Data contracts enable data products

While data products are for people, they still require an interface that allows people to access them - usually through a system such as a database, an analytics tool, a notebook, and so on.

Then once they have access, they need to understand the data they are accessing. That includes the structure of the data, the semantics, the version, and so on.

They also need to know what to expect from the data. How timely is it? How dependable is it? Are there any SLOs?

Without knowing these, they can’t use the data product with confidence.

All of these are key parts of a data contract.

In fact, I’d say if these are not defined, you don’t have a data product.

Or put another way, you don’t have a data product if you don’t have a data contract around it.