Data and Digital Worlds Converging: A Dynamic Duo Learning Together and from each other to Excel

The convergence of data and digital worlds is rapidly accelerating as organizations seek to drive more value from their data assets. One trend that is gaining traction is the use of reverse ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) to send data from a data warehouse or lake back to operational systems. This allows businesses to leverage insights gained from analytics to drive real-time decisions and actions.

Reverse ETL/ Operational Intelligence involves taking data that has been processed and transformed in a data warehouse or lake and sending it back to operational systems for use in decision-making processes. This is a significant departure from traditional ETL, which moves data in a one-way direction from operational systems to a data warehouse or lake.

The benefits of reverse ETL are numerous. By leveraging insights gained from analytics and machine learning, businesses can make more informed decisions in real-time. For example, a retailer could use customer data from its data warehouse to offer personalized promotions to shoppers while they are still in the store.

Another trend that is driving the convergence of data and digital worlds is the use of open APIs. While ESBs (Enterprise Service Buses) have traditionally been used to connect applications and systems, open APIs are now emerging as a more flexible and scalable alternative. Open APIs can be used to create reusable interfaces that connect disparate systems, and they can also be used to implement data contracts that govern the exchange of data between systems.

Data contracts define the structure, format, and semantics of data that is exchanged between systems. By using data contracts, organizations can ensure that data is exchanged in a consistent and standardized manner, which can reduce errors and improve data quality. Open APIs can be used to implement data contracts, and they can also be used to enforce security and access controls.

Finally, the creation of data apps is another area where the convergence of data and digital worlds is taking place. Data apps are applications that are specifically designed to leverage data assets and drive business value. Best practices of the digital ecosystem should be followed when creating data apps. This includes incorporating user feedback and testing to ensure that the app meets user needs and is easy to use., the convergence of data and digital worlds is driving significant changes in how businesses operate. Reverse ETL, open APIs, and data apps are just a few examples of how organizations are leveraging data to drive value and stay ahead of the competition. By adopting these new technologies and best practices, businesses can unlock the full potential of their data assets and drive growth and innovation