The Lesson I Still Cherish: Data as a Product Goes Beyond Pipelines

When I first worked with Adel, a seasoned CIO, I thought I had nailed it. I built what I believed was a complete data product—clean pipelines, curated tables, dashboards ready to go. I proudly declared the work “done.” But Adel didn’t sign off so easily. He kept asking, “How will you measure adoption? Who owns the contract for changes? How will users actually use this?” At the time, those questions felt secondary. Today, I realize they were the core of the product’s success.

That experience taught me that pipelines alone do not make a data product. They’re the foundation, yes, but without clear expectations, discoverability, and engagement, even the best-engineered solution risks becoming unused shelfware. A true data product is more than just infrastructure—it’s a living, evolving asset designed to solve problems for real users.

The difference comes from treating it like a product, not just a project. That means defining the scope and contract so consumers know exactly what to expect, documenting the data with clarity so anyone can use it, enabling adoption through demos and training, and measuring whether the product is actually driving value. It also means closing the loop with feedback channels so the product can evolve as business needs change.

I carry these lessons with me to every project. Whenever I build or oversee a data product, I hear Adel’s voice in my head: “Who will use it? How will they know about it? How will you know it’s working?” These aren’t just checkpoints; they’re what separate a working pipeline from a product the business truly depends on.

Even today, I cherish those learnings. They’ve shaped how I approach every data initiative—thinking less like an engineer ticking boxes and more like a product owner ensuring impact. Because in the end, building a great data product isn’t about finishing a pipeline; it’s about ensuring it lives, evolves, and delivers value long after we think we’re “done.”

— Junaith Haja
Harnessing Data and AI for social good, one blog at a time.

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