After two decades in the data trenches, one thing is crystal clear to me: most organizations aren’t suffering from a data drought. In fact, they’re drowning in it. The real issue? They can’t seem to drink from the firehose.

Data is everywhere. MES, ERPs, CRMs — you name it. But it’s scattered like puzzle pieces across different systems. And when those pieces stay in scattered boxes, you lose the big picture. Context disappears. Decisions get made in the dark. Let’s be honest, how many times have we seen leadership make a decision before the analyst could consolidate the right data from multiple systems?

That’s not just unfortunate. That’s a missed opportunity.

The manual effort to gather data, stitch it together, apply business logic, and finally make it usable? It’s exhausting and slow. By the time you have wrangled it all, the moment to act has passed. Meanwhile, critical areas like quality, supply chain, and operations are left navigating with partial maps.

But here’s the good news: there’s a better way. Enter the game changing concept of Data-as-a-Product served up in an organization-wide buffet.

Imagine this: It’s Monday morning, and the weekly planning meeting starts with something that used to feel impossible; A shared source of truth. Sales, Operations, and Finance all pull up the same marketplace of data products. No stitching, no arguing, no “let me get back to you.”

Sales instantly sees how last week’s orders affect inventory. Operations spots a potential bottleneck before it becomes a problem. Finance updates the forecast in minutes, not days.

Instead of debating the data, the team jumps straight to decisions: confident, aligned, and ahead of schedule.

The “Data Buffet”

If you’re a CDAO or leading the charge on your company’s data lake, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start prepping for the biggest data buffet your organization has ever seen.

Yes, you heard that right, “A buffet.” Not of food, but of data products. Picture this, your data marketplace hosts: Sales cuisine, Finance cuisine, Marketing cuisine, etc., under the same roof (the data marketplace), all served fresh, curated with high quality, and ready to be consumed by hungry decision makers across the business.

Each “cuisine” is crafted by a dedicated pod. Think of it like a kitchen brigade:

Domain experts are the master chefs, defining the menu: what data products are needed, what flavors (aka business logic) they should carry.

Data engineers? They’re the sous-chefs, turning raw ingredients into gourmet grade data products that are technically sound and contextually rich.

But here’s the magic: these data dishes aren’t plated for just one table. They’re shared across the entire organization. Marketing can dig into supply chain data to forecast campaign impact. Finance can nibble on operational metrics to finetune budgets. Everyone gets a taste, and everyone benefits.

This isn’t just about feeding insights, it’s about changing the kitchen culture. Business users aren’t just passive diners anymore. They’re part of the prep team, shaping what goes on the menu. That’s how you build a culture of data ownership, stewardship, and collaboration.

The goal? A unified, governed, and scalable data foundation that fuels innovation and agility. We’re not just storing data, we’re serving it. Not just querying it, we’re curating it. And most importantly, not just consuming it, we’re sharing it.

This is more than a technical upgrade. It’s a full-on cultural revolution. The potluck is on, and every team is invited to bring their best dish. The result? A feast of actionable insights that nourish smarter decisions across the board.

Welcome to the era of Data-as-a-Product. The buffet is open. Grab a plate.

About the Author:

Apurva Wadodkar is a seasoned leader in Data Science, with over 20 years of experience turning data into powerful business tools. Her expertise lies in pairing well-governed, high-quality data with cutting-edge AI/ML products to create solutions that are as reliable as they are innovative.

Whether it’s driving transformative growth, streamlining operations, or unlocking hidden efficiencies, Wadodkar knows how to make data work smarter and harder for businesses. She is a dedicated mentor with a mission to shape the next generation of tech leaders. As an advisory board member for the Michigan Council of Women in Technology, Wadodkar combines her passion for diversity with her commitment to nurturing talent and creating opportunities that inspire and empower future innovators in technology.