Operational system

Not to be confused with Operating system.

An operational system is a term used in data warehousing to refer to a system that is used to process the day-to-day transactions of an organization. These systems are designed in a manner that processing of day-to-day transactions is performed efficiently and the integrity of the transactional data is preserved.^[1]

Synonyms

Sometimes operational systems are referred to as operational databases, transaction processing systems, or online transaction processing systems (OLTP). However, the use of the last two terms as synonyms may be confusing, because operational systems can be batch processing systems as well.

Any enterprise must necessarily maintain a lot of data about its operation.

Organization	Probably
Manufacturing Company	Product data
Bank	Account Data
Hospital	Patient Data
University	Student Data
Government Department	Planning data

Characteristics of operational systems

Real-time processing: Operational systems typically support real-time data handling, enabling instantaneous updates and rapid responses to ongoing transactions.

Transaction orientation: Operational systems are built around high-volume, short-duration transactions. They emphasize atomic operations and mechanisms that maintain data accuracy and consistency, even when many users access the system simultaneously.

Operational efficiency: Designed for dependable performance, operational systems help ensure that routine business functions, such as handling orders, administering payroll, and managing inventory, run without disruption.^[2]

See also

• Data warehouses versus operational systems
• Operating system (OS)
• Operational data store, a database used for operational reporting, and as a source of data for a data warehouse