ETL

ETL stands for Extract, Transform, and Load. It is a process used to transfer data from different sources, such as ERP data, databases and flat files, into a target system, such as a data warehouse or data mart. It’s used to integrate data from different sources and make it available for reporting, analysis and decision-making. The process is typically composed of three stages:

• Extract: This is the process of retrieving data from various sources. The data is typically extracted from different systems, such as transactional databases, flat files, and operational systems. The extracted data is then cleaned and transformed into a format that can be loaded into the target system.
• Transform: This is the process of converting the extracted data into a format that can be loaded into the target system. This may involve cleaning the data, performing calculations, and mapping the data to the appropriate fields in the target system.
• Load: This is the process of loading the transformed data into the target system. The data is typically loaded into a data warehouse or data mart, where it can be used for reporting, analysis, and decision-making.

ETL is an part of Business Intelligence and data warehousing, as it enables organizations to integrate data from different sources and make it available for reporting and analysis. ETL can be done using specialized software using a combination of scripting and database management tools.