Most end users will never use or see a data dictionary because it’s main purpose is to provide a reference to technical professionals. A data dictionary is comprised of comprehensive technical descriptions of each field in a database.
Data dictionaries set up an IT framework and are commonly represented in spreadsheet form. They require a lot of manual work to organize, input data and continue with ongoing maintenance. For anyone, it’s challenging to implement due to the effort that goes into such a project.
A data dictionary is helpful to database designers, programmers, and database experts who need to make changes, updates, and additions to a database or its related applications. In addition, any business intelligence (BI) professional may check a data dictionary or a business glossary as a reference when building data warehouses, reports, and dashboards.
Fortunately, there are modern BI tools, such as Octopai, an automated BI intelligence platform. Modern BI tools are cloud-based, fast to implement, and data dictionaries update automatically with any changes. Octopai supports holistic BI processes, including the creation of an automated business glossary and a data dictionary based on the company’s existing databases. What’s more, it’s easy to navigate a data migration or complex data mapping with automated tools at your fingertips.
