Strategic Enterprise Data Warehouse, is it just a Dream?

Strategic Enterprise Data Warehouse, is it just a Dream?

Particularly in retail industry I must say, it is a dream. However not an unrealistic one, though difficult to achieve. In this short write up, I will account some of the most common issues that make strategic enterprise data warehouse difficult to come into being.

1. Old systems

2. Old data stores

3. Struggle between old & stable and new & unstable software applications.

4. Different departments using different systems.

5. Nomenclature between different departments.

6. Different flavours of ‘Product’ dimension within the organization.

7. Geographical spread

8. Changing Management

9. Changing technologies & limitations they may pose.

10. People’s ego.

11. Contractor Vs permanent staff issues

12. Lack of right resources for an enterprise vision.

13. Budgeting Issues

This list is not complete and there are more though. Often companies struggle for a clearer path mainly due to budget issues. For a clean implementation of an enterprise data warehouse support from higher management is the most important aspect. This is because even though first line production systems are critical for business – a reporting system like EDW is critical for success of business and should never be underestimated dumping it as ‘just a reporting system – and I can take the reports out of the production database/system also’.

In next issue I will write on details of each one of these issues and first steps for starting an enterprise data warehouse.
Kiran Pande
Data Warehouse & Business Intelligence Program Manager