The Ultimate ELT Buyer’s Guide

Cut Through the Clutter. Find the Right ELT Solution.

The ELT market is saturated with solutions, both new and old. And that should come as no surprise. As data sources multiply exponentially, and over 80% of enterprise business leaders view data integration as critical for operations, the demand for ELT solutions has created a crowded space.

For buyers, the problem is not a lack of choices. It’s that there are too many of them. How can buyers identify the right solution with so many options to pick from?

We hear this question from our prospects time and time again. All they ever want is a clear, succinct explanation of what to look for in an ELT solution. That’s why we developed this Ultimate ELT Buyer’s Guide. We want buyers to know what to look for in an ELT solution.

All of the points contained in this guide are suggestions. Every company has different priorities. Each use case is unique in its own way. These observations are derived from our own deep experience in the ELT space, but we expect buyers to consider a number of factors when they make a decision.

Whether you’re an enterprise company, or a regular size business, this guide is built for you. Read on to find the right ELT solution!

ETL vs. ELT: Why ELT is the clear choice

For teams still trying to decide between ETL and ELT, each data integration method offers advantages and disadvantages. But for most use cases, ELT is superior. Consider a comparison between the two protocols.

ETL (extract, transform, and load) extracts raw data from sources, transforms the data on a secondary processing server, and then loads the data into a target database. ETL is used when data must be transformed to conform to the standards of a target database.

ELT (extract, load, and transform), unlike ETL, does not require data transformations to take place before the loading process. ELT loads raw data directly into a target data warehouse, instead of moving it to a processing server for transformation. The data is transformed inside the cloud data warehouse itself.

By streamlining the data integration process, ELT offers a number of advantages over ETL, including:

• Quicker data ingestion
• Higher data volume
• Faster scalability

That’s why, unless a buyer is dealing with legacy architecture, we recommend going with an ELT solution.

What to look for in an ELT Solution?

1. Full Data Orchestration

ELT solutions worth investing in offer end-to-end automation of the ELT process, or full “data orchestration.” Data orchestration is not just a function of automation. A solution must perform each phase of the ELT process – extract, load, and transform – robustly and efficiently.

When searching for a solution, buyers should break down the ELT phases, and ensure that each step offers the powerful capabilities needed to facilitate effective data orchestration.

Here are some important factors to look for:

These are some of the powerful ELT abilities that facilitate data orchestration. But the best platforms often go a step further by introducing features that are specifically designed to execute data orchestration workflows.

These features, using methods such as logic pipelines, enable teams to automate data workflows – from data ingestion, to SQL-based transformations – without any manual intervention whatsoever.

2. Fully-Managed Solution

ELT can offer tremendous advantages, but only if a solution is fully-managed. So – what does “fully-managed” mean? In essence, fully-managed solutions do not require the customer to perform backend tasks. Fully-managed solutions take care of the backend, so customers only have to interact with the user interface.

Fully-managed ELT solutions offer a number of key advantages, including:

These are just some of the benefits of a fully-managed ELT solution. Fully-managed solutions save time, resources, and funding by taking the maintenance burden off of teams, so they can focus on the tasks that really matter.

3. Connects to Any Data Source Easily

One of the core functions of a data integration platform is to combine data from disparate API sources, such as Facebook Ads, Netsuite, and Salesforce, into a single solution. Buyers should look at ELT solutions that can quickly connect to any data source API, without requiring input from the dev team or technical work.

Many ELT solutions offer pre-built API connectors so that buyers can connect to data sources automatically.

Pre-built data connectors offer several benefits, including:

• Plug-and-play functionality
• Immediate time-to-launch
• Automatic updates each time data source API changes
• No developers required
• Active support channels

Pre-built data connectors eliminate the need to build data connectors manually. With plug-and-play functionality, pre-built API connectors link to data sources immediately. The dev team can focus on more important projects, rather than pipeline construction. All API updates are automatic. Support channels are available.

