Meet Alex!
Meet Alex Thompson, a seasoned Data Engineering Manager at a tech company that heavily relies on data for business intelligence. Alex has been facing a myriad of challenges with the current approach to obtaining data from websites, both through web scraping and APIs.
As the person responsible for ensuring a smooth flow of data into the company's analytics systems, Alex finds himself in multiple and constant situations battling against data-related obstacles.
Here you have some of them!
Situation 1
The Morning Surprise
One Monday morning, as Alex sips on a cup of coffee, an urgent email lands in the inbox. The company's current web scraping provider has encountered an issue, leading to delayed delivery of crucial data. This isn't the first time, and the lack of reliability is becoming a headache for Alex. The company's analytics team is getting frustrated with inconsistent data quality and delivery times.
Situation 2
Locked Gates
As Alex investigates further, it becomes apparent that the data owners are unwilling to share certain valuable datasets. This poses a significant roadblock, limiting the company's insights into market trends and consumer behavior. Alex realizes that a more collaborative approach is needed to negotiate fair terms for data access.
Situation 3
In The Dark
Even when the web scraping algorithms seem to be working "fine" according to the provider, Alex faces another challenge – the lack of transparency. The analytics team is left in the dark, unsure of what "fine" actually means. Alex understands the importance of having real-time visibility into the web scraping processes to address potential issues promptly.
Situation 4
Algorithm Downtime
The breaking point comes when a crucial data source experiences a disruption, and the team is left in the dark regarding when the web scraping algorithm will be up and running again. Alex knows that without transparency and clear communication, the company's analytics capabilities are at risk.
Situation 5
Parameter Puzzles
In a team meeting, the analytics team expresses the need for additional data parameters from a particular website. However, Alex lacks a systematic way to influence the current data provider to incorporate these new parameters. The team's requests are met with delays and uncertainty, hindering the company's ability to adapt to changing data needs.
Situation 7
API Avalanche
To make matters worse, the owners of the most valuable data sell it via API, but the cost is exorbitant. The company's budget simply cannot accommodate the expenses associated with API access. Alex feels the pressure to find a cost-effective solution that doesn't compromise on data quality.
