The present invention provides techniques for managing a multi-tenant database system. In one embodiment the method includes providing access to data stored in a multi-tenant data structure that is implemented by storing data for multiple tenants on a pool of computer servers defining the multi-tenant data structure that having a plurality of data columns and one or more index columns. The one or more index columns define a first data field for a first tenant of the multi-tenant data structure and a second data field for a second tenant of the multi-tenant data structure. The first field indicates a first data type and the second field indicates a second data type, wherein the second data type is different than the first data type. Once created, records having data values in the first and second fields are stored to a single column in the data structure. The single column includes data values having different data types for different tenants in the multi-tenant data structure. Operations are monitored so that one or more requests to access the multi-tenant data structure among are distributing the pool of computer servers to maintain load balancing among the servers of the pool.