The 3 benefits of a Medallion data analysis architecture. A historical view

When you enter the world of data analysis, you quickly learn that architecture plays a decisive role in the efficiency, scalability and reliability of analytical processes. One architecture that is getting more and more attention for its effectiveness in managing data workflows is the Medallion architecture. In this blog, Auke Akkerman, our Data and Analytics Lead, delves into the history of the Medallion architecture and explores the benefits of this architecture.

What is the Medallion Architecture?

The Medallion architecture was developed in the early 2000s by a team of data architects at DataBricks, a leading analytics and AI company. The architecture is the answer to the demand for a more flexible and scalable approach to data analysis. This model structures data in three layers in a lakehouse: a bronze layer of raw data, a silver layer with cleaned and enriched data, and a gold layer of aggregated data ready for analysis and business integration. This approach not only supports scalability and flexibility, but also improves data flow, governance, and provides reliable and fast insights.

Robust and flexible

It is difficult to unlock data in your reports in an unambiguous way. An old (er) way of creating reports is to have its own set of SQL for each report that retrieves data, transforms it — for example — and compares it with other data. That goes well for the first report, but the second report too, but what if you have fifty reports at some point and need to make a change in a transformation that may or may not be hard-coded in all those reports. Just stand up to it.

Over the years, the Medallion architecture evolved, integrating new technologies and best practices to meet the changing demands of data analysis over and over again. Today, this architecture is known for its robustness and flexibility, allowing organizations to get the most out of their data.

Key benefits of the Medallion architecture

But why is the Medallion architecture so valuable? Here are the three main benefits:

1. Scalability and Flexibility

This architecture supports seamless horizontal scaling so organizations can grow without sacrificing performance. The modular design allows for easy integration of new data sources and analytical tools, allowing organizations to respond quickly to changing needs.

2. Streamlined data flow and governance

The Medallion architecture promotes a structured approach to data management, with clear processes for collecting, processing and storing data. This reduces errors and supports compliance through robust governance mechanisms.

3. Improved performance and maintainability

By optimizing the data flow and increasing reliability, this architecture provides faster and high-quality insights. This means that organizations benefit from accurate analyses and efficient decision-making. But also that they can quickly change reports or add insights without the intervention of developers.

summarily

In summary, the Medallion architecture provides a solid foundation for data analysis, with the key points of scalability, streamlined processes, and improved performance, allowing organizations to take maximum advantage of their data assets.Top of form

Curious about our approach?

Do you also want to benefit from Quatronic's smart approach and customized solutions? Please contact Auke Akkerman via mail. We'd love to talk to you to find out how we can help improve your business.

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