CBS SCROOGE: Consolidated database

Consolidated database (CDB) product is designed first of all for consolidation of data received from CBSs of branches of multidivisional bank. The product architecture allows to use it as a separate database for generation of analytical reporting.

This system includes mechanisms for the following:

• Consolidated data source for analytical system. Centralized administration and management.
• Collection of data from branches in different modes: "on demand", "daily", "real time" and etc. The main requirement is possibility to obtain matched data.
• Automatic detection of data mismatch and elimination of mismatch (if possible). Minimization of administrative expenses for system maintenance.
• Data integrity control. Possibility to get information about the degree of reliability of necessary data. Simple and comprehensive means for selective counter reconciliation of data.
• Transparent operation regardless of the state of business day days and the number of opened business days. Independent reconcilliation of days. Transparent system of reprocessing of aggregate amounts. Convenient criteria for creation of partially updated cubes.
• Feedback. Ability to find the primary source (details of participant) for any information stored in consolidated database.
• Transparent work of applications. Possibility to use minimal functionality of existing applications on consolidated database at low costs, say, for prompt viewing of data received from branches.
• Possibility to launch own applications, developments of branches or third parties on consolidated database.

So the architecture of consolidated database allows to store there almost any object of the CBS in a form which is most convenient for analytical calculations.

MS SQL Server was chosen as a platform for creation of the product. Now the solution is compatiable with MS SQL Server 2000, MS SQL Server 2005, MS SQL Server 2008 CTP. Using of MS SQL Server provides for:

• Industry standards of data storage, processing and system administration.
• Flexible scaling of system, possibility of creation of distributed systems, for example, on the basis of server federation.
• Guarantee of data integrity. Time of system recovery may be reduced to minutes regardless of volumes of processed data.
• Simple and easy integration with MS Analysis Services
• Simple and easy integration with office applications including Microsoft Office. Deep integration with MS Analysis Services and Microsoft Office.
• Easy work with MS Notification Services and MS Reporting Services that allows, for instance, to create a powerful internal analytical portal if you have appropriate techniques.
• Wide range of means for remote work.

The main distinction of consolidated database from database of branch is possibility to store data received from several branches (subdivisions) in one table. This was achieved through extension of identification and reprocessing of linking of almost all objects.

Where it is possible usual structure of representation is applied for the majority of objects in consolidated database.

Consolidated database is not just a copy of the main database of CBS Scrooge, - it is optimized for storage of large volumes of information for regular generation of analytical reporting. Consolidated database supports emulation of structure of database of one branch and mechanism of selection of "current" branch. This architectural peculiarity allows to migrate almost any applications (reports) of CBS to CDB at minimal costs.

Consolidated database is a real time product just like CBS «Scrooge». With appropriate configuration analytical data will be updated as often as you need.

The most important property of such systems is possibility to ensure consistency of data (data in consolidated database coincide with data in branch database at each moment of time). This is achieved through regular reconciliation with original data and automatic elimination of detected errors.

If you have consolidated database for a system of branches it is easy for you to perform a wide range of tasks.

For example, there is backward integration of consolidated database with CBS Scrooge for keeping records about customers by branches. It is possible to use direct and reverse identification of data in consolidated database and unification of layers of data representation, and this allows to solve a problem of centralized keeping of records about customers of bank without replication to branches. If this mode is activated in the settings in process of addition of new customer "Customer management workstaion" sends a search request to consolidated database. Depending on the results of request it is possible to:

• adjust search request
• copy data about existing customer
• add new client that will be registered in consolidated database

This is not the only option of work of branch information system with consolidated database. And there is no potential vulnerability from the point of view of getting of extra information by branches - branches have special accounts with access only to search procedures, so they can not get information in any other way. Of course search procedures shall be designed appropriately.