You’re thinking about switching to NoSQL database technology. You’ve seen our blog posts about why and how to switch, but you’re still on the fence. Often, simplicity is the key. Ask yourself these three basic questions and you’ll be able to make a smarter NoSQL decision.
1. Do I have a full picture of my business?
Are your users logging in to different systems? Do you want to break down silos and effectively share information? Do you need real-time information, but don’t want to create a data warehouse or pay for ETL management? With NoSQL, you can remove silos and aggregate data to get a 360-degree view of your business.
2. Is my data working for me?
Perhaps you have decades of unused data sitting in silos. Or you have large amounts of unstructured data like clickstreams, social, PDFs or anything else that does not fit into a traditional database. Could there be an opportunity to mesh your unstructured data with your structured data to create a new stream of business? NoSQL can turn your data into a competitive edge.
3. Am I building applications fast enough?
The speed of business has increased, and you need to create more value for your customers faster than ever. Applications have been built with relational databases for over 30 years now. As you adopt a more agile mindset, you need to be able to adapt to ever-changing requirements without the burden of modifying data models. If you are looking to create a more agile application development process, consider NoSQL.
Consider HealthCare.gov. This immense undertaking began with the use of traditional database technologies. It quickly became clear, however, that relational databases were ill-suited to handling the diversity of data. The transition to NoSQL contributed to shaving months, if not years, off development time.
NoSQL lets you start looser and build faster. Most startups use NoSQL because they need a flexible space where they can pivot when necessary. With NoSQL you can build applications and engage with customers faster, then pivot when you realize how they want to engage with you. With a traditional database, it takes time to model the data and build the application. Then, when things change, you have to migrate the data over and re-write the code.
Still wondering whether NoSQL is the right investment for your business? Watch our on-demand webinar, No Limits With NoSQL: Introduction to the Technology That Powers Today’s Industry Leaders.
