May 25, 2016 | 2 min read

5 Reasons to Switch to a NoSQL Database

By: Patrick Emmons

5 Reasons to Switch to a NoSQL Database

Data science is a hot topic. Everyone’s talking about taking large amounts of data and applying programming to gain new business insights. At DragonSpears, we’ve been asking ourselves why NoSQL database technology isn’t getting the attention it deserves.

Perhaps it’s because there are misconceptions about NoSQL. Developers know it’s a powerful tool for storing data, but they don't understand how it can turn data into profits. We’ve heard some people say it’s not worth their time to learn a very specific database to solve a very specific problem.

Here are five reasons to consider NoSQL for your next application, instead of a traditional, relational database option.

  1. Unrivaled Power

NoSQL databases let you ingest a massive volume of data and significantly reduce cost. You can take data and create relationships—something no other database technology lets you accomplish.

  1. Collect First, Organize Later

With NoSQL, you don’t have to know how you want to structure your data ahead of time. You have objects and you store them. You don’t have to represent every individual property of an object. You collect data and design the perfect data model later.

  1. Gather Data in Real Time

Today’s data velocity is unprecedented. Sensors are delivering data with every ping. Data warehouses have their place, but they don’t let you collect data in real time. NoSQL gives you this capability.

  1. Unstructured Data is Welcome

With NoSQL, you can input a variety of unstructured data, including PDFs, audio files, text files, etc. And here’s a bonus—you may find key information that can lead to a competitive advantage.

  1. Ideal For Small and Large Companies

Your data is critically important. Wouldn’t you like to do more with it, put it all in one place and treat it as one big source of intelligence from your ERP, HRS, CRS and CRM systems? You can, with NoSQL.

Ready to maximize and productize your data? Ask us to prepare a proof of concept using the most robust NoSQL database available today.

About Patrick Emmons

If you can’t appreciate a good sports analogy, movie quote, or military reference, you may not want to work with him, but if you value honesty, integrity, and commitment to improvement, Patrick can certainly help take your business or your career to the next level. “Good enough,” is simply not in his vernacular. Pat’s passion is for relentlessly pushing himself and others to achieve full potential. Patrick Emmons is a graduate of St. Norbert College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. Patrick co-founded Adage Technologies in 2001 and in 2015, founded DragonSpears as a spin-off dedicated to developing custom applications that improve speed, compliance and scalability of clients’ internal and customer-facing workflow processes. When he is not learning about new technology, running a better business, or becoming a stronger leader, he can be found coaching his kids’ (FIVE of them) baseball and lacrosse teams and praising his ever-so-patient wife for all her support.