Market Perspectives

We are happy to share some insights about Databricks drawn from our latest market research, Ventana Research Buyers Guide: DataOps, which assesses how well vendors’ offerings meet buyers’ requirements.

We recently published four Ventana Research 2023 DataOps Buyers Guides, an assessment of technology vendors and products that provide individual and combined DataOps, data observability, data orchestration and data pipeline platform support.

At Ventana Research, we continue to believe that, for most use-cases, there is a clear choice for DataOps platforms for any use in your organization. We developed four technology assessments and buyers guides to focus on overall DataOps requirements as well as specific data observability, data orchestration and data pipeline platform use-cases.

In all of our Buyers Guides, we utilize a structured research methodology called the Value Index that includes evaluation categories designed to reflect real-world criteria incorporated in a request for proposal (RFP) and vendor selection process for DataOps. We evaluated Databricks and 17 other vendors in seven categories, five relevant to the product (adaptability, capability, manageability, reliability and usability) and two related to the vendor (TCO/ROI and vendor validation).

In the overall DataOps Buyers Guide, our analysis classified Databricks as Exemplary, receiving an overall grade of B- with a 61.3% performance. Databricks’s best grouped results came in Customer Experience at 82.6% with an A- due in part to its A in TCO/ROI. In Product Experience, Databricks received B- due to its 47.7% performance in Capability. Databricks was designated a Leader in Manageability, Reliability and TCO/ROI. Databricks did not participate in the RFI process.

Databricks’s B+ grade in Product Experience was impacted by its C+ in Capability where it could add data observability functionality and enhance data pipeline development. Customer Experience was impacted by its B+ grade in Validation where it could better articulate the investments it is making in enhancing its overall customer experience.

Databricks performed best in Customer Experience with an A-, notably in TCO/ROI where it received an A due to its articulation of benefits and tooling. In Product Experience, it did well in Reliability due to its commitment to technology architecture and operations, scalability and continuity.

In the Data Orchestration Buyers Guide, our analysis classified Databricks as Exemplary, receiving an overall grade of B+ with a 74.8% performance. Databricks’ best grouped results came in Customer Experience at 82.6% performance and an A- grade due in part to its A in TCO/ROI. In Product Experience, Databricks received a B+ grade with a 72.7% performance due to its 90.2% performance in Reliability. Databricks was designated a Leader in Manageability, Reliability and TCO/ROI. Databricks did not participate in the RFI process.

Databricks’ B+ grade in Product Experience was impacted by its B in Usability where it could improve accessibility and intelligence. Customer Experience was impacted by its B+ grade in Validation where it could better articulate its services, as well as enhance references and case studies.

Databricks performed best in Customer Experience with an A-, notably in TCO/ROI where it received an A due to its articulation of business benefits and tools to help customers calculate costs. In Manageability, technology administration and privacy are strengths. Databricks’ performance and continuity capabilities led to its A grade in Reliability.

In the Data Pipelines Buyers Guide, our analysis classified Databricks as Exemplary, receiving an overall grade of B+ with a 72.1% performance. Databricks’ best grouped results came in Customer Experience at 82.6% performance and A- grade due in part to its A in TCO/ROI. In Product Experience, Databricks received a B+ grade with a 69.3% performance due to its 90.2% performance in Reliability. Databricks was designated a Leader in Manageability, Reliability and TCO/ROI. Databricks did not participate in the RFI process.

Databricks’ B+ grade in Product Experience was impacted by its B- in Capability where it could enhance pipeline development and testing. Customer Experience was impacted by its B+ grade in Validation where it could better articulate its customer commitment.

Databricks performed best in Customer Experience with an A- grade, notably in TCO/ROI where it received an A due to its articulation of strategic value and business benefits. In Reliability, where it received an A, performance and continuity were strong points. Databricks’ focus on privacy and technology architecture and operations led to its B++ in Manageability.

Databricks did not meet the inclusion criteria for the Data Observability Buyers Guide and thus was not included. 

This assessment was based on Databricks Workflows, Version July 2023, released July 2023’ Delta Live Tables, Version July 2023, released July 2023.

This research-based guide is the most comprehensive assessment of the value of DataOps software in the industry. Technology buyers can learn more about how to use our Buyers Guide by clicking here and included vendors that wish to learn more can click here. Click below to read the individual reports:

DataOps Buyers Guide

Data Observability Buyers Guide

Data Orchestration Buyers Guide

Data Pipelines Buyers Guide