Foundations
What is a data platform?
A data platform is the shared foundation an organisation uses to bring data in, keep it organised and trustworthy, and make it available to the people and tools that need it.
The short version
Most organisations hold data in many places: spreadsheets, operational databases, SaaS tools, files from partners. A data platform connects those sources and gives people one place to find, understand and use the data, instead of copying files back and forth.
The term covers a range of architectures, from a single cloud data warehouse to a federated data mesh, but the goals are similar: reliable data, clear ownership and easy access.
Typical building blocks
Ingestion
Moving data in from source systems, in batches or as streams. See ETL vs ELT.
Storage
Warehouses, lakes or lakehouses that keep data queryable at scale.
Transformation
Cleaning, joining and modelling raw data into analysis-ready tables.
Catalog & metadata
Describing what data exists, what it means and who owns it. See data catalogs.
Access & governance
Deciding who can see and change what, and recording it. See data governance.
Analysis & sharing
Queries, notebooks, dashboards and APIs that put the data to work.
Where collaboration fits
Traditional platforms were built mainly for a central data team. Collaborative platforms treat data more like shared code or a shared document: many contributors, visible history, review, discussion and reuse. That shift is the subject of most guides in this section.
Work with ex omnia
Contact details for ex omnia will be published here once confirmed.