The Data Challenge and Solution
As a leading Dutch retail brand with over 750 stores across Europe, HEMA faced significant challenges in managing their vast data resources. The company’s transition to AWS Cloud presented an opportunity to revolutionize their data management approach through implementing a data mesh architecture.
Implementation of Amazon DataZone
HEMA deployed Amazon DataZone across their enterprise, maintaining separate catalogs for pre-production and production environments. This implementation enabled:
- Centralized data asset management across disparate data stacks
- Seamless integration with systems like Databricks
- Fine-grained access control through AWS Lake Formation
- Self-service capabilities for project teams
Strategic Adoption Approach
HEMA’s successful adoption strategy centered around three core principles:
- Quick MVP launch to address critical business needs
- Demonstrating value through internal seminars and presentations
- Providing continuous support during the adoption phase
Remarkable Results
Within months of implementation, HEMA achieved impressive metrics:
- Over 200 published data assets
- 180+ active subscriptions
- 100+ monthly active users
- Data sharing time reduced from 4 days to seconds
Future Vision
HEMA continues to expand Amazon DataZone’s capabilities with upcoming features including data quality scores, comprehensive lineage tracking, and enhanced access control. Their commitment to data democratization and governance positions them for continued success in leveraging data as a strategic asset.
Read the complete case study on AWS Big Data Blog for more detailed insights