Building a Data Vault at Speed

Francesco Longoni, Consultant Data Engineer at Datavault and a qualified Data Vault 2.0 practitioner, explores how to deliver high-quality data solutions quickly—without compromising on accuracy. Drawing from real-world experience, Francesco outlines practical strategies for building a Data Vault at speed while maintaining long-term sustainability.

Why Speed and Quality Matter

Francesco began by addressing a common dilemma in data projects: “Do you want it done fast or done right?” His answer is both. In today’s fast-paced business environment, speed is essential for timely decision-making, but without quality, data loses its value. The key is to strike a balance through careful planning, collaboration, and the right tools.

Laying the Right Foundations

Success started with clear business requirements, a focused scope, and well-defined success metrics. Francesco emphasized the importance of aligning all stakeholders from the outset and maintaining that alignment throughout the project. A narrow scope helps teams stay on track, manage risk, and avoid unnecessary complexity.

Agile Methodology and Feedback Loops

Francesco advocates for agile practices, particularly incremental delivery and frequent feedback loops. Regular demos, sprint reviews, and early user acceptance testing (UAT) ensure that issues are identified and addressed quickly. These practices also foster collaboration and keep teams aligned with business goals.

Modeling with Care

Data Vault modeling should never be rushed. Francesco stresses the importance of iterative design, involving both technical experts and business stakeholders. A solid model avoids scalability issues and inefficiencies later on. Sticking to proven Data Vault principles is essential for long-term success.

Choosing the Right Tools

Automation plays a critical role in accelerating development while maintaining quality. Francesco advises teams to carefully evaluate tools based on their specific needs, not just marketing claims. The right tool can reduce human error, support automated testing, and streamline development.

Testing and Documentation

Testing is non-negotiable. Francesco outlined the importance of unit, integration, end-to-end, and UAT testing throughout the development lifecycle. He also highlighted the value of combining development and testing roles to reduce delays and improve accountability.

Documentation, he argued, is an investment that pays off quickly. It should be integrated into every part of the development process—from code comments to structured wikis—and be easily accessible and version-controlled.

Embracing Change and Managing Debt

Change is inevitable. Francesco encouraged teams to be responsive and maintain an audit trail to track decisions and updates. He also discussed the importance of managing technical debt, suggesting strategies like allocating time each sprint for debt reduction and maintaining a visible, prioritized debt list.

Final Thoughts

Francesco’s message is clear: speed and quality are not mutually exclusive. With strong foundations, agile practices, thoughtful modeling, and the right tools, teams can deliver robust Data Vault solutions quickly and sustainably.