We already have dashboards. Why invest in the data underneath them?
A dashboard is only as trustworthy as the data feeding it. When customer, order, and financial records live in different systems with different rules, every meeting turns into a debate about whose version is right. Fixing the data underneath means each question gets one answer, wherever it gets asked.
We're a small company. Isn't this overkill?
It doesn't have to be. Cloud platforms charge for what you use, so a small company can start with a lean setup and grow into it. The goal is the simplest setup that does the job, not the most impressive one.
Do we need Snowflake or another cloud platform?
Cloud platforms like Snowflake are great because they charge only for the compute you use, need no servers to manage, and scale as you grow. However, sometimes a simple Postgres setup is all you need. I'll recommend what fits and explain the tradeoffs. More on this in the blog.
Do we need this before we use AI?
If you want AI answers you can act on, yes. AI works from the data you give it. If that data is duplicated, out of date, or defined differently by each team, AI repeats those problems quickly and confidently.
What happens when the engagement ends?
You own everything. The code lives in your repositories and the data stays in your accounts. Every project ends with documentation and a handoff so your team can maintain it.
Process
How an engagement works
We begin with a free consultation to understand your project, goals, and current setup. Together, we’ll confirm priorities and agree on the right next steps before work begins.
01 / DISCOVER
Review your current data stack, warehouse, and pipelines to understand what exists, what is fragile, and where the highest-leverage work is.
02 / BUILD
Bring structure to your data by building better data models, defining consistent business logic, and implementing the workflows that strengthen your data foundation.
03 / VALIDATE
Put testing, documentation, and governance practices in place so your data is trusted across the organization.
Data Engineering Blog
Practical insights on data engineering and infrastructure, and the challenges businesses face as they build and evolve their data platforms.
I share perspectives on dbt, Snowflake, and the technologies shaping modern data platforms.
October 2, 2026
Your Data Warehouse Doesn't Have to be a Fancy Next-Gen Tool
A practical look at when a traditional database can do the job, and when a cloud warehouse like Snowflake is worth the move.
Join The Data Foundations Playbook, my newsletter for founders, CTOs, and anyone who owns the data without a data team behind them. You'll get the free Data Foundations Scorecard in your welcome email: 18 quick checks, under 5 minutes, that show which gaps are costing you the most.
Tell me a bit about your business and what you're trying to do with your data. There's no obligation — this is a conversation to see if it's a good fit.
I always respond promptly, within a few hours.
About me
I'm Tyler Lucas, data engineer and founder of Lucas Data Solutions. I've spent years building data solutions for companies of every size and industry. When you reach out, you talk to me, not a sales team, and I'm the one who does the work.
