Kai Waehner

361 posts
bridging the gap between technical innovation and business value for real-time data streaming, processing and analytics
Confluent and Databricks for Data Integration and Stream Processing
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  • 10 minute read

Confluent Data Streaming Platform vs. Databricks Data Intelligence Platform for Data Integration and Processing

This blog explores how Confluent and Databricks address data integration and processing in modern architectures. Confluent provides real-time, event-driven pipelines connecting operational systems, APIs, and batch sources with consistent, governed data flows. Databricks specializes in large-scale batch processing, data enrichment, and AI model development. Together, they offer a unified approach that bridges operational and analytical workloads. Key topics include ingestion patterns, the role of Tableflow, the shift-left architecture for earlier data validation, and real-world examples like Uniper’s energy trading platform powered by Confluent and Databricks.
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Data Streaming and Lakehouse - Comparison of Confluent with Apache Kafka and Flink and Databricks with Spark
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  • 9 minute read

The Past, Present, and Future of Confluent (The Kafka Company) and Databricks (The Spark Company)

Confluent and Databricks have redefined modern data architectures, growing beyond their Kafka and Spark roots. Confluent drives real-time operational workloads; Databricks powers analytical and AI-driven applications. As operational and analytical boundaries blur, native integrations like Tableflow and Delta Lake unify streaming and batch processing across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. This blog explores the platforms’ evolution and how, together, they enable enterprises to build scalable, data-driven architectures. The Michelin success story shows how combining real-time data and AI unlocks innovation and resilience.
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Data Sharing for MVNO Growth and Beyond with Data Streaming in the Telco Industry
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  • 8 minute read

Real-Time Data Sharing in the Telco Industry for MVNO Growth and Beyond with Data Streaming

The telecommunications industry is transforming rapidly as Telcos expand partnerships with MVNOs, IoT platforms, and enterprise customers. Traditional batch-driven architectures can no longer meet the demands for real-time, secure, and flexible data access. This blog explores how real-time data streaming technologies like Apache Kafka and Flink, combined with hybrid cloud architectures, enable Telcos to build trusted, scalable data ecosystems. It covers the key components of a modern data sharing platform, critical use cases across the Telco value chain, and how policy-driven governance and tailored data products drive new business opportunities, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance. Mastering real-time data sharing positions Telcos to turn raw events into strategic advantage faster and more securely than ever before.
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Fraud Prevention in Mobility Services with Data Streaming using Apache Kafka and Flink with AI Machine Learning
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  • 7 minute read

Fraud Detection in Mobility Services (Ride-Hailing, Food Delivery) with Data Streaming using Apache Kafka and Flink

Mobility services like Uber, Grab, and FREE NOW (Lyft) rely on real-time data to power seamless trips, deliveries, and payments. But this real-time nature also opens the door to sophisticated fraud schemes—ranging from GPS spoofing to payment abuse and fake accounts. Traditional fraud detection methods fall short in speed and adaptability. By using Apache Kafka and Apache Flink, leading mobility platforms now detect and block fraud as it happens, protecting their revenue, users, and trust. This blog explores how real-time data streaming is transforming fraud prevention across the mobility industry.
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Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging - Automotive and ESG with Data Streaming at Virta
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  • 8 minute read

Virta’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Platform with Real-Time Data Streaming: Scalability for Large Charging Businesses

The rise of Electric Vehicles (EVs) demands a scalable, efficient charging network—but challenges like fluctuating demand, complex billing, and real-time availability updates must be addressed. Virta, a global leader in smart EV charging, is tackling these issues with real-time data streaming. By leveraging Apache Kafka and Confluent Cloud, Virta enhances energy distribution, enables predictive maintenance, and supports dynamic pricing. This approach optimizes operations, improves user experience, and drives sustainability. Discover how real-time data streaming is shaping the future of EV charging and enabling intelligent, scalable infrastructure.
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Apache Kafka 4.0 - The Business Case for Data Streaming at Enterprise Scale
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  • 7 minute read

Apache Kafka 4.0: The Business Case for Scaling Data Streaming Enterprise-Wide

Apache Kafka 4.0 represents a major milestone in the evolution of real-time data infrastructure. Used by over 150,000 organizations worldwide, Kafka has become the de facto standard for data streaming across industries. This article focuses on the business value of Kafka 4.0, highlighting how it enables operational efficiency, faster time-to-market, and architectural flexibility across cloud, on-premise, and edge environments. Rather than detailing technical improvements, it explores Kafka’s strategic role in modern data platforms, the growing data streaming ecosystem, and how enterprises can turn event-driven architecture into competitive advantage. Kafka is no longer just infrastructure—it’s a foundation for digital business
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Event-Driven Agentic AI with Data Streaming using Apache Kafka and Flink
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  • 8.5K views
  • 12 minute read

How Apache Kafka and Flink Power Event-Driven Agentic AI in Real Time

Agentic AI marks a major evolution in artificial intelligence—shifting from passive analytics to autonomous, goal-driven systems capable of planning and executing complex tasks in real time. To function effectively, these intelligent agents require immediate access to consistent, trustworthy data. Traditional batch processing architectures fall short of this need, introducing delays, data staleness, and rigid workflows. This blog post explores why event-driven architecture (EDA)—powered by Apache Kafka and Apache Flink—is essential for building scalable, reliable, and adaptive AI systems. It introduces key concepts such as Model Context Protocol (MCP) and Google’s Agent-to-Agent (A2A) protocol, which are redefining interoperability and context management in multi-agent environments. Real-world use cases from finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and more illustrate how Kafka and Flink provide the real-time backbone needed for production-grade Agentic AI. The post also highlights why popular frameworks like LangChain and LlamaIndex must be complemented by robust streaming infrastructure to support stateful, event-driven AI at scale.
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Shift Left Architecture at Siemens with Stream Processing using Apache Kafka and Flink
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  • 6 minute read

Shift Left Architecture at Siemens: Real-Time Innovation in Manufacturing and Logistics with Data Streaming

Industrial enterprises face increasing pressure to move faster, automate more, and adapt to constant change—without compromising reliability. Siemens Digital Industries addresses this challenge by combining real-time data streaming, modular design, and Shift Left principles to modernize manufacturing and logistics. This blog outlines how technologies like Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, and Confluent Cloud support scalable, event-driven architectures. A real-world example from Siemens’ Modular Intralogistics Platform illustrates how this approach improves data quality, system responsiveness, and operational agility.
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The Importance of Focus for Software and Cloud Vendors - Data Streaming with Apache Kafka and Flink
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  • 15 minute read

The Importance of Focus: Why Software Vendors Should Specialize Instead of Doing Everything (Example: Data Streaming)

As real-time technologies reshape IT architectures, software vendors face a critical decision: specialize deeply in one domain or build a broad, general-purpose stack. This blog examines why a focused approach—particularly in the world of data streaming—delivers greater innovation, scalability, and reliability. It compares leading platforms and strategies, from specialized providers like Confluent to generalist cloud ecosystems, and highlights the operational risks of fragmented tools. With data streaming emerging as its own software category, enterprises need clarity, consistency, and deep expertise. In this post, we argue that specialization—not breadth—is what powers mission-critical, real-time applications at global scale.
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  • 5 minute read

The Top 20 Problems with Batch Processing (and How to Fix Them with Data Streaming)

Batch processing introduces delays, complexity, and data quality issues that modern businesses can no longer afford. This article outlines the most common problems with batch workflows—ranging from outdated insights to compliance risks—and illustrates each with real-world examples. It also highlights how real-time data streaming offers a more reliable, scalable, and future-proof alternative.
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