ETL – Definition and Process

ETL – Definition and Process

By

RSS
Follow by Email
Facebook
Twitter

Data processing can be such a mentally draining task especially if you have to process tons of it. The good news? There is a simpler and easier way to handle it and get work done in less time — ETL.

ETL which stands for Extract, Transform, Load is a computing process for cleaning, sorting and structuring collated data. The benefits of ETL range from enhancing performance, to enabling the visual flow of the data, managing big data, tracking data lineage, etc. What’s more?

ETL solutions store information in a way that helps inventory management extract viable insights, detect trends and make important decisions. The ETL solution can unite information from a variety of systems and facilitate finding the right decision by combining data sources of very different natures.

If your business would like to benefit from optimized data processes or is generally struggling to cope with huge volumes of data, look no further than Broscorp, the specialized custom data processing company. Our team will be glad to help you deal with your data issues and enable you to benefit from them.

The Process of ETL

ETL is a three-phase process consisting of the following steps

Extract

Extract

This involves extracting the information from source systems. Proper extraction is a key to subsequent successful activities. Most storage projects require combining information from a variety of source systems that include relational databases, queues, REST APIs, etc. Each of these systems may use different formats such as XML, JSON, and special file formats like Parquet.

The gist of the extraction process is to convert data into a common format set by the developer for further processing.

Transform

Transform

The transformation stage implies applying some functions and rules for further loading into the data warehouse. The ultimate goal of this stage is to transfer information to the final object in the required format. In some instances, the transformation may be omitted since it is not required.

Timing-wise, the transformation takes from a few seconds to a few days, depending on the data source volume and quality. Besides, the established business and technical requirements of the final storage influence the process duration as well.

Load

Stores data efficiently and securely in a way that simplifies retrieving it when needed. This final stage involves importing data into the final database or storage. The process may vary depending on the company’s requirements which may include a productivity tracker,

  1. replacement of the existing information;
  2. regular updates in compliance with the specified algorithm (daily, weekly, or monthly);
  3. adding data in historical format at fixed intervals.

A company’s needs and its capability of production decide the required frequency.

The next important step is data visualization development. Dashboards help you to get insights from your data in real-time and easily facilitate important business metrics.

Who Needs The ETL Data Services?

Who Needs the ETL Data Service

ETL is needed by every company that wants to be data-driven, get accurate data and produce great results in record time. However, to be precise here is a list of questions you need to think about before considering building the ETL,

  1. Do you want data to be available in real-time with minimum lag?
  2. Do you want your data to be stored efficiently so you can query it with almost any question?
  3. Do you need reporting and on-the-fly KPI calculations?
  4. Do you want to collect data from different sources and combine it to find viable insights on the edge of that mix?

Above are the question where in need of ETL, if you can answer yes to any of them then you might need ETL.

How Broscorp Can Help In Building The ETL?

The building of each ETL starts with a business model. Broscorp identifies the final goal and collects the information about…

  1. Data sources needing to be collected and the feasibility of connecting them;
  2. Data transformations that may be required to achieve the end goal
  3. The data model and type of storage area are to be used to efficiently query and store the data.

After the business analysis is done, Broscorp develops the solution in an agile manner, synchronizing with the client’s needs at every interim stage. At the end of development, the User acceptance testing begins and all the inaccuracies are being fixed.

If you would like to get the estimation for the ETL solution please contact us and get an instant reply!

Author Profile

Christy Bella
Christy Bella
Blogger by Passion | Contributor to many Business and Marketing Blogs in the United Kingdom | Fascinated with SEO and digital marketing and latest tech innovations |