At Big Data London, I had the opportunity to speak with Jeremy Cohen, Principal Product Manager at dbt Labs, about their latest innovations. While dbt is well known for its powerful SQL-based data transformations, the company has expanded its scope beyond just transformations. dbt Labs is now embracing a broader mission to democratize data access and collaboration across technical and business teams. Let’s dive into the latest developments from dbt Labs and explore their vision for the future of data transformation.

From Data Transformation to Data Collaboration

dbt Labs has long been the industry standard for SQL-based data transformations. Their core offering, dbt Core, is an open-source framework that helps data teams define transformations within data warehouses. dbt Core provides a robust foundation for creating well-defined, reliable data workflows.

dbt is now much more than just transformations. Over the past year, they’ve built out new features to address a critical challenge in the data space: bridging the gap between technical data teams and the business users who rely on data for decision-making.

One of the major new features they’ve introduced is dbt Explorer, part of the dbt Cloud platform. This tool provides users with a visual interface for data discovery, helping non-technical contributors understand the quality, freshness, and availability of data products. This is crucial for organizations that want to ensure both technical and business users can collaborate effectively.

Bringing Business Users into the Data Fold

One of the most compelling trends in the data space is the democratization of data. Historically, data teams have been highly effective at managing technical transformations. However, the gap between data experts and domain experts, those with business context, has been a persistent issue.

Jeremy highlights this problem, noting that if the people who understand the business context aren’t involved in defining how data is transformed and used, then the potential of data remains underutilized.

dbt Labs is committed to solving this challenge by providing entry points for less technical contributors. More importantly, these contributors aren’t just observers — they’re active participants. Through dbt Cloud and the new collaboration features, business users can now provide input directly into how data is structured and analyzed, fostering a deeper level of trust and collaboration within data teams.

A Unified Platform for Data Management

As businesses look for ways to streamline data operations, dbt Labs is offering an all-in-one platform that goes beyond traditional data management. With features like data quality checks, collaborative workflows, and visual exploration — dbt Cloud is positioning itself as a holistic solution for modern data teams.

While dbt Labs remains the standard for SQL transformations, they’re evolving into a platform where collaboration and data quality are just as important as the core transformations. Their focus is on creating a space where technical users and business users alike can collaborate seamlessly, ensuring data is not only transformed but also trusted and actionable.

The Road Ahead: Innovation and Standardization

Looking ahead, dbt Labs is focused on continuing their commitment to data transformation, while also embracing the exciting innovations that will define the future of the space. As Jeremy mentioned, one of the key goals is ensuring dbt remains the standard for defining transformations in the evolving world of data warehouses. However, they’re also focusing on bringing in more people, beyond just data engineers, to participate in the process.

At the heart of this innovation is the idea that data transformation is not just a technical problem — it’s a collaborative opportunity. dbt Labs is enabling this shift by making their platform accessible to both technical users and business domain experts, driving better decision-making and deeper insights.

Conclusion

dbt Labs is at the forefront of the data transformation revolution, but they’re not stopping there. By expanding their platform to include tools for collaboration and data exploration, they’re helping businesses unlock the full potential of their data. Whether you’re a data engineer, a data architect, or a business analyst, dbt Labs’ evolving platform offers something for everyone.

You can watch the full interview by IntellaNOVA on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7lyKAO3FFM