Vodafone big data
release train engineer
Vodafone Group Consumer Tech > Big Data. London (2019)
the problem
Vodafone’s existing on-premises data platform consisted of 8 clusters with +600 on prem servers and was used in +10 countries, with 2 Datacenters, +20petabytes of data, 200 models, 1000 datafeeds.
The platform relied on a legacy Apache Hadoop architecture that lacked the agility or scalability to support demands for analytics and an increasing list of innovation projects.
In order to migrate these services into a highly secure public cloud from Google (GCP), they needed to create a new Operating Model and they opted to implement a Scrum of Scrums working model (SAFE). They needed a senior Release Train Engineer for this.
They chose Vodafone Portugal as the market to migrate first to GCP. This pilot migration had to be completed in less than 6 months due to timing cycles. When proved right, the company would have the sign off for doing the migration of all the following markets. This multi year program needed a clear roadmap planning and lots of efficiencies.
The contribution
70% annual savings. 25% increase operational efficiency
* Managed to migrate Vodafone Portugal within 5 months and secure sign off to run future migrations.
* Created and owned the roadmap of Vodafone Portugal migration with the help of the PII backlog planning.
* Created the following markets roadmap rollout, based on dependencies and timings restrictions.
* The solution is serving more than than 600m customers and has generated a 70% of savings.
* I implemented changes in the team structure, letting people go and hiring more people, based on the Architecture needs.
* I built a new Operating Model and did a Scaled Agile transformation based on SAFe, having 11 squads in total with +60 team members.
* Found team efficiencies by: delegating work to markets (creation of Playbook and training sessions), achieving extra support from 3 new graduates, migrating from an old JIRA to a new one that had much better performance.
the learnings
Starting a migration with the non Mission Critical datafeeds is always good idea.
Overcommunication in this highly strategic and fast paced Program, where inter-dependencies are high, is a great asset.
Keeping extended stakeholders close and establishing long lasting relationships with them helps to find possibilities of partnerships and efficiencies.
Scaled Agile works in specific environments - big teams formed by several squads where interconnexion is at a high level.