A Central Data Warehouse is a repository of company data where a database is created from operational data extracts. This database adheres to a single, consistent enterprise data model to ensure consistency in decision making support across the company.

A Central Data Warehouse is a single physical database which contains business data for a specific function area, department, branch, division or the whole enterprise. Choosing the central data warehouse is commonly based on where there is the largest common need for informational data and where the largest numbers of end users are already hooked to a central computer or a network.

A Central Data Warehouse may contain all sorts of data for any given period. Typically, a central data warehouse contains data from multiple operating systems. It is built on advanced relational database management systems or any form of multi-dimensional informational database server.

A central data warehouse employs the computing style of having all the information systems located and managed from one physical location even if there are many data sources spread around the globe.

It has been a few decades that most companies’ survival depends on being able to plan, analyze and react to the fast and constantly changing business conditions. In order to keep with rapid changes, business analysts, managers and decisions makes in the company need more and more information.

Information technology itself has also rapidly evolved with the changing business environment and today, more innovative IT solutions have been springing like mushrooms on the internet. And with these, business executives and many other critical decisions makes have found ways to make do with business data.

Every single day, billions of data are created, moved and extracted from various sources whether from company local area network, wide area network or the internet. These data come in different formats, attributes and contents. But for the most part, data may be locked up in disparate computer systems and could be extremely difficult and complicated to make use of.

When developing a central data warehouse, it is critically essential to have a balance data warehousing strategy that should answer the needs of the company. Warehouse designers should consider the audience, the scope of the service and type of data warehouse.

Central data warehouses are created by installing a set of data access, data directory and facilities for process management. A copy of all operational data should be built from a single operating system to enable the data warehouse to have a series of information tools. Perhaps the most optimal way of data warehousing strategy is to select a user population based on enterprise value. From there the company can do issue analysis.

Based on the discovered needs, a data warehouse prototype is built and populated for end users to experiment and do appropriate modifications. Once an agreement on the needs is arrived at, data can then be acquired from current operational systems across the company or from external data sources and then load the data into the warehouse.
A central data warehouse is where the company solely depends for business analysis and decisions making. It should have the following attributes:

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Decision Making Attributes

Accuracy – the data should be valid and correctly represented in the underlying schema. It should reflect real life activities of the business.

Completeness – the data warehouse should have data model whose scope includes even the most minute and seemingly trivial detail about the company.

Flexibility – data warehouse should be able to manage all sorts of data from heterogeneous sources and satisfy a wide array of requirements from end users as well as from data sources.

Timeliness – data should be submitted on a schedules time bases so the company can get the latest updates on trends and patterns in the industry.