The Customs Administration´s Data Warehouse with a New SQL Server

The Data Warehouse of the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic is the largest implementation of a data warehouse and generally of a Business Intelligence solution in the state administration of this country. The entire system has recently undergone a principal upgrade, to the new Microsoft SQL Server 2008, making it possible to markedly increase the data warehouse performance. The comprehensive design of the data warehouse is a joint project implemented by Adastra and Aquasoft.

The Customs Administration of the Czech Republic manages a huge quantity of data which is connected with a wide range of operation tasks of this institution. This includes e.g. customs supervision over the goods within the framework of the European Union, administration of excise duty, inspection of authorisations in the field of road freight transport and inspection of foreign trade in military materials. The range of activities of the Customs Administration includes also the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Communities, inspection of waste handling practices and supervision over deals in protected species of plants and animals, or the issues of illegal employment of foreigners. Last but not least it is used also as one of the constituents of the integrated rescue system within the framework of the state organisation structure.

“All these areas used to be serviced by dozens of primary systems which needed to be unified into a comprehensive information system on a single platform, i.e. a data warehouse,” says Tomáš Vinš, Project Manager from Aquasoft. This solution forms a central data base for the comprehensive information environment of the Customs Administration and represents an important source of data for other cooperating organisations.

The transition to the new server “Microsoft SQL Server 2008” has made it possible to markedly increase the customs warehouse performance, i.e. it provides for an increase in effectiveness and also an acceleration of the response for end users or an increase in user’s comfort. “The transition to the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 has been implemented on a gradual basis. Users have been using the new version since June 2009 and at present it is possible to register further development of this area, such as the processing of new requirements for outputs or implementation of modifications of data structures,” explains Tomáš Vinš.

“The upgrade was carried out successfully, including compliance with all the deadlines specified by the customer. At the same time we have managed to resolve the technical issue of fixation, which was subsequently projected in the official service pack of Microsoft,” adds Jiří Vácha, Manager, Business Development – Public from Adastra.

The development of the comprehensive solution of the Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence of the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic will continue during subsequent years as well. The Data Warehouse of the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic was appreciated by the Microsoft Award 2009 for the best BI solution.