Simple Data Extraction

Data mining and working with a range of information spread across spreadsheets and databases suffers from the same problem that telecom did 10 years ago: the last mile. There is vast potential in unstructured data and even when all the information is in the source documents, extracting that data into a workable format can be extremely difficult, time consuming, and riddled with errors.

Many companies involved in financial projections and business intelligence find it necessary to extract critical information from outside documents like Excel spreadsheets, CSV, and flat files. This information has to be fed into another application for visual data mapping and processing. SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) adapters are designed for this purpose but they require a great deal of advanced knowledge and experience. In some instances, the default SSIS transformation can’t even detect data in some types of cells. Minor variations, like the placement of column headings, can derail the data extraction. If there are too many types of source files using SSIS adapters is not even possible.

Managers today operate in a lean environment where they have to extract, transform, and load data on a regular basis. They need relatively simple platforms that can be learned quickly and maintained with minimal time commitment.

DataDefractor represents that next step in data extraction technology. It can read and format vast amounts of data from a variety of database file types without custom-built ETL code. DataDefractor can even extract information from different types of flat files into one workbook with variable formatting. This kind of platform independence is how data was meant to be shared.

When managers face critical decisions about the company’s direction, accessing the essential data they need can quickly become impractical. Data visualization applications, data warehouses, OLAP cubes, and various business intelligence platforms need to access data from flat files or Excel from anywhere, but writing accurate code for data extraction can take days or even weeks for development and testing.

DataDefractor users extract missing critical data from complex Excel spreadsheets and CSV files and transform the results into workable structured data for analysis, reporting and forecasting. Whether or not your corporate leadership has addressed the issue of merging results from incomparable data extraction, you can be certain that your competition has. What’s your strategy for securing the information you need to stay ahead of the game?