Operational Datastore (ODS)

An Operational Datastore (ODS) is a type of database which integrates current data from multiple data sources (Integration Hub) and provides that data to operational systems such as web sites and downstream systems such as data warehouses. There are a number of other views as to the definition and function of the ODS.

The ODS typically is composed of the following zones:

• Object: tables that are identified through business keys. The Object contains enough information to be identified. The primary key of the object is inherited by the Tie and Properties tables. Similar tables in other approaches include: header, master and hub (Data Vault).
• Tie: tables that associate one or more Object tables. Similar tables in other approaches include: association, relationship and link (Data Vault).
• Properties: tables that contain data elements that describe an Object or Tie. Property tables are designed to contain current values rather than history. This is a major difference between the ODS and the Atomic Warehouse.
• Guide: tables that enable efficient and effective data access such as: hierarchy navigation, supertype / subtype and use conditions.
• Reference: tables that contains static lookup data such as: calendards, currencies, countries and transaction codes.

The Operational Datastore (ODS) typically contains less data than the Atomic Warehouse because the ODS does not contain history and the ODS contains a more restricted set of data designed to support specific operational purposes.