Rayven.io’s workflows and data management system offer a flexible and powerful solution for businesses dealing with diverse data formats and processing needs.
Introduction
Every business deals with unique data formats, systems, and frequencies of data transmission. Rayven.io’s platform is designed to handle this diversity by employing a dual data management strategy. Whether your data is structured or unstructured, Rayven provides the tools and workflows needed to ingest, process, and visualize your data efficiently.
Data Management Strategy
Rayven.io uses two types of database management systems to handle structured and unstructured data:
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Unstructured Data:
- For unstructured data, Rayven.io uses Apache Cassandra, a NoSQL database management system. NoSQL databases provide the flexibility to store unstructured and semi-structured data such as sensor data, GPS records, and machine tag data without rigid schema requirements.
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Structured Data:
- For structured data, Rayven.io utilizes MySQL, a relational database management system. This is ideal for managing data that fits into defined tables and schemas. Users can easily manage and customize their structured data through Rayven’s Tables Application.
What is a Workflow?
A workflow in Rayven.io represents the logical flow of data, devices, and processes within your solution. Workflows are essential for defining how data moves, how it is processed, and how different components interact. Whether simple or complex, workflows provide a structured way to automate tasks, apply business logic, and connect data across multiple systems.
Key Features of Rayven Workflows:
- Drag-and-Drop Interface: Rayven workflows are created visually using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. This allows users to build workflows without writing any code.
- Modular Design: Each workflow can consist of steps, resources (such as staff or machines), and specific instructions for how these interact. Workflows clearly define start and end points, decision points, rules, and potential substitute steps.
Using workflows, you can:
- Connect to any device or system to ingest data.
- Implement business logic and processing rules.
- Generate alerts and notifications based on conditions.
- Push data to third-party visualizations or systems.
- Push data to Rayven Widgets to display data on rayven interfaces
What is a Node?
A node represents a single step or process within a Rayven workflow. Nodes are the building blocks of workflows, and each node serves a specific purpose in data ingestion, processing, or output. Rayven’s Flow Builder includes various pre-built nodes that users can drag and drop onto the workflow canvas.
Types of Nodes in Rayven.io:
In Rayven’s low-code Workflow Builder, you create solutions by connecting Nodes — each node represents a specific type of function.
Nodes are organized into four main categories: Connectors, Logic, Widgets, and Outputs.
🔗 1. Connectors
Connectors are nodes used to bring data into or send data out of the Rayven platform.
They allow you to connect to devices, systems, APIs, databases, cloud services, and more.
Examples:
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Raw UDP Node – Listen for raw UDP data streams.
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HTTP Node – Make API requests to external services.
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SQL Node – Connect to SQL databases for reading/writing data.
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MQTT Node – Connect to IoT devices via MQTT protocol.
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AWS S3 Node – Pull or push data to Amazon S3 storage.
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HubSpot Connector – Integrate CRM data into workflows.
✅ Use Connectors when:
You need to extract or push data to/from devices, cloud services, databases, or APIs.
🧠 2. Logic
Logic nodes are used to process, transform, or make decisions on data flowing through your workflow.
They allow you to manipulate data, trigger actions, run AI models, and apply business rules.
Examples:
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Data Transformation Node – Reformat or enrich incoming data.
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Trigger Node – Start workflows based on events or conditions.
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Conditional Node – Apply if/else logic.
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Calculation Node – Perform math operations on fields.
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Machine Learning Node – Run a trained AI model for prediction or classification.
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Generative AI Node – Create dynamic, AI-generated outputs like text or reports.
✅ Use Logic nodes when:
You need to filter, calculate, automate, or apply AI/ML to your data.
📊 3. Widgets
Widgets are nodes that connect your workflow outputs to visual components on the user interface (dashboards, forms, alerts, etc.).
They transform raw data into something users can interact with or view.
Examples:
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Chart Widget Node – Display data on line charts, bar charts, or pie charts.
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Form Input Node – Capture human-entered data from forms.
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Table Widget Node – Show data in a tabular format.
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Alert Widget Node – Show real-time notifications inside the application.
✅ Use Widgets when:
You want to visualize, collect, or present data to users on your web app interface.
📤 4. Outputs
Outputs are nodes that send processed data or results to external destinations.
They are different from Connectors in that they happen at the end of your workflow logic.
Examples:
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Email Node – Send an automated email based on an event or data result.
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SMS Node (Twilio) – Send SMS notifications.
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HTTP Post Node – Push processed data to an external API.
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Push to External Database Node – Store processed results in another system.
✅ Use Outputs when:
You need to trigger alerts, notifications, system updates, or external actions after your workflow has run.
🔥 Summary
| Node Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Connectors | Bring external data in or send it out |
| Logic | Process, transform, apply rules or AI |
| Widgets | Visualize data or create user interactions |
| Outputs | Push results to external systems or notify users |
Data Storage at the Node Level
Rayven.io stores both raw and pre-calculated data at the node level. This dual storage strategy ensures that:
- Raw Data: Your original data is preserved as it arrives on the platform, enabling future analysis or reprocessing if needed.
- Pre-Calculated Data: Processed or transformed data is stored at each node level, optimizing workflows for performance and speeding up data access.
Summary
Rayven.io’s workflows and data management system offer a flexible and powerful solution for businesses dealing with diverse data formats and processing needs. Through its drag-and-drop workflow builder and dual data storage strategy, Rayven ensures that your data is efficiently ingested, processed, and ready for visualization or further analysis. Whether you’re working with unstructured sensor data or structured system logs, Rayven provides the tools you need to manage your data and drive insights across your operations.