Behovet av NoSQL-databaser hos Business Intelligence-företag : Studie som undersöker behovet av alternativa databaser inom Business Intelligence-området

Sammanfattning: This study presents perceptions towards non-relational, or just NoSQL, databases in IT- and Business Intelligence companies, where we try to determine the need for NoSQL databases in these areas. Earlier studies indicate that the rise of Big Data will force companies to sooner or later expand their data storages to be able to handle the vast amount of data that will emerge, and to find ways to easily manage it. With this in mind, we wanted to determine why some Business Intelligence-companies still had not implemented non-relational databases in their systems, what this would implicate and how necessary it actually is. Our study included a case study at a Business Intelligence-company that still had not adopted these relatively new kinds of databases. First we used a survey to get an idea of what kind of knowledge concerning NoSQL-databases the employees at the company actually had, and to help us create questions for the interviews that would be the next step in our study. Through the interviews we had with three consultants and two developers we gathered a lot of interesting data concerning the company’s attitude towards implementing alternative databases in the system as a complement to their current SQL-based databases. For example, the low level of knowledge about NoSQL-databases of the employees showed a lot of preconceptions and assumptions about these alternative databases, that by extension led to a very skeptical attitude towards them. We learned however that the employees, especially the consultants, worried about the growing amount of data, which already was becoming laborious, and we estimate that companies that has not adopted a solution for this will eventually reach an inflection point where the amount of data will exceed the company’s ability to handle it.