AWS Lambda vs SAP Crystal Server

by Gralio Feb 11, 2025

AWS Lambda excels in serverless computing, simplifying application deployment and scaling. SAP Crystal Server specializes in business intelligence, providing robust reporting and dashboarding capabilities. Choose Lambda for efficient code execution and Crystal Server for comprehensive data analysis.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 1249 reviews and 56 websites, saving 7 hours, 24 minutes of reading.

AWS Lambda

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SAP Crystal Server

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About

AWS Lambda lets you run your applications without worrying about servers. It's like magic! You only pay for the exact time your code runs, and it scales automatically to handle any workload. Upload your code, and AWS Lambda takes care of the rest. It's perfect for busy teams who want to focus on building great software, not managing infrastructure.

SAP Crystal Server is a business intelligence platform allowing companies to transform data into interactive reports and dashboards. It offers a central hub to securely share these reports across your organization, whether through web browsers, mobile devices, or embedded within applications. This makes it easier for decision-makers to access critical information regardless of their location, improving data-driven decision-making.

Summary

Main difference

AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service for running code without managing servers, ideal for event-driven applications and microservices. SAP Crystal Server is a business intelligence platform focused on generating and sharing interactive reports and dashboards, best suited for data analysis and reporting.

Relative strengths of AWS Lambda (compared to SAP Crystal Server)

Serverless architecture simplifies deployment and scaling.
Pay-per-use pricing can be cost-effective for sporadic workloads.
Strong integration with other AWS services.

Relative weaknesses of AWS Lambda (compared to SAP Crystal Server)

Cold starts can introduce latency.
Limited execution time for long-running processes.
Debugging and monitoring can be more complex than traditional applications.

Who should use AWS Lambda VS. SAP Crystal Server

AWS Lambda is a serverless computing platform ideal for developers and businesses seeking to build and deploy applications without managing servers. Users praise its automatic scaling and pay-per-use model, simplifying development and reducing costs. However, some have noted cold starts and debugging complexities as drawbacks. Consider AWS Lambda if you prioritize scalability, cost-efficiency, and seamless integration with other AWS services.

SAP Crystal Server empowers data-driven decisions with interactive reports and dashboards. Users praise its customization, security features, and multi-language support. However, some find the initial setup challenging and the cost high. Best suited for SMBs seeking enhanced reporting and business intelligence but lacking extensive IT resources.

Ideal for small, medium, and large businesses.
Best for IT and software companies.

Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses needing robust reporting and BI.
Strong fit for retail, manufacturing, and public sector organizations.

AWS Lambda and SAP Crystal Server features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

AWS integration

Supported

AWS Lambda is designed to connect to and work with various AWS services.

Partially supported

SAP Crystal Reports can integrate with AWS services like Amazon S3 using specific drivers, but there's no direct information about SAP Crystal Server.
Autoscaling

Supported

AWS Lambda automatically scales compute resources based on demand using provisioned concurrency and Application Auto Scaling.

Unknown

Autoscaling is not mentioned in the provided documentation for SAP Crystal Server.
Azure integration

Partially supported

Lambda can connect to Azure via third-party connectors or Azure Active Directory for authentication.

Partially supported

It's unclear whether SAP Crystal Server directly integrates with Azure. However, Crystal Reports, a related tool, can connect to Azure data sources.
Cloud integration

Supported

AWS Lambda integrates seamlessly with various AWS services and other cloud platforms.

Partially supported

Cloud integration is supported via third-party tools like CData Connect Cloud.
Security groups

Partially supported

Lambda uses security groups to control access to VPC resources, not as firewalls for the function itself.

Not supported

Security groups acting as virtual firewalls for EC2 instances are not supported.
Cold storage

Not supported

Lambda does not offer cold storage. Use Amazon S3 Glacier instead.

Not supported

SAP Crystal Server does not support cold storage.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

+0.66

Rather positive sentiment

No data
Customer Service

+0.67

Rather positive sentiment

No data
Ease of Use

+0.69

Rather positive sentiment

+1

Strongly positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

+0.44

Rather positive sentiment

+0.67

Rather positive sentiment
Ease of Implementation

+0.62

Rather positive sentiment

No data
Scalability

+0.89

Strongly positive sentiment

No data

AWS Lambda and SAP Crystal Server Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Rather positive

+0.66

See full Pricing page

No data

User sentiment

Strongly negative

-1

See full Pricing page

AWS Lambda and SAP Crystal Server review insights

1249 reviews analysed from and

Users love

Serverless architecture simplifies application development by removing server management.
Automatic scaling handles fluctuations in workload efficiently.
Cost-effective pay-per-use pricing model, only paying for compute time consumed.
Integrates well with other AWS services, enabling event-driven architectures.
Supports multiple programming languages, catering to diverse development preferences.

