Independent Data Mart Architecture

In this architecture, data is extracted from operational source systems and loaded directly into standalone, isolated data marts designed for specific departments or business functions (e.g., a Sales Data Mart, a Finance Data Mart).

• Structure: There is no central, integrated Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) and each data mart is developed and populated independently.
• Pros: Fast to build initially and inexpensive for a single department.
• Cons: This approach is widely considered an anti-pattern. Because there is no integration or shared dimensions, different departments will calculate the same metrics differently, leading to "multiple versions of the truth". It results in duplicated ETL efforts and a fragmented, unmanageable analytical environment.

WARNING

Building independent data marts without an enterprise integration strategy creates technical debt that is notoriously difficult and expensive to fix later.