Differences between Data Vault and Dimensional modeling?

database-design data-modeling data-warehouse data-vault
jrara picture jrara · Apr 19, 2011 · Viewed 8k times · Source

When modeling a data warehouse, is there any reason we should favor Data Vault over Dimensional modelling? What are the major differences between these two?

Answer

Arjan Fraaij picture Arjan Fraaij · Apr 24, 2011

Dimensional modelling is in my opinion still the best practise for analysis & reporting and as a visible model best understand by business users.

Data Vault is more suitable for large Enterprise Data Warehousing, also recommended by Bill Inmon, but not that suitable for analysis & reporting, for that you still might need dimensional modelling for creating you "virtual" Data marts. Take a peak at some blogs like those from Martijn Evers, Hennie de Nooijer or Ronald Damhof.

Data Vault is more flexible, easier to add new sources, more audit able and keeps all data all the time so you will be able to always recreate you DM's.

So a conclusion might be that the ideal situation is to use Data Vault for your Enterprise Data Warehouse and Dimensional Modelling for you Datamarts.

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