Why we shift left

If you’re looking at implementing data contracts or moving towards a data mesh you will hear a lot about shifting left.

What this means is we’re moving work, and responsibility for that work, closer to the source of the data.

So, instead of the source system generating raw, poor quality data, they create data that is reliable and of the right quality to be built on with confidence.

We do this for the same reasons why we don’t leave all the testing to the end of the process, carried out by a separate QA team. It’s cheaper and more effective to have these tasks done at the earliest opportunity, with short feedback cycles, by those who have the most context.

It’s a more proactive approach to the creation and management of data.

And it leads to better outcomes at reduced overall costs for the business.