OLAP is very useful in giving an insight on the latest business trend and business
performance from different perspectives to the business managers, executives and business analysts who get benefited by its quick response and manage to take some important decisions in time. Its a fast, interactive and consistent method of analyzing the raw data from a large database and gives the requested report in a multi dimensional way. The report comes in an easily readable and presentable form in very quick time.
OLAP system uses a multiple user client server methodology helping numerous users at a time. The details from huge databases is used with keeping the original database intact and the data is then processed using different techniques in performing highly complex calculation and the management report is provided in easy formats. It helps the organization in taking some important present as well as future decision and the corrective measures, if any, to expand the business and improve the employee productivity.
The two major OLAP types are Multi Dimensional OLAP (MOLAP) and Relational OLAP (ROLAP). Both the types do the same thing but use two different methodologies in accessing the data. Their functionality is different in terms of the time taken in processing the data also. We find MOLAP faster than ROLAP because MOLAP takes the raw data from the relational databases and uses it in making a new multi dimensional database which is easily accessible and time saving. ROLAP directly accesses the relational database and it takes a bit more time in processing the same. ROLAP can process larger business analysis queries whereas MOLAP does well with about 10 dimensions. MOLAP works well with the database size of 5 GB or less but ROLAP can support the database of any huge size. ROLAP supports dynamic consolidation but MOLAP can only support batch consolidations.
OLAP, with the use in any of its type, is a great tool in analyzing data from huge databases in a very quick time and helpful in business development.