Retail
Case Study: Transforming Database Performance for a Leading UK Retail Client
We are excited to share the success story of our collaboration with a retail client in UK, part of the country’s largest retail group. Here’s how we helped them achieve their goals:
Client Objectives​
We understood the client's need for extremely fast database performance (under 4 milliseconds) and reducing infrastructure costs. The client's data was growing rapidly, and they didn't receive adequate sizing and the right support, which resulted in the addition of more nodes and unexpected costs.​
​Our Approach
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Our team began by thoroughly assessing their existing NoSQL database setup (e.g., query pattern, workload, system configuration) to identify areas for performance improvement and potentially reduce the number of nodes running in their cluster. We identified several important areas, such as incorrect cluster configuration, compaction settings, and data modeling, which led to incorrect cluster sizing.
After creating a comprehensive report based on our findings, we agreed with the customer to implement the recommended changes. The first phase involved migrating their existing NoSQL database, which was running in production, to the open-source software (OSS) version of the same database. We ensured that there was no disruption during the migration process, while applying the suggested configuration that we initially agreed upon with the customer. The customers could see the positive impacts of performance and the immediate cost reduction and were satisfied. We successfully completed this phase within 5 weeks.
They were grateful to engage with Datanised because we provided them with access to open-source 24/7 support, which vendors usually don't offer with OSS license. We were also able to assist them with a higher level of support as they lacked in-house knowledge and had been struggling to hire the right skills for over six months.
The customer selected our Enhanced Support along with the OSS version of their existing NoSQL database. This decision led to an immediate cost savings of $402,000 and an x8 improvement in performance. They also received improved SLAs and support features compared to what they were previously getting directly from the vendor.
Performance Enhancement:
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Utilized advanced techniques such as improved indexing and query optimization and adjusted the database settings to match the client's workload perfectly.
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Result:
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Improved performance by x8, achieving latencies below 4 milliseconds.
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These improvements allowed the client to:
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Personalise customer recommendations in real time in under 4 milliseconds.
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Receive real-time inventory updates for accurate stock levels.
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Process transactions instantly, enhancing customer satisfaction and increasing sales.
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Stay ahead of competitors in the retail market.
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Invest more in business needs to accelerate growth.
Cost Comparison Before and After Optimization
Summary: The customer previously used an Enterprise license and Basic support from a major NoSQL database vendor. By transitioning to an open-source software (OSS) license version of the same NoSQL Database Vendor, along with Datanised Enhanced Support, the customer was able to reduce costs by $402,000. Furthermore, they received improved SLAs and support features compared to what they were previously receiving directly from the vendor.
No SQL Vendor
Total Cost of Ownership without Datanised
$512,000
Enterprise License Cost
$360,000
Support Cost
$152,000
Datanised
Support Cost
$110,000
Total Cost of Ownership with Datanised
$110,000
Key Takeaways​
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Cost-Effective Solutions: We provided a cost-effective solution without reducing quality or support to any business size.
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Support Flexibility: By using different licence types, we reduced costs while still meeting the customer's highest expectations regarding performance and cost.
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Tech Agnostics: Our tech-agnostic approach helped the customer gain full transparency and insight into their existing setup and configuration and a better understanding of the costs spent. This resulted in winning the customer's trust and building a long-term partnership with Datanised.