Data Sources

Owned by Tomislav Hundric
Last updated: May 27, 2024
2 min read

Common Data Sources for Reporting Solutions

  1. Databases:

    • Relational Databases: These include databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. They store data in structured formats and are queried using SQL.

    • NoSQL Databases: Databases such as MongoDB, Cassandra, and Redis that store data in non-relational formats, useful for handling large volumes of unstructured data.

  2. Cloud Storage Services:

    • Data Warehouses: Services like Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, and Snowflake, which are designed to handle and analyze large volumes of data.

    • Cloud Databases: Managed database services like Amazon RDS, Azure SQL Database, and Google Cloud SQL.

  3. APIs:

    • RESTful APIs: Many modern applications expose data through REST APIs, allowing for easy integration and data retrieval.

    • GraphQL APIs: APIs that provide a more flexible and efficient way to query data, often used in modern web applications.

  4. Files and Document Repositories:

    • CSV, Excel, and XML Files: Common file formats that store structured data, often used for importing and exporting data.

    • Document Repositories: Systems like Google Drive, SharePoint, and Dropbox that store documents and files.

  5. Enterprise Systems:

    • Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM that store customer-related data.

    • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: Systems like SAP, Oracle ERP, and Microsoft Dynamics that manage business processes and data.

    • Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS): Systems like Workday, ADP, and BambooHR that manage employee and payroll data.

  6. Business Intelligence (BI) Tools:

    • BI Platforms: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Qlik, which often act as both data sources and reporting tools.

    • Data Integration Platforms: Solutions like Informatica, Talend, and Apache NiFi that integrate and transform data from various sources.

  7. Web and Social Media:

    • Web Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics and Adobe Analytics that provide insights into website traffic and user behavior.

    • Social Media Platforms: APIs from platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram that provide access to social media data.

  8. IoT Devices and Sensors:

    • Sensor Data: Data collected from various IoT devices and sensors, often stored in specialized databases or cloud platforms like AWS IoT or Azure IoT Hub.

  9. Transactional Systems:

    • E-commerce Platforms: Systems like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce that store transaction and sales data.

    • Point of Sale (POS) Systems: Systems that record sales transactions in physical stores.

  10. Custom Data Sources:

    • Proprietary Systems: Any custom-built systems or applications that store business-specific data.

    • Manual Data Entry: Systems that allow for manual data input when automated data collection is not feasible.