Cloud turns data transformation on its head

The traditional data transformation procedure of extract, transform and load (ETL) is rapidly being turned on its head in a modern twist enabled by cloud technologies. The Cloud's lower costs, its flexibility and scalability, and the huge processing capability of cloud data warehouses, have driven a major change: the ability to load all data into the cloud, before transforming it. This trend means that ETL itself has been transformed--into extract, load and transform, or ELT. ELT offers several advantages, including retention of data granularity, reduced need for expensive software engineers and significantly reduced project turnaround times. Data is vital for organizations, who use it to understand their customers, identify new opportunities and support decision-makers with mission-critical and up-to-date information.