Aug 04, 2016 | 2 min read

Take the 1-2-3 NoSQL Litmus Test

By: Patrick Emmons

NoSQL

You’re thinking about switching to NoSQL database technology. You’ve seen our blog posts about why and how to switch, but you’re still on the fence. Often, simplicity is the key. Ask yourself these three basic questions and you’ll be able to make a smarter NoSQL decision.

1. Do I have a full picture of my business?
Are your users logging in to different systems? Do you want to break down silos and effectively share information? Do you need real-time information, but don’t want to create a data warehouse or pay for ETL management? With NoSQL, you can remove silos and aggregate data to get a 360-degree view of your business.

2. Is my data working for me?
Perhaps you have decades of unused data sitting in silos. Or you have large amounts of unstructured data like clickstreams, social, PDFs or anything else that does not fit into a traditional database. Could there be an opportunity to mesh your unstructured data with your structured data to create a new stream of business? NoSQL can turn your data into a competitive edge.

3. Am I building applications fast enough?
The speed of business has increased, and you need to create more value for your customers faster than ever. Applications have been built with relational databases for over 30 years now. As you adopt a more agile mindset, you need to be able to adapt to ever-changing requirements without the burden of modifying data models. If you are looking to create a more agile application development process, consider NoSQL.

Consider HealthCare.gov. This immense undertaking began with the use of traditional database technologies. It quickly became clear, however, that relational databases were ill-suited to handling the diversity of data. The transition to NoSQL contributed to shaving months, if not years, off development time.

NoSQL lets you start looser and build faster. Most startups use NoSQL because they need a flexible space where they can pivot when necessary. With NoSQL you can build applications and engage with customers faster, then pivot when you realize how they want to engage with you. With a traditional database, it takes time to model the data and build the application. Then, when things change, you have to migrate the data over and re-write the code.

Still wondering whether NoSQL is the right investment for your business? Watch our on-demand webinar, No Limits With NoSQL: Introduction to the Technology That Powers Today’s Industry Leaders.

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.