SAS Enterprise Guide Reviews

“Data analysis hub”

Pros

Visual interface makes it simple to plan and move through each ETL step, ending up with tables and data that are clear to read and easy to export. On top of that, it still lets you use SQL within the workflow which makes the tool feel flexible, practical and very user-friendly.

Cons

There aren't many issues but a few bugs can still cause small inconveniences. Also, when a query takes a long time to complete, the progress or status feedback can sometimes be unclear.

“Useful and effective”

Pros

The point and click feature is super helpful and makes it really easy for beginners to understand.

Cons

Some of the point-and-click methods take wayyy longer than just programming it out.

“It is solid but a bit slow in processing”

Pros

You can do pretty much anything if you know the right syntax.

Cons

The SAS syntax can be pretty confusing, and the documentation doesn't really help much.

“Excellent product for banking professionals!”

Pros

SAS Enterprise Guide is great because it really guides you through your code, reducing syntax errors. It provides helpful formula hints and offers excellent documentation on the SAS platform.

Cons

One downside of using it is the limited access to different data sources.

“Great tool”

Pros

The interface is easy to use, plus you can write custom code if needed.

Cons

Nothing major stands out, but what's up with the minimum character limit?? Thats so silly.

“Easy to use yet powerful analytics tool”

Pros

SAS EG is really user-friendly with easy-to-navigate tools and options. It also helps you avoid mistakes by prompting you for procedure names and dataset names in permanent libraries. The analytical and modeling procedures are powerful and flexible, yet intuitive.

Cons

The visualization tools aren't very flexible and the SAS documentation can be hard to follow, especially when you're troubleshooting model issues.

“Simple to navigate”

Pros

It's really customizable. You can either write separate pieces of code or have a program that combines different codes that work together, making complex processes easier to manage.

Cons

There's definitely a learning curve to mastering SAS Enterprise Guide.

“Easy and simple app for analytics and SAS code development”

Pros

I like the way the data and macro/program workspaces are organized and how you can do basic analysis either through the wizard or by coding.

Cons

The UI feels a bit outdated compared to other analytics tools, and it doesn't directly connect to version control systems like Git.

“It is amazing for data management and analytics”

Pros

It's a one-stop shop for developing SAS programs, with great ease of use, integration, and customer support.

Cons

I don't know of any issues. it's probably the best tool for developers.

“My Favourite!!!”

Pros

I've been using SAS EG for over 10 years in research and the insurance industry. I use it every day and love it more each day. It has an excellent user interface and powerful features. Highly recommend it!

Cons

Managing it administratively can be a bit tricky, especially when tasks aren't straightforward.

“my experience”

Pros

Interface feels simple and easy so moving through the different features is quick and doesn't take much effort. The drag-and-drop tools for building analysis code are especially helpful and save me time when I need to run the same tasks. It also integrates well with other SAS products and technologies, such as SAS Visual Analytics which gives me access to the full power of SAS programming along with additional analytics and advanced reporting capabilities whenever I need them. Another plus is that it's not limited to drag-and-drop only since I can also write code directly which adds the flexibility needed to cover different use cases.

Cons

I'd like to see better performance when working on tasks that involve processing large volumes of data and I also wish there were more options to customize the graphical interface.

“love it”

Pros

Analytics work well in this tool and I also appreciate the way it keeps data secure for me.

Cons

It would be even better if universities offered it so employees could be trained on it before entering the workforce.

“perfect for analytics”

Pros

For me, it serves as a very capable tool for statistical analysis, predictive model development and broader data management tasks. Enterprise Guide can read data from multiple formats and locations, whether on servers or local folders which makes it very useful for handling large databases in my work. I can also run code through rsubmit directly on the server so I can take advantage of server-side power and process data much faster in my projects. I can either write SAS code or build workflows using connected nodes that perform different data operations, depending on what I need. In both cases, I get clear, detailed output reports and I can rely on logs to trace errors when something goes wrong in my runs.

Cons

Speed is one issue I've noticed, as it can run quite slowly especially when using PROC SQL.

“Appreciate the statistical analysis”

Pros

This platform works as a data management and analysis tool that I can use both with object-oriented programming and SAS code. That dual approach makes it easier for me as a beginner to get started while still giving advanced users like me the flexibility to run deeper analyses when needed. It handles data transformation, advanced statistical analysis and predictive modeling very well in my experience. I can also manage large datasets without noticeable slowdowns when working on my end. On top of that, I can generate summary reports from my analyses even though I find those reporting features somewhat limited.

