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Learn free · topic 168

Data Sprawl

It refers to the staggering amount and variety of data produced by businesses every day. This is largely due to the variety of enterprise software, mobile apps, storage systems, and data formats each company relies on.

We have data in the shape of Video, Audio, Email, PDF, JSON, XML, Text etc. In other words, data is scattered in different formats and unless all formats are not converted in a standardized format, extracting information will also be challenging or time-consuming.

Imagine that you need to complete your taxes, but all your relevant papers are in different drawers, hidden in closets, and stuffed under couch cushions. Now imagine that you have multiple copies of the forms in these places, and some are written in Greek, while others are written in English and Spanish. How will you do your taxes, or clean your house for that matter, when this is the state of things? Unfortunately, this is a problem that is starting to plague companies across the world. This is Data Sprawl.

‘Data Sprawl is about converting multi-format datasets in one unified format.’

To mitigate the challenge of Data Sprawl, one must convert all semi and unstructured datasets into structured data for DSS. Currently, Data Warehouse is the serving layer for decision-makers.

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From I Am Datapedia! by Mustafa Qizilbash, published here free by the author. Nothing about your reading is stored.