- An operational data store (ODS) is a type of database often used as an interim area for a data warehouse. Unlike a data warehouse, which contains static data, the contents of the ODS are updated through the course of business operations. An ODS is designed to quickly perform relatively simple queries on small amounts of data (such as finding the status of a customer order), rather than the complex queries on large amounts of data typical of the data warehouse. An ODS is similar to your short term memory in that it stores only very recent information; in comparison, the data warehouse is more like long term memory in that it stores relatively permanent information.
In the early 1990s, the original ODS systems were developed as a reporting tool for administrative purposes. They were usually updated daily and provided reports about business transactions for that day, such as sales totals or orders filled. This type of system is now referred to as a Class III ODS. With changes in technology and business needs, the Class II ODS evolved to track more complex information such as product and location codes, and to update the database more frequently (perhaps hourly) to reflect changes. Class I ODS systems arose from the development of customer relationship management (CRM). In Class I systems, synchronous or near-synchronous updates are used to provide customers with consistently valid and organized information. Another version, the Class IV ODS, was recently developed with an added capacity for more interaction between the data warehouse or data mart and the ODS.
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04 Apr 2005
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