To evaluate data warehouse solutions, consider user interface, features, support, and infrastructure. User interface design is crucial for success, and features should meet business requirements. Support includes technical and functional assistance, and infrastructure requires dedicated hardware and trained staff. Consider the availability of resources and complexity of the tool before making a decision.
There are four main elements to consider when trying to evaluate data warehouse solutions: user interface, features, support, and infrastructure. All four elements have a direct impact on user acceptance, efficiency and quality of the solution. A data warehouse is a business intelligence tool used to analyze data. There are a variety of data warehouse solutions available to meet the needs of most organizations.
User interface design has a huge impact on the success or failure of data warehouse solutions. Look for an uncluttered, intuitive and easy to use tool. Read the user documentation to see how complex the interface is, and ask your intended users to test the different options and provide feedback. It is important to note that all data warehouse solutions assume that users have been trained in data management and data analysis techniques. Users without this background will find the toolset overly complex and confusing.
Explore the different features provided to ensure that all major business requirements are met. Think about the primary intended use of the tool and try to recreate at least one warehouse within that environment. Research the provided data mining tools as well as the query writer to determine the overall suitability of the solution to meet your business needs.
There are two types of support provided by most data warehouse solutions: technical and functional. Technical support is typically focused on hardware, software patching, and updates. This type of support is included in the purchase price of the software for the first two to five years. Functional support includes user manuals, training sessions, access to qualified resources and customer services. A service contract details the required items and costs.
A data warehouse requires dedicated hardware, scheduled backups, and support staff. In most businesses, a data architect is responsible for building the infrastructure needed to properly support and manage this tool. Data is fed into the warehouse from a variety of sources, ranging from enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to customer databases. Data structure, selection criteria, and data security methodology are all essential aspects of a solution that need to be carefully reviewed.
See the availability of resources to support and use the solutions you are considering. An inexpensive solution is not a good choice if skilled personnel are hard to come by and expensive to maintain. Look at the complexity of the tool and the timeline required to acquire the required skills as part of the decision making process.
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