Operational data store

An operational data store (or "ODS") is a database designed to integrate data from multiple sources for additional operations on the data. The data is then passed back to operational systems for further operations and to the data warehouse for reporting.

Because the data originates from multiple sources, the integration often involves cleaning, resolving redundancy and checking against business rules for integrity. An ODS is usually designed to contain low-level or atomic (indivisible) data (such as transactions and prices) with limited history that is captured "real time" or "near real time" as opposed to the much greater volumes of data stored in the Data warehouse generally on a less-frequent basis.

General Use

The general purpose of an "ODS" is to integrate data from disparate source systems in a single structure, using data integration technologies like data virtualization or data federation. This will allow operational access to the data for operational reporting, master data or reference data management.

An "ODS" is not a replacement or substitute for an enterprise data warehouse but in turn could become a source.

Here are some examples of ODS Architecture Patterns ODS Architecture Pattern

Publications

• Inmon, William (1999). Building the Operational Data Store, second Edition. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 047132888X. 

External links

• ODS Architecture Patterns ( EA Reference Architecture)
• Bill Inmon Information Management article on ODS
• Bill Inmon Information Management article on the five classes of ODS
• Claudia Imhoff Information Management article on ODS

See also

• Enterprise architecture