During his keynote at SAPTECHED in Las Vegas, Vishal Sikka asked everyone to try https://www.experiencesaphana.com/ to experience HANA. So I did that, and I did not like it at all.
When I mentioned that on twitter - Vitaliy joined in. And from SAP's side, Aiaz Kazi - an all around great guy - responded asking us what we would have liked to see. I am going to list my thoughts here in the hope that collectively we can provide some useful feedback to SAP.
1. Integrate with SCN
Why would you not put this on SCN where you already have an audience in the millions? Plus SCN has information on everything else HANA needs - ECC, Data services, BI 4.0 and so on. Why should users scan multiple sources for this information?
Also - on SCN, people already know how to use forums, blogs, Wiki etc. https://www.experiencesaphana.com/ does not have most of this. Except where we can ask questions to SAP - it is not as interactive as SCN.
Mark Yolton and Aiaz separately mentioned that eventually they will merge. But why eventually? Why not right upfront? It might be unintentional, but from outside - it looks like SAP does not value the significance of SCN to carry messaging on a stratgic thing like HANA
2. Registration - is duplication of data and effort a good thing now?
If not integrate - atleast can't we use the same login as SDN or Service Market place? Why do I have to enter everything again ?
3. What is "Try" ?
Since Vishal asked people to go to this site at Teched, I assumed this was intended for technical audience. So I had high hopes of trying hana for myself when I clicked on "Try" on homepage. And all I see is a bunch of marketing type videos. I felt seriously let down. There is nothing in "Try" that makes sense when one hears "Try".
4. What are "Subspaces" ?
Under "Try", is a frame called subspaces. It is empty. I have no idea what it is. Have never heard that term before either.I suggest it should be eliminated, or a better name and content should be figured out.
5. Implementation library under "Implementation"
I expected to see "how to" guides etc here. Instead, it takes me to a forum to ask questions. There are links to SDN on right side of the page, but not where the eye goes naturally. There is a section called "featured posts" right under this, whose content is what I would have expected under Implementation library.
6. How do non-SAP employees contribute to the knowledge base?
Unlike SDN which has blogs, Wikis etc where ecosystem can add content - here I don't see an option beyond forum questions. In this day and age, does any one care for mostly one way information flow?
Summary
Personally, I don't think this site https://www.experiencesaphana.com/ will do SAP any favors in increasing awareness of HANA. It looks like a rush job at first sight - and for something as innovative as HANA - this site is a poor first experience to the ecosystem. You don't get a second chance to create a first impression, so I would urge SAP to get thei design thinking experts to do something before Madrid events, if not Bangalore.
