Data integration involves combining data residing in different sources and providing users with a unified view of these data.
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The need for data integration emerges from complex data center environments where multiple different systems are creating large volumes of data. This data must be understood in aggregate, rather than in isolation. Data integration is nothing more than a technique and technology for providing a unified and consistent view of enterprise-wide data.
There are several different approaches to achieving this goal which are quite different to each other and essentially solve slightly different problems: The main technologies for data integration are Extract, Transform Load (ETL), Enterprise Application Integration (EAI), and Enterprise Information Integration (EII), or data virtualization as it is more often called today.
Products listed in this category belong to the ETL data integration approach. Unlike the other listed approaches, ETL is designed for data migration and integration of large volumes of data to provide a basis for decision-making.
ETL is a process whereby large volumes of required data are extracted from various databases and converted into a common format. The data is then cleaned, and loaded into the specialized reporting database called a data warehouse. It is then available for standard reporting purposes.
The data used in ETL can come from any source including flat files, Excel data, application data like CRM or ERP data, or mainframe application data. Perhaps the most difficult part of the process is the “Transform” component. Here, not only must the data be cleansed and any duplicates removed, but the software also has to resolve data consistency issues. It applies rules to consistently convert data to the appropriate form for the data warehouse or repository.
Once the data has been loaded into a data warehouse it is available for querying by business intelligence front-end processes that can pull consolidated data into reports and dashboards.
When comparing ETL tools and data integration products, consider the following criteria:
Deployment: Many cloud-based and SaaS products are available. Cloud-based deployment can be simpler and leaner, especially for teams with limited IT infra structure. However, you’ll sacrifice some level of control and customization. An on-premise solution gives you more control, but at the price of more infrastructure and support staff. If you handle sensitive data, you’ll also need to make sure that your cloud provider has appropriate compliance and encryption.
Open-Source vs Proprietary: Open-source data integration tools are reliable, time-tested alternatives to proprietary software. They’re often cheaper, too. However, open-source tools aren’t great for new users or engineers that need a polished, UX-focused workflow. They’re best for experienced users that are prepared to fully engage with the software’s customization and integration capabilities.
Existing Ecosystem: ETL and data integration tools are designed to be flexible, but it’s almost universally simpler to pick a tool that’s designed with your existing tech stack in mind. Start by evaluating these products, and expand your search only if they don’t meet core needs.
Use Case: If you’re just starting out, don’t pick a comprehensive platform. Start small, and grow later. If you know you’re planning to scale up, look for ETL tools that fit easily into larger pipelines.
One shortcoming of the data warehouse approach is that the data is not always current. Data warehouses pull data from databases periodically in batches, not in real time. If the data in the source database has changed, this might not be reflected in the data in the warehouse. Various strategies can be employed to achieve “real-time ETL”, although some of them place a significant load on the database. This can have performance repercussions.
The simplest thing to do is simply increase the frequency of batch updates to near real-time processing. But there are other solutions including continuously feeding the database using real-time data transport technologies, the use of staging tables, or a real-time data cache.
Enterprise-level data integration tools can be very expensive with some products costing upwards of $10,000 per user per year. On top of that, you may need to pay for professional services to get up and running. SMB solutions are significantly cheaper than this.
The top rated data integration tools are as follows: