The Pattern
A common enterprise migration scenario: Teradata targets, Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services (IICS) for orchestration, BTEQ scripts for pre-load safety. The workflow is straightforward—IICS Command Task triggers a shell script, which invokes BTEQ to back up the target table, drop existing data, then load fresh records from source systems like Salesforce.
Three tables involved: source, target, backup. BTEQ creates a snapshot before each load. If something breaks, you've got your data. The approach separates orchestration from database operations, which makes sense when you've got Teradata specialists and don't want mapping logic tangled with backup procedures.
What This Means in Practice
This pattern is defensible for existing Teradata estates. Pre-processing safeguards reduce risk. Native utilities give you control. Parameterized tasks travel across environments. The GitHub implementation documents the mechanics clearly.
But context matters. BTEQ is Teradata-specific—it can't directly load SQL Server or BigQuery without translation. You're choosing operational safety over platform flexibility.
The Automation Question
Tools like SAS2PY now migrate 100,000+ lines of BTEQ logic in under 10 minutes, cutting timelines 90% versus manual rewrites. DataSwitch converted 1,400+ Informatica/BTEQ scripts to BigQuery and Spark Scala for a multinational. Yellowbrick automates 90%+ of Teradata objects and BTEQ to Python while initially keeping ETL layers like IICS intact.
Microsoft's guidance for Azure Synapse migrations: re-engineer BTEQ and Teradata Parallel Transporter scripts using Data Factory rather than adapt them. The reasoning—escape vendor lock-in, gain cloud-native tooling.
Trade-Offs
If you're running Teradata and IICS today, this pattern works. It's proven, documented, manageable. But if you're planning a cloud migration, the economics have shifted. Automated conversion tools exist. The question becomes: how long do you maintain hybrid patterns versus accelerating the platform shift?
The real answer depends on your timeline, budget for re-platforming, and how much Teradata-specific logic you're willing to carry forward. Just know the automation exists when you're ready.