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ASK THE EXPERT
Q
It’s apparent that utilizing a Data Warehouse
is a definite advantage to business. The term
“Data Warehouse” already implies that it is
a computerized—digitalized—warehouse
wherein information is stored. Whoever owns
this information can then discover connections,
historical patterns, analyze such findings further
or look into the information itself and analyze it
simply so as to form good business decisions.
Data Warehousing has three distinct major
advantages:
1. Data from multiple sources can be integrated.
2. New types of analyses can be performed.
3. Cost to accessing historical data can be
reduced.
Utilizing Data Warehousing gives its user one huge
advantage. This gives the user access to tons of
data that are sourced from various locations, which
are ultimately stored in just one place. Analyzing
the stored information can increase businesses’
profits by solving a lot of problems. Plus, such data
is efficiently organized, constant and relevant.
Storing all of the data in one convenient place
helps reduce the costs of computing.
One big disadvantage, however, to Data
Warehousing is that maintenance can be costly,
especially if the warehouse used is not utilized to its
full capability.
Data Warehousing disadvantages:
1. Data must be cleaned, loaded or extracted
before it can be stored within the warehouse.
2. There are compatibility issues.
3. There are problems with security.
What are some advantages
& disadvantages of Data
Warehousing?
Data Warehouse has a copy of information
from the source transaction system that it
maintains, which in turn allows it to do the
following:
1. Data from countless sources are
consolidated into a single database, such
that a single query engine can be utilized
to present data.
2. The problem of database isolation level
lock content in transaction processing
systems can be lessened.
3. Data history is maintained, even if the
source transaction systems cannot.
4. Data from multiple source systems are
incorporated, thus allowing a central view
across the enterprise.
5. By providing consistent codes and
descriptions, flagging or fixing bad data,
data quality is thus improved
6. The organization’s information is presented
consistently.
7. A single common data model is provided
for all relevant data, regardless of where
the data was sourced.
8. Data is reorganized in order for business
users to gain better sense of it all.
9. Data is reorganized so that it delivers
outstanding query performance.
10. Value is added to the operational business
applications, particularly customer
relationship management (CRM) systems.
Other benefits that can be gained from Data
Warehousing include:
• Data can be standardized across the
organization.
• Turnaround time for analysis and reporting
is improved.
• Data can be shared, allowing others to
access data much easier.
• Ad hoc reporting and inquiry can be
supported.
• The development burden on the part of
the IS/IT can be reduced.
• The informational processing load from
transaction-oriented databases can be
removed.
Successful implementation of Data Storage
and Data Management techniques are vital to
an organizations survival. To learn more about
Data Management and Data Warehousing, visit
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“Data can be standardized
across the orgranization...”
A
