Do you have the data connector blues?
Are you struggling with connecting problematic data sources to your data warehouse? Don’t worry, you’re not alone, and it’s a common frustration data professionals mention when speaking with us about our managed data warehouse solution. At Panoply, we're here to help you overcome those data connector blues!
One of the first steps in solving this issue is understanding the different types of data connectors available to you. There are a few types of connectors you’ll typically encounter such as database connectors, native app-based Connectors, static files, cloud-hosted files, and API-based connectors.
Depending on the organization's data infrastructure, gaining access to critical data can be a challenging task, especially in companies where data is siloed at every turn. The turnaround time on these requests can take a long time and involve multiple iterations to ultimately glean the exact metrics you set out to understand. These costly delays can result in inaccurate data and missed opportunities.
Panoply addresses this issue by encouraging companies to bring all their data into a single source of truth, accessible for data professionals and business users alike. Depending on your particular source within the connection categories below, we offer either a native, code-free Panoply Snap Connector specific to the source, or access to the Panoply Flex Connector that will get you your data from any database, API, or application.
Let’s look at the primary data source types we are able to ingest and normalize as part of Panoply’s offering.
Databases:
Panoply allows you to easily connect to any database, and each database type comes with its own tailored connection settings. When it comes to security, we encourage you to use the built-in SSH settings interface to ensure you are making the most secure connection possible in our platform by creating an ssh tunnel directly to the database.
Some example databases you can connect to in Panoply are:
- BigQuery
- DynamoDB
- Elasticsearch
- Microsoft SQL Server
- MongoDB
- MySQL
- Postgres
- Redshift
App connectors:
One of the largest growing types of data connectors we continually add to is our app-based connectors.
The beauty of the Panoply Snap Connectors for your app sources is that you can simply authenticate into the desired application and seconds later you have all available tables to choose from, even custom objects. Many of our clients comment on how these connectors are a lifesaver. For those in the know, if you’ve ever tried to connect and ingest data from NetSuite, you’ll understand why our customers rave about how easy it is to get NetSuite data into Panoply and then connect their BI Tool to create dashboards.
Some examples:
Static files:
Connecting to static files doesn’t have to be a drag, however, depending on who is providing the data in that file can certainly be a blocker. While this is more related to a client's internal data management policy, the main takeaway is Panoply can easily ingest that data and if possible, we’d help in connecting to that static file’s originating source, thereby nullifying the need to continually manually export that data.
Cloud/remote-hosted:
In situations where siloed data policies result in you not having direct access to data, the individual/department can generate and share that data via cloud hosting. Then, within Panoply you are able to connect to those files and schedule their ingestion as often as you like. Assuming the steward of that data continually updates that data manually or by automation, you can rest assured that Panoply will collect and normalize that data on your desired schedule.
Here’s a sampling of some of the remote file connectors you’ll find in Panoply:
- Amazon S3
- Google Cloud Storage
- Google Drive
- Google Sheets
- Microsoft OneDrive
- SFTP
- Static File Upload
API-based:
As of late, this has been the most requested connector by our clients. Panoply enables data professionals just like you to connect to almost any Rest API Endpoint and treat it as if it were a database. We’ve taken the guesswork out of it and have an intuitive interface that helps you seamlessly collect data. From Access Tokens to Pagination limitations, Panoply’s Flex Connector is the Swiss army knife of API-based data connectors. Gone are the days when you need to ask an engineer to create a connection for a data source. Our Flex Connector can have you up and running in minutes.
Regardless of the type of data connector you choose, it's essential to understand the challenges you might face during the connection process. Common issues include incompatible data formats, varying data structures, slow data transfer speeds, and connection failures. These challenges can be particularly frustrating, but remember that they are not insurmountable.
Even better, here at Panoply, we are a managed solution provider. What does that mean for you?
It simply means that you don’t have to worry about heavy coding or managing your platform, because it’s all taken care of on the back end. Picture a tool that offers a managed data warehouse with ELT, unlimited managed connectors, unlimited users, a built-in workbench, easy BI Tool connections, and a customer success team on standby when you need help, all from one vendor. That is Panoply!
So, don't let data connectivity woes dampen your spirits. The Panoply team is standing by to help you turn those Data Connector Blues into music to your ears.
So what are you waiting for? Start your Free 21-Day Panoply Trial Today!
About the Author
Emerson Scherer is an Account Executive at Panoply by SQream.
