In the realm of data analysis, "big data" is a term that often conjures up images of vast digital landscapes teeming with bits and bytes. It can seem intimidating, almost as if one needs to be a seasoned explorer to navigate its complexities.
However, for the sake of our discussion, let's simplify this concept.
Imagine you're tasked with analyzing a dataset—not just any dataset, but one that comprises a whopping 500,000 rows. That’s not a lot of data and in a desktop tool like Microsoft Excel, you have all the power of your desktop crunching those records. But in the world of web-based dashboard and reporting tools, it can be a time (and memory) consuming task to pull that data from your database server, over the network, and stream it down to your overburdened Chrome browser for analysis.
That's what we're referring to when we mention big data in this context. We're talking about large volumes of information that are hefty enough to challenge your Business Intelligence (BI) tool's ability to manage and process them efficiently.
In this blog, we'll explore how you can fine-tune Yurbi to cope with this deluge of data but to master it, and you’ll find it’s not much different than how you would tune your data for any reporting tool.
Let's dive in and discover how to make your data work for you, no matter its size.
CPU Clock-Speed and Memory Is Critical For Your Yurbi Server
In the following sections, we'll explore ways to enhance your database and reports. However, to immediately boost Yurbi's performance, prioritize hosting it on a server equipped with a high-quality CPU. Here, quality refers to clock speed rather than core count.
For hosting on platforms like Azure or AWS, be aware that their more economical servers typically feature CPUs that are not well-suited for Yurbi's processing needs.
On Azure, opt for the Fsv2 series which are compute-optimized. A memory capacity of 8GB is ideal; however, for less demanding scenarios, 4GB should suffice.
Regarding AWS, the compute-optimized choices are the c5 and c5n series.
Finally, consider the IOPS capability of your hard drive as it affects DashboardFox's performance—higher IOPS translates to better performance. For optimal results, we suggest using solid-state drives (SSD) wherever possible.
Optimizing the Data Layer for Enhanced Performance
At the heart of any Business Intelligence tool is its ability to swiftly and effectively process queries, regardless of the data size.
Before diving into the advanced capabilities of your BI software, it's crucial to ensure that the foundation upon which it operates—the data layer—is solid and well-optimized.
Ensure the Database has enough system resources
The data layer serves as the critical repository where all your data resides after being collected. To enhance Yurbi's performance when dealing with large datasets, such as those containing millions of rows or more, we need to ensure that the underlying system is robust. This means verifying that there is ample memory and CPU resources available to handle the load.
Streamline data into views for efficient queries
One of the key strategies in optimizing the data layer involves organizing your data into SQL views. SQL views act as predefined queries that help streamline data retrieval. By doing so, you can reduce the complexity of your queries and allow Yurbi to access the needed information faster and more efficiently.
Reduce granularity of the data
Furthermore, consider transforming your raw data tables into fact tables. Fact tables are designed with less granularity and are tailored to serve specific analytical purposes. By converting raw data into fact tables, you're effectively summarizing and aggregating data into manageable chunks, whether that's on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis.
Through these steps—ensuring system readiness, utilizing SQL views for streamlined querying, and creating fact tables for summarized data—you can significantly improve Yurbi's performance and responsiveness. Let's prepare your data layer not just to handle big data but to make it an asset for deeper insights and faster decision-making.
Streamlining Report Efficiency in Yurbi
Optimizing reports is a crucial aspect of leveraging big data within Yurbi. Efficient reports not only deliver the insights you need faster but also improve the overall user experience by providing clear and concise information.
As we turn our attention to report optimization, it's important to understand that small adjustments can lead to significant performance gains.
In the following sections, we'll explore a variety of methods designed to refine report execution and presentation. From strategic data summarization to smart filtering, and from security implementations to visual optimizations—we'll cover the best practices that help you present data effectively without compromising on performance.
Aggregation and Summarization
Don't just pull back loads of data records. Instead, count, sum, and average data into useful metrics. Then, group them by parameters to summarize or categorize them.
Aggregation focuses on the count, sum, and average, whereas summarization centers around grouping and categorizing data.
Instead of bringing back a lot of data records, you can use both of these processes to apply useful limits, such as date ranges, to limit the amount of data the user is presented with.
You can also use parameters in your data to segment it in a way that is useful but not overwhelming to users, such as by location, category, or department. You can then combine this concept with aggregation and present helpful visuals like "# of x by day by category."
