Introduction

Databricks is a cloud-based data platform that stands out in the data management space due to its “data lakehouse” architecture – combining the cost-efficiency and flexibility of data lakes and the governance, quality, and performance of data warehouses. It integrates seamlessly with popular cloud service providers (CSPs) like Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and gives data engineers, scientists, and analysts a unified workspace for D&A product, AI/ML, and data science development. Databricks provides a consolidated framework that enables everything from extract, transfer, and load (ETL) to business intelligence and machine learning. For these reasons, it is used by some of the largest companies in the world, including 50% of the Fortune 500 companies.Delineate’s collaboration with Databricks offers the strategic vision needed to fully leverage the technical capabilities of a powerful platform, including a data & insights-driven approach.

You might be thinking, how does this partnership actually work? To paint the picture a little clearer, if Databricks is a powerful engine, then Delineate is the skilled driver with a clear roadmap that aligns the transformative features of the platform with an organization’s vision, strategic goals and business priorities. Delineate’s certified Databricks experts in data engineering truly drive and transform our client’s modernization efforts, implementing solutions “best-fit” to our clients’ needs. Our team includes certified Databricks data engineers, ensuring we have the expertise needed to deliver impactful data solutions.

Delineate, in partnership with Databricks, offers a range of services to its clients, including:

  1. Data Strategy and Consulting,
  2. Provisioning the Databricks Provider (Databricks and chosen CSP)
  3. Implementation,
  4. Security,
  5. Data Engineering and Pipeline Development,
  6. Data Governance, and
  7. Analytics and Business Intelligence (BI).

This article explores two of the services listed above (1 - Data Strategy and Consulting, 7 - Analytics and Business Intelligence) that differentiate Delineate’s partnership with Databricks to help organizations unlock the full potential of their data.

Data Strategy and Consulting: Aligning Databricks with Business Goals

Delineate recognizes that true business transformation can only occur when data initiatives are closely aligned with an organization’s vision, strategic goals and business. To that end, we work closely with key stakeholders, data consumers, and data creators to understand the organization’s vision and business priorities, assess current data capabilities, identify gaps and map out a clear roadmap for data modernization. From years of experience across diverse sectors, including health and human services (HHS), energy, and broadband/ISPs, Delineate understands that the best initiatives begin where the business benefit is greatest and most immediate. Delineate’s comprehensive Databricks strategy includes prioritizing these initial use cases to help deliver a data solution that delivers short-, mid-, and even a long-term business impact.

Once these foundational components are clarified, Delineate begins designing a “fit-to-purpose” Databricks architecture that is both efficient and scalable. Delineate’s highly-experienced consultants thoughtfully plan every aspect of the data lifecycle, from ingestion to storage, automated processing and orchestration, data science and AI/ML needs, and analytics, keeping both the organization’s current data maturity level and long-term strategic needs in mind. The solution must be ready to scale with the organization’s evolving needs and future aspirations.

A strategy is only as valuable as its execution. Delineate’s consultants ensure that the transition from high-level strategy to ground-level implementation is seamless. This involves the creation of a detailed implementation plan, from provisioning the Databricks provider to security and data governance to the development of analytic products and solutions. Delineate provides continuous training and support to ensure that key team members are equipped and empowered to keep Databricks-based data initiatives aligned with the organization’s strategic goals in the long-term.

Analytics and Business Intelligence (BI): Translating Data into Action

Once Databricks is provisioned and set-up (i.e. automated data ingestion pipelines are in place, data governance policies are in effect, etc), Delineate turns its attention to transforming data into actionable insights that can drive real-world business decisions. Databricks provides a powerful environment for data analysis, including notebooks with support for Python, R, Scala and SQL with Notebooks can be quickly transformed into production-ready jobs, with the Databricks platform enabling simple cluster configuration and maintenance.  

Databricks comes with the ability to create integrated dashboards or connect your data to many leading analytics and BI tools. Some analytic reporting requirements may demand features that are better served by other visualization tools, such as PowerBI, Tableau or Microsoft Fabric. Delineate has deep expertise in creating powerful, customized dashboards on these platforms as well.

However, Delineate’s key differentiator in this area is our focus on statistical and inferential analysis and our emphasis on alignment with the organization’s strategic goals. We help organizations explore the underlying drivers of organizational objectives and key results, empowering them to comprehend not only what is happening but why it is happening. Visually compelling, intuitive, and interactive BI solutions enable more informed and confident decision-making across organizations, from the C-suite to frontline staff and operators. Predictive analytics tools empower key stakeholders to understand the potential impact of a business decision or policy change, giving them the ability to adapt swiftly in dynamic business environments. By going beyond basic dashboard creation, Delineate gives organizations a competitive edge by empowering swift insights-driven decision-making. Delineate has the qualifications to craft visualizations on those industry-recognized BI tools and beyond.

Delineate’s Databricks Packages

Delineate offers four distinct types of engagements that are designed to serve any client wherever they are on their data modernization journey. Each package includes end-to-end support to design, develop and implement Databricks data architecture and associated business value-oriented products:

  1. Data Modernization Quick Start: This package is ideal for organizations that want to swiftly demonstrate the value of a modern data architecture with Databricks, with minimal investment and time. Delineate provides basic end-to-end services and a lightweight proof-of-concept (POC) data product to demonstrate viability and potential value.
  2. Foundation for Data Evolution: This package is perfect for organizations beginning their transformation from legacy data systems to a modern data architecture. Delineate offers data strategy, data migration governance centered on designing, implementing minimally viable data products and exploring advanced analytics opportunities. These services can be scaled as the organization’s needs evolve overtime.
  3. Foundation for Data Transformation: This package is designed for organizations that are ready to advance their data capabilities and expand their migration of legacy data and processes to modern architectures. We provide hardening services for minimally viable data products or develop more robust business-facing analytics tools for evaluation, decision support and advanced analytics.
  4. Foundations for Data Revolution: This package is tailored for organizations that want to fully modernize their data infrastructure and maximize its data potential. We provide a comprehensive strategy and roadmap, assistance with preparation of detailed requirements and scopes of work, and full implementation support. The goal of this package is to prepare organizations for large or enterprise transition from legacy systems to a cutting-edge Databricks environment by establishing a firm foundation across all our services.

Conclusion

Delineate’s deep industry expertise combined with the power and versatility of Databricks empowers organizations to unlock the full potential of their data. With experience across key industries, Delineate is equipped to help you transform data into actionable insights. Whether your focus is on strategy, analytics, or scalability, we have the expertise and experience to support your goals. If you’re interested in learning how we can help your organization maximize its data potential, let’s connect and explore what’s possible together.

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