Change Data Capture and Its Role in Business Growth

Depending on the industry that your business belongs, there’s a good chance that you deal with a huge volume of data every day. You may also have already heard of or know about change data capture and how it’s an important component of business growth.

Simply put, change data capture or CDC is a type of software solution used to keep track of the changes made to a master database or data server. These changes are then applied to other databases linked to that master database, ensuring that everyone is has access to a uniform set of data at all times.

What makes this solution beneficial for companies — especially for those whose profitability and survival depend on accurate data — is that it enables them to have the most up-to-date information they need wherever they are in the company structure, and without having to deal with long periods of downtime that it would normally takes for the other databases to “catch up” to the main database if CDC is not in play.

Before CDC, the entire master or main database would always have to be replicated into the other databases whenever any changes to the former are made. This process is called dumping, and depending on the size of the database, it can take as long as twenty-four hours for every dumping cycle to complete. Just imagine the number of lost opportunities that can occur in that time frame, not to mention the lost man hours simply because the staff had to wait an entire day to have access to the most updated version of the data they need.

Such a slow turnaround will have a detrimental effect to data-centric businesses, especially those who have several personnel who do not have direct access to the main database. Without up-to-date information, the officers and employees are rendered unable to make the business decisions they need to make to reach their organization’s goals.

With that being said, here are some examples on how change data capture can help achieve business growth:

1. CDC delivers data on demand, in (near) real-time. As mentioned earlier, giving all relevant personnel the right information, right when they need it, helps these individuals make informed business decisions that critical to company growth.
2. CDC empowers businesses to react to changes in their company and industry in real-time. The business landscape is changing every day, and businesses have to always adapt, and quickly at that, in order to thrive. By having the most up-to-date information at their disposal, these businesses are able to formulate plans and strategies to help them survive and grow in their respective industries, no matter what new trends or changes arise.
3. CDC allows businesses to react quickly to customer feedback. Listening and adapting to the needs and wants of their customer base is one of the best ways for businesses to grow. CDC allows businesses to react to customer feedback in near-real-time, cultivating positive customer relationships and preventing apathy and the potential loss of business.
4. CDC increases efficiency within the company. Business functions, especially those that involve data, are made more efficient overall with the help of CDC. This allows for faster turnaround times, among others, and can indirectly increase
5. CDC helps cut down overhead costs. In relation to faster turnaround times, the reduced bandwidth and resource impact of CDC, compared to that of database dumping, will help cut down overhead costs. This frees up more resources that may otherwise be needed in other facets of the business.

 

Final Thoughts

Change data capture may seem ultimately minor when compared to bigger and more essential company solutions. However, as it helps businesses become more adept with the data they need in their day-to-day operations, its benefits should not be underestimated. Used the right way, CDC can have an integral role in the growth of any data-centric business or industry.