What is a drawback of the separation of OLTP and OLAP systems?

The separation of Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) systems presents several challenges, and the need for batch processes to keep these systems in sync is a significant drawback.

In a typical architecture, OLTP systems are designed for managing transaction-oriented applications, focusing on quick data entry and retrieval to support day-to-day operations. On the other hand, OLAP systems are intended for analysis and reporting, providing insights through complex queries over historical data. Because these systems have different purposes, they often operate independently, which can lead to discrepancies in data if not managed correctly.

Batch processes are employed to periodically transfer data from the OLTP system to the OLAP system. These processes can introduce delays, meaning that the OLAP system may not reflect the most current state of the data until the next batch job runs. This can hinder timely decision-making and analysis, as users of the OLAP system do not have immediate access to the latest operational data.

Overall, the reliance on batch processes for synchronization presents a crucial drawback of maintaining separate OLTP and OLAP systems, impacting the immediacy and accuracy of insights derived from the analytical system.