In the evolving landscape of data engineering, reverse ETL has emerged as a pivotal process for businesses aiming to leverage their data warehouses and other data platforms beyond traditional analytics. Reverse ETL, or “Extract, Transform, Load” in reverse, is the process of moving data from a centralized data warehouse or data lake to operational systems and applications within your data pipeline. This enables businesses to operationalize their analytics, making data actionable by feeding it back into the daily workflows and systems that need it most.

How Does Reverse ETL Work? 

Reverse ETL can be visualized as a cycle that begins with data aggregated in a data warehouse. The data is then extracted, transformed (to fit the operational systems’ requirements), and finally loaded into various business applications such as a CRM, marketing platforms, or other customer support tools. These concepts can be further explored in this resource on the key components of a data pipeline.