A data mart is a subset of a data warehouse that is focused on a particular line of business, department, or subject area. It is a subject-oriented database that is often a partitioned segment of an enterprise data warehouse. Data marts make specific data available to a defined group of users, which allows them to access data and gain insights faster, because they don’t have to spend time searching within a more complex data warehouse or manually aggregating data from different sources. Data marts are designed to meet the needs of specific groups by having a comparatively narrow subject of data. They contain repositories of summarized data collected for analysis on a specific section or unit within an organization.
A data mart is built from an existing data warehouse (or other data sources) through a complex procedure that involves multiple technologies and tools to design and construct a physical database, populate it with data, and set up intricate access and management protocols. Data mart sources can include internal operational systems, a central data warehouse, and external data. A data mart can be created from an existing data warehouse (the top-down approach) or from other sources, such as internal operational systems or external data.
Data marts offer targeted insights and support faster decision-making within their designated areas, providing valuable and contextually relevant information to their respective users. They provide easier access to data required by a specific team or line of business within an organization. Data marts give employees highly granular access privileges, which means the company can authorize a certain person to view or retrieve specific data.
In summary, a data mart is a subject-oriented database that is a subset of a data warehouse focused on a particular line of business, department, or subject area. It makes specific data available to a defined group of users, allowing them to access data and gain insights faster. Data marts are designed to meet the needs of specific groups by having a comparatively narrow subject of data. They can be created from an existing data warehouse or other sources, such as internal operational systems or external data. Data marts offer targeted insights and support faster decision-making within their designated areas, providing valuable and contextually relevant information to their respective users.