Ask Slashdot: Switching From SAS To Python Or R For Data Analysis and Modeling?

An anonymous reader writes "I work for a huge company. We use SAS all the time for everything, which is great if you have a bunch of non-programmer employees and you want them to do data analysis and build models... but it ends up stifling any real innovation, and I worry we will get left behind. Python and R both seem to be emerging stars in the data science game, so I would like to steer us towards one of them. What compelling arguments can you give that would help an old company change its standard if that company is pretty set in its ways?"

Comments

Innovation is more than tools

[Abroun]

It's unlikely that SAS is the root cause of a lack of innovation, so it's unlikely that introducing a new tools by itself will make a difference. The fact that you work for a 'huge company' is more likely the problem. Does senior management agree that innovation is a priority? Are they willing to make the changes to encourage it (which usually means breaking down fiefdoms, giving up power, and lots of things that senior managers hate doing)? The choice of language is kinda irrelevant absent the right environment.

What's the business case?

[mwvdlee]

Is it your feeling that SAS is "stifling any real innovation" or do you have examples of projects that are impossible with SAS but possible with Python or R?
Do those example projects actually help the bottom line of the company or are they just "cooler"?

If you can think of examples that have clear financial benefits to the company, you have a solid business case already.
If there are no such examples or other factors negate the benefits, then the company has nothing to gain by switching and should not switch.

Short answer; if you're asking on Slashdot for reasons to switch from product X to product Y, you probably have no real reason to switch.