OLAP database

The data for Lawson Business Intelligence and analysis tools is stored in an online analytical processing (OLAP) database. An OLAP database is also referred to as a cube or data mart. It stores consolidated and summarized information created from data stored in the Lawson relational database.

As the relational database holds all transaction information at the deepest level of detail, an OLAP database stores only selected pieces of data and stores a more summarized set of information. This makes it possible for the OLAP database to access large volumes of data at an incredible speed. The functionality of a multidimensional database is characterized by:

• Calculations and modeling applied across categories

• Trend analysis over sequential time periods

• Slicing subsets for on-screen viewing

• Drill down to deeper levels of detail

• Rotation of dimensions for the purpose of comparisons