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Data Mart

1. Overview

1.1. Definition:

  • A data mart is a subset of a data warehouse, designed to serve the needs of a specific business unit or department.
  • It contains summarized and selected data, tailored to meet the analytical requirements of particular business functions.

1.2. Purpose:

  • Intended to improve data analysis and reporting for specific departments (e.g., sales, finance, marketing).
  • Provides quicker access to relevant data by reducing the volume of information compared to a full data warehouse.
  • Enhances user productivity by simplifying data queries and accessibility.

1.3. Components:

  • Data Sources: Originating databases or data warehouses from which the data is extracted.
  • ETL Processes: Extraction, Transformation, and Loading processes to shape the data.
  • Storage: Database or similar structure housing the refined data.
  • Access Tools: Interfaces and query tools enabling users to interact with the data.

1.4. Benefits:

  • Improves decision-making by providing timely and department-specific information.
  • Cost-effective, as they are typically smaller and require less storage infrastructure.
  • Easier to maintain and can be configured more quickly than full-scale data warehouses.

1.5. Comparison with Data Warehouses:

  • Data warehouses are comprehensive data storage solutions that aggregate data from across an organization.
  • Data marts are focused, summarized versions targeting specific functional areas.

1.6. Types of Data Marts:

  • Dependent Data Marts: Extracts data from a central data warehouse.
  • Independent Data Marts: Sourced directly from operational systems or external data, not involving a centralized data warehouse.

1.7. Connections Between Concepts:

  • Data marts streamline the workflow between vast data warehouses and end-user applications, making them critical for departments that require specific insights without the overhead of handling all organizational data.
  • By integrating with business intelligence tools, data marts play a crucial role in operational efficiency and competitive strategy.
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