FAQs: Analytics Resource Guide

Alma Analytics does not access the operational database. It uses a backup copy of the operational database. Alma Analytics primarily uses ETL to populate the data in Analytics. Understanding ELT is helpful, especially when comparing data processing strategies.

What is ETL?

ETL is a data pipeline approach where:

1. Extract: Data is pulled from source systems (e.g., Alma's operational database).
2. Transform: Data is then transformed within the data warehouse using SQL or other processing tools.
3. Load: Raw data is loaded directly into a data warehouse.

Due to the ETL process you need to consider that:

• Alma Analytics data is not real-time. The ETL process typically runs overnight.
• Any changes made in Alma after the last ETL run will not be reflected in Analytics until the next day.
• This can lead to confusion if users compare live Alma data with Analytics reports.
• Any changes in items' statuses may result in data discrepancy if your report uses an active status filter.
• Please be aware that the IPEDS - ACRL reports change according to any new rule issued for IPEDS and ACRL surveys.

Therefore, because of this ETL process and changes to the database over time, the results of a report that was run for a specific time period may be different if run later for the same time period.

Additional factors may include:

• Changes in how electronic resources are managed in Alma (e.g. moving an electronic collection from a locally managed collection to a collection managed by the provider, or to an autoholdings collection)
• For Titles reports, some of the bibliographic-level data from Alma is updated monthly in Analytics rather than daily--this may cause discrepancies between Titles reports run before and after a Titles update
• Routine electronic and physical inventory management; e.g. weeding projects, electronic inventory reconciliation, reclassifying or recoding inventory, etc.
• Changes to report criteria; e.g. updates to DDA/EBA/PDA filter, updates to "equipment" filter, etc.