Data Warehousing in Toronto
Design and architecture
What is a data warehouse?
A data warehouse is a central database built for reporting and analysis. It collects information from the systems your business already uses, such as accounting software, sales and customer records, inventory and spreadsheets, then cleans and organizes it so everyone works from the same numbers.
Your day-to-day systems are designed to run the business: take orders, send invoices, track stock. They are not designed to answer questions across all of that data at once. A data warehouse fills that gap, so reports that used to take hours of copying and pasting can come from one trusted source.
With your data in one place, owners and managers can see sales, costs and operations side by side, spot trends over time and make decisions based on figures everyone agrees on. North IT Systems designs and builds data warehouses for small to mid-sized businesses in Toronto and the GTA.
Is it time?
Signs your business needs a data warehouse
A data warehouse is worth considering when reporting starts to cost more time than it saves.
Reports take too long
Staff spend hours exporting and combining spreadsheets every week or month.
Numbers do not match
Different departments report different figures for the same thing.
Data lives in many systems
Sales, accounting, operations and marketing data sit in separate tools that do not talk to each other.
History is hard to reach
You want to compare this year with past years, but older data is difficult to find or has been overwritten.
Growth is slowing reports
As the business grows, the spreadsheets and queries that once worked become slow or fragile.
You want better dashboards
You are ready for dashboards and business intelligence, but there is no clean data to build them on.
Full service
Our data warehousing services
As a full service company, North IT Systems handles each stage, from the first conversation to ongoing support.
Requirements and planning
We learn which questions you need answered, which systems hold the data and who will use the reports.
Architecture and design
We design the structure of the warehouse: data models, how sources connect, and how data is cleaned, checked and stored.
Build and data loading
We set up the warehouse and the processes that move data from your systems on a regular schedule.
Reporting and support
We connect your reporting and dashboard tools, test the results with your team and keep the warehouse running as your needs change.
Secure by design
Your data, protected and supported
A data warehouse holds some of your most valuable information, so security is part of the design from the start: controlled access for each user, encryption, backups and monitoring.
Because North IT Systems also provides cybersecurity and managed IT services, your data warehouse is supported by the same team that looks after the rest of your technology.
- Role-based access, so people see only the data they need
- Backups and recovery planning
- Documentation your team can follow
Questions
Data warehousing: common questions
What is the difference between a database and a data warehouse?
A regular database supports one application, such as your accounting or sales system, and is built to record transactions quickly. A data warehouse combines data from many systems and is built for reporting and analysis across all of them.
Is a data warehouse only for large companies?
No. Small and mid-sized businesses benefit too, especially when data is spread across several systems and reporting depends on spreadsheets. The design is scaled to the size of your business and the questions you need answered.
Can a data warehouse run in the cloud?
Yes. A data warehouse can run on servers in your office or on a cloud platform. We help you weigh cost, security and performance and recommend the approach that suits your business.
Which data sources can be connected?
Most business systems can be connected, including accounting software, sales and customer systems, online stores, databases and spreadsheets. During planning we confirm how each source can be accessed.
Do we need to replace our current software?
No. A data warehouse works alongside your existing systems. It copies data from them for reporting, so your team keeps using the tools they already know.
How do we get started?
Call (647) 946 7559 or reach us through the contact page. We will talk through your reporting needs and arrange a free consultation.