Page 79 - CITP Review

Data marts
Data marts are subsets of the DW database with a specific purpose in mind. Often the purpose is related
to the business user, especially business unit managers, who become the owner. Data marts are created
for reasons such as easy access to frequently needed data; collective view of a group of users; to
improve end-user response time; to offload DW data to a separate computer for greater efficiency;
security (to separate an authorized data subset); expediency; and politics.

Active data warehousing
Operational decisions and other tactical needs have led to real-time data warehousing (RDW), or active
data warehousing (ADW). This type of system expands and supplements traditional DW and allows
employees, vendors, and customers access to real-time information for decision-making. RDW can
improve customer relations, supply chain management (SCM), logistics, and other aspects of the
business.

As data is generated in the OLTP system, data is moved almost at once into the DW, rather than being
moved at the end of the day or end of the week. This allows instant updates to the DW, replacing the
intermediate transfer process and possibly reducing the total time and resources involved; immediate
and historical data are both available for strategic and tactical purposes.

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