Dashboard Filters/Report Filters
If you don’t already, it’s a good idea to have a set of pre-filtered parameters on the dashboard. Pre-filtered parameters will apply or force passing parameters to the dataset, which limits how much is returned and makes the data more manageable.
Drill Down
By nature, the drill-down process involves passing parameters and summarizing to a small dataset for users to see and explore.
To handle big data in Yurbi, have the report or dashboard show the aggregate visual, chart, KPI, etc., to see the big picture. Then, drill down into more detail. For example, the user might drill down to another visual.
Data Level Security
One of the biggest mistakes users make is running queries as the "admin" or with access to all data when, in reality, the data needs to be run in the context of a customer or department.
In this case, the customer or department is a slice of the data. With that in mind, when you are designing and creating reports, run them in the security context of your largest customer. That would be the most significant amount of the data source under which your tool would perform.
Reduce the Number of Visuals/Charts in a Dashboard
Even with all the techniques above, if you build a dashboard with 12-15 reports, it will be loading all that information 12-15 times.
Focus on the key things and keep it simple.
Divide visuals and data across multiple dashboards. That way, instead of making a broader, big-picture dashboard, you’re making a few more focused dashboards with fewer reports contained within each one.
Avoid Redundancy and Duplication
Avoid redundancy and duplication whenever you can. If data can be conveyed in a single data table to meet the objective, that will almost always be better than breaking out each column or row into its own visualization, as that requires separate calls to the database.
Keeping things simple in terms of visualization can help immensely, especially when dealing with large amounts of data, rather than trying to create a beautiful, eye-catching dashboard.
Optimize Visuals and Charts
Be sure to optimize your visuals and charts as well. For example, create Top 10, Top 15, or Top 20 type visuals.
Instead of showing long tail charts, which may not be as valuable to viewers, segment data to focus on the most important elements. Remember that you can always create an “Other” category for all the longer tail data points and let a user drill down to explore those.
In-Memory Caching
Not all use cases require real-time data.
Say your data warehouse is updated nightly, once a day, or even a few times a day. In that case, having your dashboard cache data daily can speed up results and reduce the load on the database by not running a live query but initially showing cached results (and showing them more quickly).
Audit What Users Need
Finally, remember to think about what the user needs.
Thinking about what the user needs might look like monitoring the execution of dashboards and reports to see which ones get used the most. It might also involve identifying any patterns like time of month or time of day and understanding the usage profile.
This approach can help you optimize system resources, data organization, etc., and help fine-tune things.
Don’t forget to talk to users, too, and make sure the dashboards/reports contain the info they need. During these conversations, you might discover that the initial concept of pulling large amounts of data didn't really match what the users wanted and needed.
Continually getting feedback from actual users is critical. In some cases, you may also need to manage their expectations. For example, if they want a considerable amount of data, you will need to dig in to understand if that is really needed and, if it’s not, provide suitable alternatives.
Embracing the Future of Data: Why Yurbi Reigns Supreme
As our journey through the expansive realm of big data comes to a close, it is clear that the tools we choose to navigate this terrain can make all the difference. In the quest for excellence and efficiency, Yurbi stands out as a guiding light. With its robust features and intuitive interface, Yurbi doesn't just promise a smoother data management experience—it delivers on it.
Harnessing the power of big data requires a platform that's as dynamic as the information it's handling. Yurbi's best qualities shine through its ability to make complex data comprehensible for decision-makers at all levels. Its secure environment, customizable dashboards, and real-time insights empower organizations to act with confidence and agility.
Turn data into your competitive advantage with Yurbi—where insights meet impact.
The future of data handling is not just about managing large volumes; it's about unlocking the true potential within your data. Yurbi offers a seamless avenue to elevate your data strategy and harness the insights that lie beneath the numbers. Don't let complexity hold you back.
Ready to discover what Yurbi can do for your business? Now is the perfect time to explore the future of big data with a partner that understands your needs. Whether you're looking to dive into a personalized experience or witness Yurbi in action, we've got you covered.
Book a meeting with our expert team to discuss your unique challenges and objectives, or avail of our free live demo sessions to see Yurbi's capabilities firsthand.
The power of informed decision-making is just a click away. Transform your data journey today with Yurbi.