BLUEPRINT UNITY CATALOG MIGRATION SNAPSHOT
Major convenience store chain
A Unity Catalog migration enabled a national retailer to enhance its data governance initiatives, leading to optimized discounts, improved inventory management, increased revenue, and reduced inventory disposal.
Client snapshot
Industry:
Retail / Convenience
Migration scope
Workspaces:
3 (dev, stage, prod)
Tables:
- Dev: 1222
- Stage: 499
- Prod: 506
Objects
- Views: Dev: 372, Stage: 234, Prod: 229
- Functions: 1 per environment
- Schemas: Dev: 68, Stage: 45, Prod: 42
Region:
Single region
Duration
Dev:
Stage:
Prod:
Key achievements:
Data optimization:
Minimal waste as our client maintains a clean environment and deletes unused test data.
Time savings:
Cost Savings:
Photon-enabled clusters reduced DBU costs and sped up conversions by 10x.
Noteworthy aspects:
- Transitioning from DLT to non-DLT required significant effort for process flow rewrites.
- Reused storage accounts and handled permission reconfigurations.
- Deprecated old Hive Metastore tables with comments indicating new locations.
Scenario
A national retailer needed to enhance its Databricks environment to personalize product selection. They decided to engage in a Unity Catalog migration to resolve fragmented data access and governance issues. However, their self-led migration faced technical complexities and resource constraints. Blueprint Technologies, their premier partner, provided a comprehensive solution including strategic planning, technical implementation, and support, ensuring a seamless transition with robust data classification, access control, and governance.
Challenges
Despite a mature Databricks environment, the retailer struggled with fragmented data silos and inconsistent access controls, leading to operational inefficiencies and regulatory risks. Their self-led migration to Unity Catalog was overwhelmed by technical complexities, including configuring clusters, workspaces, and integrating data sources. Resource constraints and maintaining data integrity further complicated the process.
Solution
Blueprint, the Databricks Data & AI Governance Partner of the Year, delivered an end-to-end migration solution. They conducted an in-depth assessment, developed a detailed migration plan, and meticulously configured Unity Catalog. This included setting up secure clusters, defining namespaces, and implementing robust data governance policies. The team used advanced data replication and synchronization techniques to maintain data integrity and provided thorough training for the retailer’s IT staff.
Results
The migration resulted in a robust data governance framework with improved data access and operational efficiency. The retailer now enjoys enhanced inventory data quality, leading to increased revenue and profits per store. The new data infrastructure streamlined data management processes, reduced the time and effort required for data-related tasks, and enabled data-driven decision-making. This modernization has positioned the retailer for future growth and innovation, allowing them to respond swiftly to market changes and leverage their Databricks partnership strategically.