es (Vowler, 1998, p. 36). These new databases enable users to access vastly different types of data and do so in a way which is efficient and which increases productivity. In this way, types of information (such as graphics, sounds and pictures) which were difficult to organize into relational databases, can be put into databases and easily accessed by users in either distributed or nondistributed environments. As hardware becomes more accommodating (in the sense of being more powerful and less expensive), these types of databases are likely to gain in popularity over traditional relational databases.
Data warehouses address the weaknesses in relational databases by offering historical data, integrating data and offering detailed as well as summary data. By bringing together all of the components of a company's various computer systems, including those relating to customers, employees, vendors, products, inventory, and financials, companies are able to create large repositories of data. This is what led to the term "data warehouse.
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