Data Warehousing and OLAP for Business Intelligence: A Case Study Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15662/IJARCST.2019.0201001Keywords:
Data Warehousing, OLAP, Business Intelligence, ETL, Star Schema, Snowflake Schema, Data Integration, Decision Support Systems, Retail AnalyticsAbstract
In the contemporary business landscape, organizations generate vast amounts of data that require effective processing and analysis to support decision-making. Data Warehousing and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) systems have become pivotal in enabling Business Intelligence (BI) by integrating, storing, and analyzing large volumes of historical data. This paper presents a case study approach to exploring the design, implementation, and impact of data warehousing and OLAP technologies in a business context. The study investigates how data warehousing consolidates data from disparate sources into a centralized repository, supporting complex queries and analytical reporting. OLAP tools provide multidimensional views of data, facilitating fast and interactive analysis through operations such as slicing, dicing, drilling down, and pivoting. The case study focuses on a retail company’s adoption of a data warehouse and OLAP system, highlighting the challenges in data integration, schema design (star and snowflake), and performance optimization. Empirical results demonstrate significant improvements in reporting speed, data accuracy, and decision-making agility post-implementation. The research also addresses the role of ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes in ensuring data quality and consistency. The case study underscores the importance of aligning technological solutions with organizational goals and user requirements. The paper concludes with insights into best practices, key success factors, and areas for future enhancement in data warehousing and OLAP deployment. This research contributes to understanding practical BI implementations and provides a framework for organizations seeking to leverage data-driven strategies for competitive advantage.
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