Data Warehouse Tools

There are a number of important tools which are connected to data warehouses, and one of these is data aggregation. A data warehouse can be designed to store information based on a certain level of detail.

For example, you can store data based on each transaction, or you can store it based on a summary. These are examples of data aggregation. When data is summarized, the queries will move at a much faster rate. However, some of the information may be lost during a query, and this information may be important for solving a certain problem.

Before you decide which one you will use, it is important to weigh your options carefully. Once you have carried out an operation, you will need to rebuild the warehouse in order to undo it. The best way to handle this situation is to make sure the data warehouse is constructed with a large amount of detail. However, the cost for this can be huge depending on the storage options you choose. Once you have filled your data warehouse with important information, you will want to use this data to help you make smart investment decisions. The tools that can allow you to do this will fall under a topic that is called business intelligence.

Business intelligence is a field which is very diverse. It is comprised of things such as Executive Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, and On-Line Analytical Processing. Business intelligence can further be broken down into a field that is called multi-dimensional analysis tools. These are tools that will allow a user to view data from a wide variety of angles. A query tool will allow a user to send SQL queries within a warehouse to look for results. Data mining is also a field that falls under business intelligence, and will allow you to look for patterns and relationships within a data warehouse.

Another tool that is connected to data warehouses is data visualization. The tools that are used for data visualization will present visual models of data. This data could come in the form of intricate 3D images. The goal of data visualization is to allow the user to view trends in a method which is easier to understand than complicated models that are based off statistics. One tool that is allowing this field to advance is VRML, or Virtual Reality Modeling language. In order for data warehouses to function properly, it is also important to place an emphasis on metadata management. Meta data can be described as being "information about information."

Meta data must be managed when data is acquired or analyzed. Meta data will be held in a repository, and can give you important information about many of the data warehouse tools. The process of properly managing meta data has become a science within itself. If it is done properly, the company can greatly benefit. The reason why it is important is because it can allow organizations to analyze the changes that occur within database tables. This is a tool that plays an important part of the construction of a data warehouse.

Data warehousing is a field which is somewhat complicated. There are many vendors who are attempting to advertise the tools, but the cost and complexity involved with the products has not allowed them to be used by a large number of companies. Any company that is thinking of using data warehouses must make sure they have taken the time to review and understand the technology. It can only be useful if you know how to use it. Once you understand and acquire the technology, it is possible for you to gain a powerful advantage over your competitors. This has made data warehouses attractive to many companies.

One of the biggest advantages to data warehouses is that they allow you to store information that you can use to improve the marketing strategies of your company. Not only can you improve the marketing strategies, but you will also be able to make strategic decisions based on the information you have compiled and organized. With techniques such as data mining and data visualization, you will be able to discover important patterns that you didn't know existed. The patterns that you discover can allow your company to earn large profits.

SOURCE:http://www.exforsys.com/tutorials/data-warehousing/data-warehouse-tools.html