Make it so: The Next Generation Data Architecture is coming to Miami
Make it so: The Next Generation Data Architecture is coming to Miami
IT Services is boldly embarking on a journey to modernize Miami’s data and analytics infrastructure, and we are inviting you to join us.
As of today, May 1, 2026, we are launching a new project: The Next Generation Data Architecture. The reason for this project is twofold: Miami needs to remove dependencies on Oracle products, including Oracle Analytic Services (OAS); and we also want to lay the foundation to support a data strategy that will help the institution rise to the challenges of the current economic and academic landscape.
Why is this important? Data changes affect everyone. We use data to make decisions, to drive growth, to provide more and better resources to our constituents, and more. So it would make sense for us to have sources of data (and analytics tools) that serve everyone’s needs in the most effective way. That’s where TNG comes in.
Why move away from OAS and Oracle? Why now?
Even in transition, it’s important to acknowledge the successes of our current environment. It has been a key success factor, as it has powered RCM, Ratio, and Course Revenue (all databases and models used to make key decisions) for more than a decade. However, our current data warehouse ecosystem is, quite simply, no longer state of the art. Oracle has served us well over the last several years, but it’s time to evolve.
Another key factor in determining the need for new architecture is the reality that the systems we are introducing structure data differently, and thus require a different approach. A new, modern architecture needs to be implemented in order to reassess and redesign an efficient and scalable ecosystem that will primarily ingest Workday data.
As we transition as an institution to Workday away from Banner, we are also coming up against some important deadlines namely, our Oracle licensing will end in June 2028, meaning we need to begin this transition now.
Introducing: Snowflake
Our new data warehouse will be supported by Snowflake, a cloud-based platform. This will help us place our data in a scalable ecosystem while meeting the institution’s goal of following a ‘cloud-appropriate strategy’—in other words, if a service can take advantage of cloud-based technologies, we should consider the advantages of moving it there.
Our project goals include, at a high level:
- Implement the modern data platform in phases
- Continue training for these new tools
- Enable university stakeholders to access the data they need, when they need it
- Preserve existing data structures and critical business logic
Integrating Snowflake and other institutional presentation tools (like Tableau, R, and Excel, among others) and positioning this as the foundation of our institutional data and analytics architecture will enable us to prioritize making data accessible for decision makers across the university. The scale is what’s important here: We know you need access to data, and the university needs a platform that can meet its needs. Snowflake and its relationships with aforementioned data modeling tools will allow us to accomplish this goal.
Stay tuned for greatness!
This is just the beginning of our warehouse transformation journey. We’re calling it the ‘next generation of data architecture’ because that’s what it is: We are building the data warehouse that will support the next generation of Miami students, faculty, and staff. This will help all of Miami support a data strategy that positions us to support the university’s goals, and we’re excited to get started.
Please keep a look out for important project updates. Our missives will be brief, our mission long—but at the end of the day, we will have a modernized data platform that will help us visualize information and make important decisions for the good of the university and the stakeholders we support.
