Senior Writer: Hiba Ali
Date: February 8, 2024Data is one of the inevitable assets of any company. In this competitive world, no organization can progress without data, and without collecting it from the right sources. However, data that cannot be converted into information is useless. We need to have the correct tools to measure data against the correct metrics and perceived results. And this is where data management comes in.
So What is Data Management?
Data management is defined as the deployment of “architectures, policies, practices, and procedures” to regulate the lifecycle of data. Data management tools are necessary to mine huge amounts of data in order to ensure customer acquisition and competitive growth. They aggregate, sort, and analyze unorganized data so as to generate meaningful information and help in the prediction of future trends.
Data analysis is required to understand the preferences of your target customers so that you can ensure the growth of your organization. There are several free and open-source analytical tools, which can be deployed by your organization without having to spend any extra bucks. The best data management tools will enable you to gather useful and actionable quality insights within quick turnaround time.
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Now the question that definitely arises is: which are the best data analytical tools for your business? We have sorted them according to the different data analysis stages. So without any further ado, let’s dive straight into the list:
ETL Stage
ETL stage is described as that phase of data management during which data is collected from their respective sources and then sent to a data warehouse. Some of the best data management tools in the ETL stage are:
1. SAS Data Management
SAS Data Management, one of the most common and widely used tools, is a software that helps to securely sort, track, and convert unorganized data to transform it into reliable, actionable information. With the help of this technology, you can implement the required architecture essential for extracting and transforming data. Coupled with 300 in-built SQL-based transformations, SAS is able to insert, merge, and delete data from multiple sources and target platforms.
2. IBM Infosphere Information Server
The next data management tool in our list is the IBM Infosphere Information Server, which comprises all the products catering to data analysis. It is equipped with Massive Parallel Processing (MPP) abilities that allow it to scale huge amounts of data. This highly flexible tool can even process various data volumes. It helps companies to aggregate data and then to check its quality.
3. PowerCenter Informatica
PowerCenter Informatica is also a highly scalable, flexible, and premium plus easily accessible data analytics tool. Not only is it able to simultaneously manage a gamut of integrations on a single platform, but it also is popular for its capability to ease the complex process of data marts and data warehouses.
4. Pentaho Business Analytics
Pentaho is recognized and opted for by many businesses because it can execute data analytics seamlessly in a single platform. This open-source software removes almost all issues pertaining to data integration. It is easily accessible and is easy to use. The platform can be integrated anywhere so as to handle many diverse big data projects. Pentaho is a constantly evolving software that adjusts effortlessly with a continually changing market.
5. Skytree Server
An AI-equipped machine learning program, Skytree Server, was created to replace SQL databases. It works on massive sets of unorganized data and then crunches it to generate knowledge in no time. The software consists of various learning algorithms that can be deployed in diverse industries, including sales, fraud detection, and astronomy, among others. Skytree additionally has predictive analysis, which can be used to forecast future trends.
Data Visualization Stage
Data Visualization Stage, as the name suggests, places the crunched data in a visual, graphical format for easier and accurate interpretation. Some tools used in this stage are as follows:
1. Tableau
Tableau enables organizations to get a clear, comprehensive understanding of the crunched data in a graphical format. It helps businesses to create interactive and dynamic dashboards – that too within a very short time span. It also skims out unnecessary data and saves the user valuable time and resources.
2. D3.js
The Javascript Library, D3’js, helps to create dynamic, interactive data visualizations in your web browser. Data-Driven Documents, aka D3, operates via CSS and HTML5 and helps in converting complicated data into a Document Object Model (DOM). It then uses transformations driven by big data so as to solve difficult challenges.
3. Highcharts
One of the most popular data visualizations used by several leading brands, Highcharts, creates different types of charts like spline, areaspline, bar, pie, column, and scatter chart. You can even use it with devices that are not compatible with Flash. Highcharts can also be customized as per the needs of the business.
4. Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft’s Power BI is best known for simplifying the whole process of data preparation. It can easily execute custom analytics and create striking, premium, and actionable graphs and dashboards. It is equipped with features such as Power Query, DAX, Merge, and Power View – and is available in two versions: the on-premise edition and the cloud version.
5. QlikView
Rounding up this list is QlikView, which is an internationally recognized data management tool. It offers a clutter-free interface, which has data visualization technology alongside BI and analytics. You can integrate it with Compatriot and Qliksense and can also upgrade it to increase the looks and usability of the final charts.
So, which data management tool will you use for your business? Or are you already using any? If yes, are you getting the desired results? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
Hiba is an accomplished specialist in writing for Software as a Service (SaaS) and has extensive experience crafting compelling and informative content. With over two years of experience, she has honed her skills in producing various forms of content, including articles, blog posts, and more, all centered around SaaS. Hiba is dedicated to sharing her insights to assist businesses in leveraging SaaS to achieve growth and success.
