Data Warehouse
PCS logically organizes its data warehouse solution into two logical groupings: Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence.  The data warehouse is an information repository wherein the varied and many disparate databases of an enterprise are combined (logically and/or physically) into a single entity expressly designed  to support analytical queries along unique dimensions specified by the enterprise. Transaction data is extracted from the operational databases, cleansed, and loaded into the analytically oriented data warehouse.  Data marts are smaller data subsets. They are focused on more specific subjects or organization structures relevant to the organization.  They may be architected directly in place of a data warehouse or they can be derived from the data warehouse.  Another element is a meta data repository that defines and documents all of the contents and organization of the data warehouse.  

Business Intelligence
Query, analysis, and presentation are the elements that comprise the Business Intelligence aspect of the solution.  From a general perspective, it refers to the tools, processes, and systems used to access and analyze the data that is stored in the data warehouse or data marts.  Tools from which to choose, and with which PCS has experience, include a number of various OLAP and reporting tools such as Microsoft, Hyperion, Business Objects, MicroStrategy, Crystal Reports, and Actuate. Areas of functional analysis include diverse purposes such as strategic, trend, competitive, and financial analysis.

PCS’ best practices culture and methodology incorporate all aspects of data warehouse design, development and construction, and deployment.  The immediate benefits the client company accrues through the utilization of a data warehouse /Business Intelligence solution tend to be more qualitative in nature rather than quantitative.  Recognizing this reality, PCS ensures that its consultants possess sufficient experience to assist the client in defining solution success criteria in advance of the solution deployment so as to allow for proper evaluation of the solutions effectiveness.