Faster, better, cheaper isn't the answer, it's a Band-Aid.

Answering the questions you can't ask today requires a radically new analytics information management infrastructure.

Unfortunately, building an enterprise data warehouse or data mart with today's database technology is very complicated. It's had to be, since relational, OLAP, and column-store databases mandate gathering user requirements, doing physical and logical database design, optimizing queries, and so on.

This might seem OK when you first deploy your bright, shiny new analytics system, but after awhile, the ever-increasing ad hoc analysis needs of users everywhere strain the IT department with projects that demand DBAs to re-architect, reload and re-optimize the database. The reality is: This is not a problem that better, faster, cheaper alternatives like data warehouse appliances, OLAP or column-store databases can solve.

But try to explain that to users. Unlike those of the past, today's user is technology-savvy and doesn't believe "It can't be done." or "The answer will take three months to get." An analytics information management infrastructure rooted in old relational technologies can't possibly keep up in an environment like this.

In this world, faster, better, cheaper is just another technology Band-Aid. The long-run strategy is to move your analytics information management infrastructure into one rooted in new technologies envisioned to deal with the unique requirements of data analysis from the get-go. If you do, you can deploy an enterprise data warehouse, data mart or project warehouse in weeks, not months or years, to handle some or all of your business intelligence needs. Give those tech-savvy users what they really want—a full suite of data access and information management tools to do analytics on their own, regardless of how simple or complex.

illuminate's product suite handles both the extraordinary and the ordinary.

Of course, the core of our product line is our correlation database, iLuminate. In addition, we've developed a desktop tool suite for you to take advantage of the unique aspects of a correlation data warehouse, as well as handle your more ordinary SQL-type work. Or, if you prefer, you can still use any ODBC-compliant tools for routine reporting operations and SQL data access.

Our products include:

iLuminate^™: correlation database engine for building fast, flexible and complete data warehouses.

iCorrelate^™: exploration tools for meeting the needs of power-users like data miners and business analysts.