| Organizations are increasingly becoming dependent on | | | | the batch integration engine. The data replication |
| accurate and timely information to remain | | | | engine does its work by leveraging the database logs. |
| competitive in their core businesses. Real-time data | | | | The cost of such a system is correspondingly higher. |
| marts and business intelligence solutions are focusing | | | | A simpler and more cost effective solution is to have |
| on getting the right information to the right person at | | | | database native replicators.o Database triggers are an |
| the right time. The choice of a real-time business | | | | alternative to real-time systems. They cost less and |
| intelligence solution requires an analysis of your | | | | are low on maintenance. They work by posting |
| requirements so that you get the one most suited | | | | changes captured in the source system into a |
| for your business. | | | | separate staging area, from where the real-time |
| Relevant Factors: | | | | integration engine reads it continuously.o Display: |
| Implementation of a real-time business solution is | | | | Graphic visuals are the preferred as they provide an |
| more than just the tools or technologies associated | | | | overall view of the business or the desired function. |
| with the solution. You have to consider:o The system | | | | Analytic dashboards are now essential and d |
| must provide the required outputs while being able to | | | | supplement numeric and statistical information.o |
| refresh the data marts real-time.o A cost -benefit | | | | Information Delivery: In addition to providing the right |
| analysis of being able to extract real-time information | | | | information at the right time, it is equally of |
| Business Intelligence Solution Capabilities: | | | | consequence that this information is delivered at the |
| 1. Defining Real-Time: The definition of real-time will | | | | right place where it is conveniently accessible. |
| depend largely on the information needs of your | | | | Gadgets and technologies in the market make this |
| organization. Some organizations, like banks, require | | | | eminently feasible and dashboard reports or |
| responses within a few milliseconds. In others | | | | exception alerts can easily be routed to PDAs or |
| operating under a different set of conditions, | | | | other web-enabled devices.o The system must |
| responses in minutes may be acceptable. Of course, | | | | deliver information to meet both operational |
| you have to factor in the time to update the data. | | | | intelligence and analytical intelligence needs. Top |
| Considering this additional time, solutions are mostly | | | | management not only needs dashboards and alerts. |
| known as near real-time and meet the requirements | | | | Middle management is fact the more prolific user of |
| of most businesses. All users of the solution should | | | | operational and analytical information. This aspect |
| be made aware of the system capabilities. Businesses | | | | must be ensured during the design phase. |
| must differentiate between information that is | | | | Attention to the aspects outlined above will ensure |
| required in real-time from that which is acceptable in | | | | that your solution meets your business needs. Having |
| a later timeframe. | | | | planned and designed the system deliberately, entrust |
| 2. Sourcing Data: Various options are available, | | | | its implementation to an experienced and qualified |
| depending on your requirement of accessing | | | | solutions provider so that the benefits translate |
| information:o Real-time integration tools come with a | | | | directly to your bottom-line. |
| real-time data replication engine that is separate from | | | | |