Cons

From my experience, installation and configuration in SAS Enterprise Guide could definitely be improved. It usually requires significant effort from the IT department which ends up consuming a lot of time. I also feel license renewal could be handled better, ideally made automatic and online so it wouldn't require IT involvement every time.

“Advanced data analysis toolkit”

Pros

A graphical interface like this allows me to run analyses, work with data and generate reports in a easy way even when I have less experience in certain areas. I can manage workflows inside a structured yet flexible environment that includes task nodes, queries and SAS programs depending on my needs. Processing is distributed so I can make better use of available resources and reduce computation time in my work. The integration with SAS Grid Manager also lets me run projects on remote servers which gives me more computing power when I need it. I use it for descriptive and inferential analysis, as well as forecasting and optimization and I frequently rely on procedures like REG, GLM and MIXED for hypothesis testing and predictive modeling in my analyses.

Cons

Customer support response time is another area that clearly needs improvement. When I contact the SAS team, it can take days to receive a response even for urgent issues. In my opinion, adding a live chat system would make support much more effective.

“Data workflow manager”

Pros

Managing and analyzing large datasets becomes easier with this tool which offers a wide range of statistical functions to uncover insights hidden in data. For workflow flexibility, I can rely on drag-and-drop features as a less experienced user in some areas or switch to SAS code when more control is needed. In practical use, clustering analysis helps group similar financial instruments and improve portfolio diversification decisions. The interface feels simple and integration with third-party software further improves day-to-day efficiency.

Cons

One limitation I've observed is the lack of customization for both the graphical interface and the reports it produces. The interface layout cannot really be adjusted by rearranging panels and the reporting options do not offer advanced control over visual design. Improving this would make the tool more flexible and user-friendly.

“Statistical modeling software”

Pros

In data processing tasks, operations, transformations and analysis can be performed efficiently while combining information from multiple sources even when formats differ. Depending on workload, processes can be run locally using PC resources or executed through resubmit to leverage server power. This flexibility supports handling complex tasks on large datasets at a reasonable speed. SAS Guide programming supports detailed statistical analysis while the visual drag-and-drop approach helps when faster results are needed or when junior team members are involved.

Cons

Working with this tool also feels limited in scenarios where real-time financial data is required. In my work, this restricts its use to specific tasks and prevents me from fully utilizing its computing power and features.

“Data reporting tool”

Pros

Building predictive models is possible even with large datasets using the SAS programming language. The language remains flexible, allowing reuse of standardized code or writing specific steps based on requirements. Through its procedures, statistical methods such as linear, logistic and quantile regression, clustering and model evaluation using metrics like R-squared or gAUC can be performed.

Cons

To perform deeper analysis or estimate models, I've found that SAS programming knowledge is necessary and learning it can take around 3 to 6 months to reach a decent level. Basic statistical knowledge is also required to interpret results properly. Although outputs are very detailed, they do not provide enough guidance on interpretation which would make the software more user-friendly.

“Enterprise data workspace”

Pros

Advanced data analysis and dashboard creation are supported, enabling in-depth exploration of results. When properly configured, server computing power can be used instead of relying solely on a local machine, improving performance on large datasets. Scheduling SAS programs at specific times helps avoid system overload during peak hours. For example, overnight data quality checks on large banking datasets can be executed without disrupting daily operations. Although installation takes time, available manuals make configuration manageable within enterprise systems.

Cons

Handling large databases on-screen is another challenge, as the system is not very responsive when applying filters directly. In such cases, I usually need to create smaller tables using a data step and work from those instead. A more basic and smoother table visualization would improve usability.

“love the layout”

Pros

Data analysis, statistical modeling and report generation can be performed with minimal coding through a graphical interface. Analysis flows are created using predefined blocks that simplify data manipulation. The workspace is divided into analysis flow, results, tables and log sections, helping maintain structure and clarity. Execution logs are frequently used to track details, warnings and errors during code runs.

Cons

Installation takes a long time in my experience and even though the documentation is fairly complete, certain situations still require contacting SAS support which is not always quick to respond. Since the software is installed locally, setup must be repeated for each new user and license renewals also have to be done manually on each machine which becomes very time-consuming for IT teams.