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Fast Data Marts
With Apache Ignite

Warehouse Latency OR Data Mart Limits? Neither.
Sub-second queries on curated datasets without cache complexity

The Trade-off Problem

Traditional analytical data mart architectures force an impossible choice: data warehouses with complete data but high query latency (seconds to minutes), or specialized OLAP systems with fast analytics but expensive infrastructure and operational complexity. Department dashboards require sub-second response times on curated datasets.

Relational database data marts struggle with high-concurrency analytical workloads. In-memory caching layers add cache invalidation complexity and lack SQL query capabilities. Data warehouse queries unsuitable for customer-facing analytics APIs or operational dashboards requiring sub-second response times.

How Apache Ignite Solves This

Apache Ignite provides purpose-built fast data marts without cache complexity through memory-first architecture

Sub-Second Analytics

Memory-first storage delivers low-latency queries for dashboards and operational reports. Complex aggregations, joins, and GROUP BY operations without specialized query languages. Horizontal scalability handles concurrent dashboard users without performance degradation. Partition-aware routing minimizes query overhead.

Not a Cache

ETL or CDC-populated data store eliminates cache invalidation complexity. Purpose-built analytical repository with durable storage and ACID guarantees. Full SQL support for complex analytics without key-value limitations. Scheduled refreshes or real-time updates without cache warming or TTL management.

Architecture Pattern

ETL-Populated Analytical Data Store

Data warehouses or operational systems populate Apache Ignite data marts through ETL pipelines or CDC streams, enabling sub-second analytics on curated datasets.

Integration Pattern: ETL pipelines or CDC streams populate department-specific tables in Apache Ignite (sales_mart, finance_mart, customer_mart). Applications query data marts directly for dashboards, customer APIs, and operational reports. Scheduled refreshes (hourly, daily) or real-time updates based on business requirements.

Consistency Model: ACID guarantees ensure data consistency during ETL updates. No cache invalidation logic required. Queries read consistent snapshots without blocking concurrent updates. Point-in-time consistency for reporting periods.

Performance Characteristics: Memory-first architecture delivers sub-second query latency. Partition-aware routing distributes analytical workload across cluster. Horizontal scalability handles growing data volumes and concurrent users. Consistent performance as data marts scale.

When This Pattern Works

This architecture pattern is best for:

  • Department-specific dashboards requiring sub-second response times
  • Customer-facing analytics APIs serving in-app dashboards
  • Operational reporting on curated datasets
  • Organizations replacing relational database analytical data marts

Example Use Cases:

  • E-Commerce: Sales team dashboard with daily revenue, conversion metrics, and top products refreshed hourly
  • SaaS Applications: Customer usage analytics API serving portal dashboards with real-time CDC updates
  • Financial Services: Fraud detection dashboard with transaction patterns and risk scores updated every 5 minutes

Key Benefits

Sub-Second Query Performance

Memory-first storage eliminates data warehouse query latency for department dashboards and operational reports. Partition-aware routing minimizes query overhead. Horizontal scalability handles concurrent users without performance degradation. Consistent response times as data volumes grow.

Purpose-Built Repository

Not positioned as cache. No staleness concerns or invalidation complexity. ETL or CDC-populated data store with proper governance. Curated datasets reduce query complexity and improve performance. Full SQL support for complex analytics without specialized query languages.

Infrastructure Consolidation

Replace multiple relational database departmental data marts with single platform. Eliminate caching layers and database combinations. Reduce operational overhead of managing multiple systems. Single platform for all departmental analytics with consistent query interface.

Operational Simplicity

Scheduled ETL refreshes or CDC real-time updates without cache warming. No cache invalidation logic or TTL management required. ACID guarantees for data consistency during updates. Standard SQL interface with JDBC and ODBC connectivity for BI tools.

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