Data Virtualization for Business Intelligence Systems

Preface

Introduction

Data virtualization is a technology that makes a heterogeneous set of databases and files look like one integrated database. When used in business intelligence systems, it can make the architectures dramatically simpler, cheaper, and, most important, more agile. New reporting and analytical needs can be implemented faster, and existing systems can be changed more easily. This increased agility is needed because, on one hand, business users demand more agility from their systems since their world has begun to change, and, on the other hand, because new forms of business intelligence, such as operational reporting, big data analytics, 360-degree reporting, self-service reporting, and exploratory analysis, are required. This ...