Benefits of a data warehouse
A data warehouse is a storage unit of various data of an organization (Martin, 2008, p 58). A company uses data warehouse to ensure that the organization has a systematic process of accessing, retrieving, storing, supervising, and controlling data. The definition of a data warehouse is emphasized by an understanding of the concepts of a data warehouse. A Data warehouse groups and links all the all the relevant information based on their relationship. It also has a mechanism through which changes affecting the information stored in the warehouse can be tracked and monitored. Data stored in the warehouse can not be erased once they have been written. Data warehouses therefore are beneficial to the business organization in four ways as discussed in this paper.
A data warehouse enables the organization integrate data from multiple and diverse sources. The sources include department reports, customer complaints and market research data. The organization is able to combine departmental budget estimates to come up with the master budget that covers total requirements of the organization (Reeves, 2009, p 118). The organization collects information from the market for shoes and the market for raw materials to create a production schedule. This enables the organization to have all the necessary information and use it in making informed choices.
The data warehouse enables the organization to handle large volumes of information. Data warehouses are very fast, highly reliable and efficient in handling information. The shoe distribution company engages in many business transactions that generate large volumes of information. The company is able to process customer orders and payments in a short period of time. Data warehouse appliances such as provide the necessary structure that is specific and flexible in handling the large amount of data (Martin, 2008, p 58).
It is noted that the ability to store historical data is one of the main advantages of data warehousing (Todman, 2001, p 84). Adding time to data warehousing enables the organization to keep historical records and question them. The management and its clients are able to view aspects of the company at point in time or over a given period of time over which the data is recorded in the data warehouse (Powell, 2005, p 186). This enables observation of the company activities over time so that comparisons are made. For instance, the company can compare this year’s sales or production costs to last year. Comparing results enable the company to plan and forecast its production and other business activities.
Green technology
Green technology is defined as application of scientific methods in conserving the environment by reducing the negative effects of human activities on the environment. It will not benefit the company because of many reasons. The shoe distributing company is not involved in the manufacture but distribution of shoes. The company is involved in a product that is environment friendly. Shoe distribution involves receiving orders from clients and supplying the required orders to customers. This process involves less interaction with the natural environment. The company does not run a production line that uses chemicals and emit gas to the environment.
The company will incur high costs in adopting green technology. Green technology involves initiating projects that create awareness on environmental conservations. These projects are very expensive and require large capital outlay. The company does not benefit much from such projects making it incur losses. Green technology involves recycling, water purification, sewage treatment, solid waste management and energy conservation. However, the company’s business activities do not or affect the environmental conservation activities at minimal levels.
References
Martin, R. (2008). Data Warehouse 100 Success Secrets – 100 Most Asked Questions on Data Warehouse Design, Projects, Business Intelligence, Architecture, Software and Models. Raleigh, North Carolina: Lulu.com.
Powell, G. (2005). Oracle data warehouse tuning for 10g. New York: Elsevier publishers.
Reeves, L. (2009). A Manager’s Guide to Data Warehousing. Chicago: John Wiley and Sons.
