Higher Education Analytics Questions Answered: What Is a Data Lakehouse?

That analytics is higher education’s latest hot topic comes as no surprise to anyone. Institutions continue to face myriad challenges that could, potentially, be solved with the help of data analytics. But institutions are inundated with vast amounts of information, and, in order to make use of that data, it needs to be managed efficiently and acted upon swiftly. This is easier said than done. IT and institutional research (IR) teams need a way to not only consolidate data, but to do so cost effectively. This is where institutions can take advantage of a data lakehouse.

What Is a Data Lakehouse?

A data lakehouse merges the best aspects of data lakes and data warehouses into one platform. Traditionally, data lakes were used to store massive amounts of unprocessed data in its original form, making them highly flexible but a challenge to manage. Extracting insights from a data lake typically requires specialized data science resources, and issues surrounding security and compliance can arise.

Meanwhile, data warehouses provide a structured storage repository for processed data, allowing users to access accurate information through business intelligence (BI) tools and SQL queries. However, data warehouses are often limited to structured data and can create silos within organizations.

A data lakehouse, on the other hand, is a unified management system capable of handling various data types—structured, semi-structured, and unstructured—while also facilitating BI and machine learning applications. By leveraging a data lakehouse, institutions can streamline data management processes, reduce costs, and use information to make more informed decisions.

Do Data Lakehouses Matter in Higher Education?

A data lakehouse is particularly relevant for higher education institutions where—historically—managing extensive student data across various platforms has led to silos and inefficiencies. How can a data lakehouse help institutions?

• Unified Data Management: As a centralized repository, a data lakehouse enables institutions to consolidate diverse data types in one location. This eliminates the need for separate data collection systems and reduces the complexity of aggregating data. It can also minimize the potential for miscommunication between departments. 

• Support for Diverse Data Types: Institutions handle different forms of data—from student records to research. A data lakehouse can accommodate any data format, making it easier for teams to analyze and act on information without needing to transition between systems. 

• Analytics for Quicker Insights: With a data lakehouse, users can leverage BI and AI tools to quickly analyze data and uncover actionable insights. This immediacy is crucial for making timely decisions that can impact student success and institutional growth. 

• Direct Data Access: Users can access data directly from the source within the lakehouse, streamlining workflows. This direct access helps eliminate delays associated with moving data between multiple locations, leading to more efficient operations. 

How Do Data Lakehouses Benefit CIOs and IR Professionals?

For chief information officers and institutional research professionals, a data lakehouse presents significant advantages. One of the most notable benefits is cost efficiency. By consolidating data storage into a single repository, institutions can drastically reduce technology infrastructure costs. Additionally, maintaining multiple systems for different types of data can be a burden financially and operationally.

Additionally, data lakehouses offer scalability and flexibility. As data needs grow, these systems can scale in parallel. This capability allows organizations to remain agile and responsive to changing demands. Furthermore, possessing a unified data management platform can enhance collaboration across departments. By breaking down silos and reducing redundancy, everyone within the institution can work from the same data set, ensuring consistency and improving overall productivity.

The Data Lakehouse, Jenzabar Analytics, and Data Cloud Premium

In an era where data is king, the way institutions manage their data can have profound operational and decision-making implications. The data lakehouse represents a transformative solution that addresses the challenges of traditional data management systems. Data lakehouses can be especially powerful when you pair them with cutting-edge analytics solutions.

Learn more about Jenzabar’s data lakehouse, Data Cloud Premium, and the advanced Jenzabar Analytics Suite to discover how these solutions can help your campus harness the power of its data and drive institutional and student success.