Please define data reconciliation and database reconciliation.

Please define data reconciliation and database reconciliation. I also need a definition of data synchronization.

Chuck Kelley's Answer: Synchronization is really about making sure that you have extracted from the appropriate sources and that all the data is available (i.e., run through the ETL process and loaded). Data reconciliation and database reconciliation I believe are synonyms. Both have to do with the reconciling the data and measures to the source systems.

Evan Levy's Response: I've sent these terms used interchangeably - here's my use of each.

Data reconciliation is element level checking where each element is valid. This includes matching the source and reflecting an accurate, valid value.

Database reconciliation focuses on the integrity and quality of the entire database or data set. Database reconciliation is a superset of data reconciliation.

We frequently use data reconciliation to address the integrity or accuracy of individual records of data quantities. Database reconciliation is frequently discussed at the completion of a data migration effort where we want to understand if the validity of the entire data set is still intact.

Chuck Kelley is an internationally known expert in database and data warehousing technology. He has 30 years of experience in designing and implementing operational/production systems and data warehouses. Kelley has worked in some facet of the design and implementation phase of more than 50 data warehouses and data marts. He also teaches seminars, co-authored four books on data warehousing and has been published in many trade magazines on database technology, data warehousing and enterprise data strategies. He can be contacted at chuckkelley@usa.net.

Evan Levy is a partner and co-founder of Baseline Consulting Group, a multivendor systems integration and consulting firm. As the partner in charge of Baseline’s largest practice, Levy leads both executives and practitioners in delivering technology solutions that help business users make better decisions. He has led strategic technology implementations at commercial and public sector organizations and advises vendors on their product development and delivery strategies. Levy has been published in a wide array of industry magazines and has lectured on a range of technology delivery experiences at leading conferences and vendor events. He has been a featured speaker at the Marcus Evans Analytical CRM symposium, DCI’s Data Warehousing conference, the CRM Association, DAMA International, the AMA and the Data Warehousing Institute. His current work involves delivering and lecturing extensively on the topic of data integration. You can contact him at evanlevy@baseline-consulting.com.

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