How a solution handles data source “coverage gaps” is key. Many ELT solutions allow customers to “request” new data connectors, but this does not mean they will be built. Buyers that want full API coverage must seek out features such as API on-demand programs and custom API capabilities.

With an API on-demand program:

• Customers choose a custom data source
• The ELT service builds the corresponding API connector
• The API connector is updated and maintained by the ELT service

On the other hand, with a custom API:

• The ELT service does not have to build a data connector
• Customers simply provide the details of the data source API
• Raw data from the data source API is ingested straight into a cloud data warehouse

ELT solutions that offer all three features – pre-built data connectors, API on-demand service, and a custom API – guarantee simple, seamless universal data source coverage

4. Versatile Data Replication

With data integration platforms, there are typically two possible methods for data replication: batch and streaming.

Here’s a quick reminder of what the two terms mean:

Batch processing collects data in batches, and feeds these batches into a database during predefined time intervals. Batch processing is ideal for very large data sets and deeper data analysis.

Stream processing feeds data into a database as soon as it is generated. Stream processing is ideal for projects that require speed, nimbleness, and real-time decision making.

While each data replication method offers its own pros and cons, a versatile ELT solution allows teams to choose between them. This ensures that teams can calibrate for each specific use case.

These are some key features to keep any eye out for:

While every team has unique core needs, most will encounter use cases that demand different forms of data replication. With access to both batch and stream processing, teams can use the method that works best for each individual project.

5. Robust Data Transformation Layer

Data transformation is the key transition step for teams that want to generate powerful insights, granular analysis, and game-changing business intelligence. During data transformation, raw source data is prepared, cleaned, and converted into structured data that BI platforms and analytics systems can harness.

In order to produce the best data analysis, teams need an ELT solution with a robust transformation layer. With the ELT paradigm, data is transformed directly inside of a cloud data warehouse, as the last step in the data integration process. ELT solutions can load and transform data simultaneously, supporting more efficient data projects. The paradigm also enables cloud data warehouses to store raw data indefinitely, so teams can transform the data as much as they want.

However, data transformation capabilities vary widely among ELT solutions. While many ELT solutions say they offer post-load transformation capabilities, they often do not provide the capacities necessary to maximize data quality.

Here are some of the transformation features to look for:

• Automated in-database executions of SQL queries
• Looping
• Conditional logic
• Support for building dependencies
• Point-and-click for creating/updating tables
• Variables functionality for making workflows dynamic and generic.

ELT solutions that offer full downstream transformation capabilities give teams total control over their data. Teams can master the transformation phase easily and intuitively, and create the data needed for premier insights.

6. Comprehensive Support & Onboarding

The best ELT solutions all offer comprehensive customer support. From standard troubleshooting, to Customer Solutions team access, to built-in onboarding sessions, the best ELT solutions cover all the bases when it comes to support.

Here are some key factors to look out for:

These are just some of the support options your team should consider while looking for an ELT solution. Of course, the most important support options will depend on particular needs. But this is a good place to start.

7. Consumption-Based Pricing

ELT solutions are priced based on a number of different factors, including number of users, types of features, and data usage. Some pricing plans are transparent. Others involve complex equations. But let’s cut through the noise.

Here’s a breakdown of popular pricing factors buyers will likely encounter:

Pricing models based exclusively on data consumption allow teams to get the most bang for their buck. This ensures that teams pay only for the data they use, rather than for the platform itself.

With consumption-based pricing, the platform becomes a conduit, not a cost center. Pricing is directly correlated with how much value the team is actually deriving from an ELT platform.

This is What You Should Look For. Now Make an Informed Decision!

This guide is designed to provide buyers with the information they need to make an informed purchase. With our many years of experience in the ELT space, we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. This is the knowledge we can share with the community.

But every team, and use case, is different. Buyers should use this guide at their discretion as they search for a new ELT solution. To learn more about specific ELT providers, visit one of these third-party sites to read objective reviews from real users:

Now you’re on your way to finding the right ELT solution!