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    Executive Summary

    In todayโ€™s data-rich enterprise environment, the ability to access, query, and analyze data efficiently is no longer a luxury, itโ€™s a competitive necessity. Yet many organizations still struggle with fragmented query logic, inconsistent governance, and escalating compute costs.

    This whitepaper presents a generalized architecture for an Intelligent Query Engine, built on the Databricks Lakehouse Platform, designed to unify data access, optimize performance, and support both human users and digital agents across the enterprise.

    What Is a Query Engine and Why Does It Matter?

    A Query Engine is the central nervous system of enterprise analytics. It orchestrates how queries are processed, optimized, and executed across diverse data sources and applications. A modern query engine must:

    Centralize query logic to eliminate redundancy

    Optimize execution plans for performance and cost

    Govern access and lineage for compliance and auditability

    Support real-time and near-real-time querying

    Enable intelligent interfaces for digital workers and natural language users

    Databricks-Powered Architecture:
    The Foundation of the Unified Query Engine

    The proposed architecture harnesses the comprehensive capabilities of the Databricks Lakehouse Platform to deliver a modular, intelligent query engine.

    Databricks Architecture
    1. Delta Lake: Unified Storage Layer
      • ACID transactions and schema enforcement
      • Performance enhancements: Z-ordering, liquid clustering, data skipping
    2. Databricks SQL Warehouse: Scalable Compute Layer
      • Elastic compute for low-latency querying
      • SQL-level filtering and pushdown optimization for efficient execution
    3. Unity Catalog: Governance Layer
      • Centralized RBAC, lineage tracking, and audit logging
      • Ensures consistent access control and regulatory compliance
    4. Genie API: Intelligence Layer
      • NLP-to-SQL translation for natural language querying
      • Empowers business users and digital workers with self-service analytics
    5. Optimization Layer
      • IO Cache and Query Results Cache reduce latency and warehouse hits
      • Materialized views and streaming ingestion via Auto Loader and Lakehouse Federation

    Core Capabilities of the Query Engine

    Capabilities and Strategic Values

    Strategic Outcomes

    Decision Making icon

    Accelerated Decision-Making

    Real-time access to governed data enables faster, more confident decisions

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    Operational Efficiency

    Centralized logic and caching reduce compute costs and maintenance overhead

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    Platform Agility

    Modular architecture supports evolving business needs and technology ecosystems

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    Future-Readiness

    Designed to integrate with agentic platforms, digital workers, and intelligent automation

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    Unified Experience

    Serves diverse user personasโ€”from data engineers to business analystsโ€”with consistent performance and governance

    Conclusion

    The Unified Query Engine architecture powered by Databricks is more than a technical solution, itโ€™s a strategic enabler. By abstracting and centralizing query logic, optimizing execution pathways, and enforcing governance, enterprises can unlock the full potential of their data assets while preparing for the future of intelligent, automated analytics.

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    Sreejith Vadakara

    Solution Architect, Data & Analytics

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