> Connecting the model to knowledge (Reality Check)
> Connecting the model to data (data management)
> Connecting the model to users (interface and training)
> Connecting users to better performance (business process)

Connecting the model to data (data management)

Models use historical data in two ways. Some data are used as direct input, for example, advertising spending data. Other data are compared to model output--for example, product sales data--both to help calibrate the model, and also as one of many tests of model reliability. Typically, Ventana models draw on data from multiple sources in multiple formats.

Ventana offers a wide range of data management options to collect incoming data, organize, store, and make them available to the model, and to archive output to benchmark model performance. Small amounts of data that do not require frequent updates are often best collected by hand in spreadsheets, which are then read by the model. Larger amounts of data can be automatically drawn from one or more existing databases, or compiled in a dedicated database. Ventana customizes data management procedures to suit client needs, balancing initial development cost against the ongoing cost of maintaining and using data to find the most productive option.

When required, Ventana models can handle massive amounts of information. Connecting data to Ventana models makes it feasible and efficient to inspect, preserve, and use large data sets productively when traditional database applications cannot. For an example, please read about Ventana's spares logistics application.