Greg Keller explains that database performance is critical for businesses because slow response times, even if operations don't fail, can negatively impact businesses with high transaction volumes. The most common issue impacting performance is over-utilization. While native database tools help with performance monitoring and issue resolution, they are inconsistent across different database platforms, making it difficult for DBAs managing multiple database types. Profiling technology that visually displays system operations could help DBAs more quickly identify and address performance problems.