For historical reporting applications third party systems may use data stored in the QPC MIG's database. However, the recommended way of connecting reporting and analytics applications to the QPC MIG is via a Data Distribution Service and an intermediary database as:

• Using an intermediary database ensures that any demand for data, created by an analytics or reporting solution, will not adversely influence the performance of the QPC MIG by affecting the performance of its database.
• In general terms using a Data Distribution Service makes it easier for analysts to work with information in the QPC MIG as no specialist knowledge of how to create readily useable information from generic contact events is necessary. The QPC Professional Services team can help with configuring a Data Distribution Service to write data to an intermediary database schema that has been optimised for third party BI or reporting solutions to use.

Using a Data Distribution Service with an intermediary database also makes it easier to report on intervals that exceed the QPC MIG's typical active data storage period (typically 3 months). This is because an intermediary database normally only needs to contain data summaries (or data subsets) that require less storage capacity and, therefore, make retaining information for longer time periods more cost effective.

Where real-time information is required reporting and analytics applications will invariably need to use a Data Distribution Service.