Let's continue with "Data Contract"

"In the realm of data, I stood bewildered, pondering the riddle before me. How can I unlock the value when I'm in the dark about our own data?" - A data scientist far far away

Imagine you love solitude and love the part where you get to cook something of your choice, it's easy to agree with yourself and proceed to cooking.

But what if, out of the blue, a group of your friends shows up uninvited, disrupting your solitude, and craving your culinary creations? You've become quite skilled, and they've heard about it. Suddenly, it's not just about your preferences; now there's someone with their own choices and requests to consider. Since this is an informal gathering, a simple conversation, and a friendly agreement would allow your friends to be satisfied and leave your house as soon as possible, so you can reclaim your cherished solitude.

How does this explains "data contract"?

let's bring this analogy to the concept of a "data contract." Imagine you're seated in a restaurant, having secured a table just for yourself. The attentive server approaches, bringing you the most up-to-date menu and a card displaying the "Drink of the Day."

In this context, the image illustrates the various points of information exchange that occur before a transaction can take place. An order placed by consumer and received by the server and accepted by the kitchen is a "food contract" between the kitchen and the consumer. This contract although somewhat verbal plays a vital role in ensuring the right food reaches the right consumer.

Now, let's transpose this scenario to the realm of digital services and data contracts. Instead of a restaurant, imagine an app or service that offers valuable data to consumers like yourself. Just like the restaurant menu, this digital platform presents a data catalog, showcasing the diverse range of data available for consumption.

As a consumer, you have specific needs and requirements for the data you seek. You play a vital role in this ecosystem by placing an "order" or initiating a "data contract" with the service provider, much like placing a food order with the kitchen. You communicate your data requirements, access rights, and usage expectations, defining the terms of the data contract.

The service provider, akin to the kitchen in a restaurant, acts as the data producer. They receive your data contract, understand your needs, and ensure that the requested data is delivered to you in a timely and satisfactory manner. Just as the kitchen acknowledges and accepts your food order, the service provider acknowledges and accepts your data contract.

In this analogy, the restaurant scenario helps to illustrate the concept of a data contract in a relatable and familiar context. It highlights the dynamic interaction between consumers and service providers, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, mutual understanding, and fulfillment of data requirements to ensure a successful data exchange.

In the context of building data products, the implementation phase comes into play once the data model has been defined. To successfully carry out the implementation, it's crucial to understand the various events that occur in the real world and how data contracts can assist in establishing a solid foundation for the right evolution to take place.

In the previous blog post, "Raw Authentic Data Product Build," you gained insight into the concept of the "consumer data model." Now, let's shift our focus to understanding the consumer journey and how data contracts play a pivotal role in this process. To illustrate this, let's consider the example of a restaurant that accepts orders both online and at its physical location.

The first event in the consumer journey is when individuals land on the restaurant's app or website and register as consumers. This event marks the beginning of their interaction with the restaurant's data ecosystem.

At this stage, data contracts play a crucial role. When a registration event is triggered, the data contract comes into effect by capturing the relevant data based on the defined data model. This data is then sent to downstream services in the backend to be utilized for the appropriate use cases.

The data contract can look something like below

Now, let's pause for a moment and reflect on the approach outlined above. It's essential to have a clear understanding and agreement on the technical implementation of the data contract in the context of the registration event. This ensures that all stakeholders are aligned and have the opportunity to provide feedback, whether in agreement or disagreement, before proceeding with the implementation.

By evaluating and discussing the technical architecture, we can ensure that the data contract aligns with the desired outcomes, adheres to best practices, and fits seamlessly within the existing technology ecosystem.

We will delve into the technical implementation of the data contract for the consumer registration event in our upcoming blog. Stay tuned for detailed insights on how to bring this data contract to fruition. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas along the way. Take care and stay well until our next update!

#datacontracts #dataquality #consumerdata