Apache Kafka and Business Growth

In a very brief amount of time, Apache Kafka has become an industry standard as a distributed stream-processing software platform, offering high horizontal scalability. Providing a unified, high-throughput for handling real-time data, Kafka has already brought tremendous benefits to an assortment of major companies, including LinkedIn and Twitter. But with rapidly-evolving technology, what benefits would Apache Kafka bring to your business?

What does Apache Kafka do?

In order to weigh the benefits of integrating Kafka into your business’ data streaming needs, first, consider exactly what the software does. In general, Kafka is a scalable streaming/messaging system that can be used to publish and subscribe to streams of records. All messages written to Apache Kafka are replicated to peer brokers for fault tolerance, and those messages exist for a customizable period of time. As demonstrated in an Apache Kafka tutorial, constructing applications using the platform is now more streamlined than ever, and its relatively user-friendly nature is one facet of its current popularity.

Unlike older technologies used by traditional message brokers, the most unique element of Kafka’s workflow is its log data structure, which is the key component in constructing a solid database. Whereas the databases of other message broker platforms write change events to a log, then assess the value of columns from that log, with Apache Kafka, the messages are written to a specific topic which is programmed to keep the log. Subscribers can then draw the data thanks to the topic‘s organization. Since Kafka can retain messages infinitely, applications can rewind to former positions in the log, allowing for such practical exercises as trying out a new algorithm against past positions, and creating a form of testing-ground, or creative woodshed, for new applications. Literally, every modern business that employs an IT department can benefit from Kafka’s innovative, streamlined throughput.

What can Apache Kafka do for you?

As opposed to the methods of traditional message brokers, often implementing various protocols as a “bridge” to components that use other protocols, Kafka’s platform provides a faster form of messaging that presents its own benefits.

By integrating Apache Kafka into your business’ messaging protocols, you’ll quickly find out the numerous reasons why so many major companies have already made the switch, while also setting yourself up for success financially. For example, Apache Kafka is recognized for its scalability, primarily due to its function as a distributed system. This means that Kafka can handle multiple terabytes of data without much overhead, moving faster, and with more stability than traditional methods. It also provides intra-clear replication, making the platform itself highly durable and reliable, as well as capable of handling multiple subscribers at one time.

Perhaps the most attractive feature of Apache Kafka, however, is its reputation as a highly-performance software platform. Because it utilizes disk structures capable of reliable performance, Kafka can function for both publishing and subscribing, even in the face of multiple terabytes of messages, which could easily overload or drastically slow down a sub-par platform.

The Bottom Line

In the modern eCommerce world that is rapidly changing due to technological innovations, the way we do business is not only affected by technological advances, the way we think about business and the new ways of communicating our ideas change as well. Based on those concepts, the only solid defense is to learn the new innovations in real-time as they are implemented. Integrating Apache Kafka as your messaging protocol software can provide you with the multiple tools to enable data-driven decision making and customer focus, giving your business the power to see real-time improvements in publishing, subscribing, communication, and ultimately, in financial success. If you want to find yourself in a better financial situation than last year, it’s a good idea to move in the right direction when it comes to new technology and analytics.