User-friendly interface.
Customizable reports and scheduling.
Robust security features (authentication, access control).
Supports mobile access.
Good performance.
Handles large datasets.
Multi-language support.
Integrates seamlessly with SAP applications.
Automated interactive report generation.
Connects to various data sources (SAP and non-SAP).
Export/share reports in various formats (Excel, PDF).
Pinpoint reports with highlighted KPIs.
Saves reporting and delivery time.
Enhanced reporting features and pace.
Attractive and meaningful reports.
Data visualization capabilities.
Improved data-driven decision making.
Reduced reporting procedures.

Users dislike

Cold starts can cause performance issues, especially for time-sensitive applications.
Limited execution time of 15 minutes can be restrictive for long processes.
Debugging and monitoring serverless functions can be more complex than traditional applications.
Vendor lock-in can be a concern when heavily reliant on the AWS ecosystem.

Difficult initial setup for beginners.
Occasional crashes after running multiple reports.
Inflexible integrations.
Costly, unsuitable for mid-sized organizations.
Slow loading and rendering, especially for complex reports.
No native mobile application.
Limited visualization features compared to MS tools.
Sub-report design requires advanced knowledge.
Slow performance with large datasets.
Ineffective security implementation.
Poor customer support.
Confusing licensing.
Steep learning curve.
Outdated user interface.
Mobile app is desired for remote access.
Slow response time for technical support.
Limited interoperability with non-SAP systems.

AWS Lambda and SAP Crystal Server Ratings

G2

4.6/5

(1050)
Glassdoor

3.7/5

(206324)

G2

4.5/5

(30)
Capterra

4.3/5

(169)

Company health

Employee growth

11% increase in the last year

No data

Web traffic

10% increase in the last quarter

No data

Financing

No data

How do AWS Lambda's cold starts compare to SAP Crystal Server's report rendering speed?

AWS Lambda cold starts, which can cause initial delays in function execution, are a performance concern specifically mentioned by users. While SAP Crystal Server's report rendering speed is sometimes criticized as slow, particularly for complex reports or large datasets, there is no direct comparison of the two available in the provided information. One issue pertains to initial function execution, while the other relates to ongoing report processing time. Therefore, it is impossible to directly compare the two based on this information.

Which product better integrates with existing enterprise data sources for reporting needs?

SAP Crystal Server better integrates with existing enterprise data sources for reporting. Its product description explicitly highlights connecting to various data sources and transforming that data into reports and dashboards. User reviews corroborate this strength, mentioning its ability to connect to both SAP and non-SAP data sources. While AWS Lambda integrates well within the AWS ecosystem, Crystal Server appears more focused on broader data integration for reporting purposes.

What are the advantages of AWS Lambda?

AWS Lambda's advantages include its serverless architecture, eliminating server management overhead, automatic scaling for handling fluctuating workloads, cost-effectiveness with its pay-per-use model, and seamless integration with other AWS services. It also supports multiple programming languages, offering flexibility for developers.

What are the disadvantages of AWS Lambda?

AWS Lambda's disadvantages include cold starts, which can impact the performance of time-sensitive applications, a maximum execution time limit that restricts long-running processes, added complexity in debugging and monitoring serverless functions, and potential vendor lock-in due to reliance on the AWS ecosystem.

Alternatives to AWS Lambda and SAP Crystal Server

Azure Virtual Network

Azure Virtual Network lets you create a secure, private network within Microsoft's cloud platform. This allows your company's cloud resources, like servers and applications, to communicate with each other and with on-premises networks, safely and privately. This service is beneficial for businesses of all sizes that want enhanced security and control over their cloud networking.

Abacum

Abacum is financial planning software designed to help mid-sized and growing companies automate their financial reporting and analysis. It connects to data sources like your ERP and CRM to provide a real-time view of your finances. With Abacum, you can create budgets, forecasts, and scenarios more efficiently than with spreadsheets, and easily share reports across your company. Abacum aims to reduce time spent on manual tasks and provide greater confidence in your financial data.

Azure Functions

Azure Functions lets you run small pieces of code (called "functions") in the cloud without worrying about managing servers. It's ideal for automating tasks, like processing data or reacting to events in your applications, without the complexity of building and maintaining a full application infrastructure.

Logi Symphony

Logi Symphony is a business intelligence tool that lets you build interactive dashboards and reports directly into your company's software. It connects to your existing data sources to provide visual insights, analysis tools, and self-service data exploration for your team. Logi Symphony is designed for medium to large companies who want to provide built-in data analysis within their own software applications, offering a customizable and secure way to share data discoveries and improve decision-making.

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform offering a wide range of services, from basic infrastructure like virtual servers and storage to advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence tools. Favored by many large corporations, Azure allows you to build and manage applications and services on a global network. Its flexibility allows for on-site, hybrid, and cloud-based solutions to meet your company's specific needs.

Explo

Explo is a software tool that helps you create interactive dashboards and reports that you can embed directly into your own software product. This allows you to provide your customers with valuable insights into their own data without forcing them to leave your platform. Explo is designed to be user-friendly and customizable, so you can create a seamless experience for your customers that matches your brand. Explo promises fast implementation and offers strong customer support to help you throughout the process.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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