by admin
4/12/2008 6:36:00 PM
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What is a data warehouse?
A data warehouse is a database that is structured in a particular way so that it is very efficient in generating reports. The term data warehouse can mean anything from just the database to the entire application, which includes a tool for viewing reports.
Why do I need a data warehouse?
If you need to be able to look at reports in a flexible and user friendly manner, then you may be interested in a data warehouse. The reports allow you to look at your data by multiple dimensions. So lets say you sell 10 different products and you have 3 brands. You can generate a report very quickly that will show you gross sales and net sales by product by time AND by brand, all in the same report.
Sounds complicated, how difficult is this to use?
The report generator we usually use is Microsoft Excel. There are no special add-ins or additional software to install, just plain Excel. If you are familiar with Excel, then you will be able to start generating reports from a data warehouse very quickly.
How big is a data warehouse?
The size of the database can be as big or as small as your data requirements call for. The great thing about a data warehouse is that it is very scalable. You can start small and grow from there.
What platform is used for the database?
We have chosen Microsoft as the platform for most of the services we offer. Therefore, in the case of data warehousing, we utilize Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Analysis Services as the platform of choice.
I already have a database, can that be converted into a data warehouse?
In most cases, the data warehouse is a separate database that is not intended to be used for other purposes, such as supporting your line of business applications or your website. The structure of the data warehouse database is very different than the structure you probably have in your current database.
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