keep track of key values via the monitoring solution.  To collect a statistic, you simply check the box next to the chosen aggregation method.  LeapFrogBI will be sure to present the user with only appropriate aggregation methods based on the selected field data type.

  • Visual data flow

    LeapFrogBI auto generates a visual diagram describing your project’s data flow and relationships.  You can see graphically how your data flow is designed and you can navigate using the graphical interface.  Choose between related, dimensional model, and entire model views of the diagram to focus in on the area of your project you are interested in viewing.

  • Portable assets

    It is always a good idea to design development assets such that they can be moved from one environment to the next without requiring any changes.  LeapFrogBI achieves this by implementing centralized configuration along with an indirect connection to configuration.  So, if you want to move your solution to a new server then you can do so without regenerating the development assets.  You also can move asset between dev, test, and production environments without queuing a new build.

  • Copy components

    Copy and paste is nothing new, but it is not exactly the simplest thing to do when we are working with complex data flows.  LeapFrogBI gives you the ability to make exact copies of a component.  These copies can then be redirected to consume a new source or they can be consumed by a new downstream process.

  • Bulk profile

    The LeapFrogBI platform never connects to your data source, but it absolutely needs to understand your data source’s structure.  To accomplish this the user provides profiles which contain a description of the source data to be collected.  To make collecting profiles extremely easy, a profile generator is used.  Basically the generator consumes the definition of the data you want to collect, and generates profiles containing fields and data types.  These profiles are then submitted to LeapFrogBI in bulk for processing enabling users to create hundreds of stage process extremely quickly, for example.

  • Multiple file stage

    Do you need to collect data from a large number of flat files with the same structure?  You are in luck.  LeapFrogBI’s multiple-file-stage process can be configured to process large numbers of flat files quickly with minimal configuration.  The files can be uncompressed and moved to a success or failure location after processing is complete.

  • FTP pickup

    FTP is a common way to transfer files.  LeapFrogBI has a simple FTP collection process requiring minimal configuration.  Users define the server and files to be collected, and LeapFrogBI generates assets to complete the file transfer at the prescribed point in the load process.

  • REST API data collection

    Cloud data sources are becoming more prevalent every day.  The REST API data collection component allows users to collect data from an anonymous authentication REST API source and store the data locally.  Because LeapFrogBI generates only native code, this same component can be modified to collect data from other types of APIs as well with minimal development effort.

  • Unlimited customization

    You are free to code at will if you like.  In fact, there are mechanisms built into the platform to make it simple to integrate custom code with the platform developed assets.  You can create custom expressions, execute custom scripts, or even execute custom SSIS packages.

  • Full lineage view

    LeapFrogBI keeps track of your lineage to the most minute detail.  Click on a field, and LeapFrogBI presents a full up and downstream dependency map including all uses such as fields and expressions.  This make life easy when trying to determine the impact of a change.

  • Managed schema

    LeapFrogBI not only generates the target schema, it also alters the target schema as your project definition changes.  The deploy process (one click) validates the target schema and determines which alterations are required.  It couldn’t be much easier.

  • Load rollback

    During development we might make a change only to later find that we want to roll that change back.  LeapFrogBI upon request will create a snapshot database and a rollback job to do exactly this.  Knowing that your latest load process can be rolled back at the click of a button is a very valuable tool to have in your tool chest.

How does LeapFrogBI compare to
Wherescape Red and TimeXtender?

(hover for details)

Upfront Cost

Ongoing Cost

Product Updates

Supported Data Sources

Stage & Consolidate

Operational Data Store

Data Warehouse

Dimensional Modeling

Cube Generation

Deploy to SQL Server

Zero Post-Deployment Dependencies

Generate Native Code

Target Schema Managed

Multiple Environment Support

Automated Load Execution

Load Status Notifications

Load Monitoring

Easy Load Rollback

Incremental Load

Change Detection

Unlimited Customization

Visual Data Flow Diagram

Data Lineage Tracked

Incremental Dev (Agile)

Enforce Naming Standards

Data Dictionary

$0

$950 per month

(no contract)

Automatic

Any source

WhereScape Red

$50,000 per developer

20% of purchase

cost every year

Download and install

Any source

TimeXtender

$50,000 per server

+ $4,000 per developer

20% of purchase

cost every year

Download and install

Any source

LeapFrogBI’s ability to catch changes that cause dependent packages to need revising is key to iterative BI releases. Because LeapFrogBI was designed to accommodate SCRUM teams, it enables promotion of assets through your development, test, and finally production environments.

— Jayme Edwards [Senior Consultant & Author, Powerdelivery]

LeapFrogBI Platform $950

per month

Hyper-Fast ETL Automation

Unrestricted Company Wide Access

Unlimited Users

Dedicated Support

Persistent Staging Area Creation

Operational Data Store Creation

Data Warehouse Creation

Start Free Trial

Start Using the LeapFrogBI Platform Today!

Start a free trial to get immediate and unrestricted access to the platform with full support.

The LeapFrogBI Platform is licensed on a per-company basis. After subscribing you will be able to add additional users from your company at no extra cost.

30-day risk-free trial

No credit card required

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get more information?

Drop us a note and we’ll get right back to you.

How does the free trial work?

If you are not completely satisfied with any subscription you may cancel any time within the trial period and you will never be charged.

How long is the subscription term?

All subscriptions are month-to-month.

How do I cancel my subscription?

You may cancel, or even pause your subscription by contacting support@leapfrogfbi.com any time before the first day of the subscription month.

How do I change my subscription?

You may upgrade or downgrade your subscription simply by contacting support@leapfrogfbi.com any time before the first day of the subscription month.

How do you bill, and how can I pay?

We invoice for LeapFrogBI platform at the start of each subscription month and you can pay by check or by credit card for a small service fee upon request.

Do I have to keep paying if I’m not actively using it?

If your development needs ebb and flow, you can pause your subscription and resume it at a later date without losing any data.

How can I collaborate with other developers on my team?

An unlimited number of developers can work within the same account.  Work is delineated by project, and multiple developers can freely work within the same project simultaneously.  Tools such as the ability to leave comments and tag components with a custom defined status are part of every project.  The LeapFrogBI platform fosters team based development.

What training and support is available?

We’ve developed a library of self-paced training videos, and a knowledge base comtaining answers to common questions. You can also email support@leapfrogbi.com anytime and we’ll get back to you within one business day. We’re also glad to jump on a call or web meeting if desired.

What happens after I sign up?

You will be logged into the platform and may immediately begin using all of its features with no restrictions.