
Online analytical processing (OLAP) is a technology for multidimensional analysis of business data. OLAP tools perform complex calculations, data discovery, trend analysis, and data modeling. It is the foundation for business applications such as analysis, planning, financial reporting, simulation models, business performance management, budgeting, forecasting, and knowledge discovery. OLAP enables ad hoc analysis of data in multiple dimensions, thereby providing insight for making better business decisions. OLAP systems are categorized into relational OLAP (ROLAP), multidimensional OLAP (MOLAP), and hybrid OLAP (HOLAP). OLAP software combines the benefits of relational tables and multidimensional business data modeling in real-time. It maintains a constant connection with back-end systems and delivers real-time reports/analytics in excel and other tools such as dashboards and query tools.