Flexter
Automated ETL that converts complex XML and JSON into database-ready tables
About Flexter
Flexter by Sonra is a no-code, fully automated ETL tool purpose-built for XML and JSON data. It automatically detects schemas, maps complex nested structures, and outputs clean relational tables to databases or data lakes — with no manual coding or ETL development required. Unlike general-purpose ETL platforms that treat XML as an afterthought, Flexter is specifically engineered for industry-standard XML formats like FpML, HL7, and clinical trial data. The tool supports a wide range of output targets including Snowflake, BigQuery, SQL Server, Oracle, Redshift, and flat file formats like Parquet, ORC, Avro, and CSV. Flexter handles parallel processing at scale and is reported to process data up to 800 times faster than competing XML solutions. It is available both as an on-premise installation and as a SaaS deployment with a RESTful API. Flexter is used by data engineering and analytics teams in financial services, healthcare, and enterprise environments where XML-heavy industry standards create data pipeline bottlenecks. It is developed by Sonra, a data engineering consultancy based in Ireland.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Purpose-built for XML/JSON — far more capable than generic ETL tools for complex schemas
- Fully automated with no coding or schema mapping required
- Reported 800x faster processing than competing XML solutions
- Supports all major cloud data warehouses and big data formats
Cons
- Pricing is not public — requires contacting Sonra directly
- Enterprise focus makes it overkill for simple or low-volume XML needs
- SaaS deployment is less documented than the on-premise version
Key Features
Automated Schema Detection
Automatically infers the schema of any XML or JSON file with no manual mapping required
No-Code ETL
Converts XML/JSON to relational tables without writing code, scripts, or ETL configurations
Multi-Target Output
Loads data directly into Snowflake, BigQuery, SQL Server, Oracle, Redshift, and other databases
Big Data Format Support
Outputs to flat file formats including Parquet, ORC, Avro, CSV, and TSV for data lake use
Parallel Processing
Handles high-volume XML/JSON workloads with parallel processing for enterprise-scale throughput
RESTful API
SaaS deployment exposes a REST API for integrating Flexter into data pipelines programmatically
Industry Standard XML Support
Purpose-built support for FpML, HL7, clinical trial XML, and other complex industry formats
On-Premise and SaaS Deployment
Deploy Flexter in your own infrastructure or use the managed SaaS cloud version
Free Online Converters
Free XML to CSV and XML to database converters available for quick evaluations
Proof of Concept Program
Sonra offers structured PoC engagements for teams evaluating the full enterprise platform