Relive our session with Synotis, Denodo, and ECA on optimizing data through Data Virtualization during the "Data, Digital & IA au service de l'Humain" event.
In a context where data lies at the heart of business strategies, agility, performance, and information management are essential. During a session dedicated to data virtualization, Laurent Dumont (Solution Architect at Synotis), Géraud Rosenkranz (Strategic VP at Denodo), and Vincent Tessyer (Data Architect at the Vaud Cantonal Insurance Establishment) shared their expertise and insights on the implementation of the Denodo solution.
Challenges of data management
Laurent Dumont began the session by highlighting the key challenges companies face in data management:
- Rigid and siloed architectures: Data silos lead to duplication, inconsistent quality, and increased complexity in data exchanges.
- Lack of agility: Business teams depend heavily on IT teams for data-related issues, causing significant delays in addressing specific business needs.
- Insufficient traceability: Regulatory requirements and consumer expectations demand greater transparency and robust governance.
- Growing involvment of business users: Business users increasingly seek autonomt through self-servicce BI tools.
To address these challenges, a modern data platform must ensure full control over data, relying on a centralized data model so that information is understandable and usable by all users. Data access should be universal, with a standardized and straightforward implementation process. Centralized access management is also crucial to facilitate governance and ensure optimal security. Finally, the platform must be capable of handling increasing and substantial data volumes while effectively supporting users' self-service analytics needs.
Data virtualization with the Denodo solution enables centralized access to heterogeneous data sources without replication, while supporting self-service analytics and robust data governance.
Denodo : an innovative approach to data virtualization
Data has become a critical lever for driving organizational performance and operations. The central challenge lies in enabling seamless and effective data usage to serve users across the organization. This requires making data accessible, understandable, and actionable at all levels, supported by the right tools and an agile architecture. The Denodo solution addresses these needs by relying on three fundamental pillars:
- Data product design: Structuring and organizing data for optimized utilization.
- Bottling vapability: Extracting and exposing data in a universal format.
- Data Distribution: Simplifying access for end users via analytical tools, APIs, and an intuitive marketplace.
The Denodo platform offers a virtual data warehouse that delivers tailored views for each user based on their access rights, without the need for a physical data warehouse. This approach reconciles data silos, streamlines exchanges, and enhances the overall performance of information systems.
The ECA's experience
Vincent Tessyer, Data Architect, shared the ECA's journey in adopting Denodo with the support of the Synotis teams. Starting with a proof of concept (POC) in 2022, followed by the purchase and production deployment of the solution in May and June 2022, the IT teams quickly recognized the success of their decision:
- Reduction of unnecessary data movements: Less duplication and fewer flat file exchanges.
- BI optimization: Gradual transition to a more agile Virtual BI.
- Data federation: Ability to reconcile heterogeneous models and centralize critical repositories.
- Application Mediation: Leveraging Denodo for inter-system data exchanges.
- ERP Migration Support: Minimizing delays and risks associated with data transfers.
The platform simplifies application mediation and data migrations without relying on flat files, enhancing data freshness and reducing transportation needs. Denodo's Data Catalog is another key advantage, streamlining metadata governance and traceability.
With its virtual master data management capabilities, Denodo enables organizations to reconcile attributes and deliver a single source of truth across heterogeneous data models.
Key benefits at a glance:
- Rapid deployment: A simple architecture that's easy to install, configure, and manage by Synotis' operational teams.
- Reduced time-to-delivery: Accelerated prototyping and production rollout.
- Increased accessibility: Quick onboarding for technical teams, regardless of their backgrounds.
- Responsive support: A skilled and available support team, complemented by the accessibility of Synotis teams.
- Self-service BI: Enhanced autonomy for business users through Denodo’s data catalog.
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates that data virtualization, when supported by a robust solution like Denodo and effective guidance from partners like Smile and Synotis, can radically transform a company's data management. It enables better control, enhanced agility, and optimized governance of information flows.
The insights shared by Laurent Dumont, Géraud Rosenkranz, and Vincent Tessyer provide a practical roadmap for organizations looking to fully leverage their data assets.