Data Modelling

Data Modeling

OLAP(On Line Analytical Processing)  is one of the major requirements of data warehousing. In short, OLAP offers business analysts the capability to analyze business process data (KPIs) in terms of the business lines involved. Normally this is done in stages, starting with business terms showing the KPIs on an aggregate level, and proceeding to business terms on a more detailed level. Architected data marts (InfoCubes) represent a function, department or business area. They give an aggregated and integrated view. To present information to the business analyst in a way that corresponds to his normal understanding of his business i.e. to show the KPIs, key figures or facts from the different perspectives that influence them (sales organization, product/ material or time).In other words, to deliver structured information that the business analyst can easily navigate by using any possible combination of business terms to illustrate the behavior of the KPIs

Scenario:                                                                                                                                                                                          

A multi-step multi-dimensional analysis will look like this:

• Show me the Sales Amount by Sales Department by Material Group by Month
• Show me the Sales Amount for a specific Sales Department „X‟ by Material by Month

A DataStore object may serve to report on a single record (event) level such as:

• Show yesterday‟s Sales Orders for Sales Person „Y‟.

This does not mean that sales order level data cannot reside in an InfoCube but rather that this is dependent upon particular information needs and navigation.

• Analytical processing (OLAP) is normally done using InfoCubes.
• DataStore objects should not be misused for multi-dimensional analysis.