Data Sourcing For Metric Trees - Database or Semantic Layer?

Ever hit a wall when a quick database query won’t scale? We dive into why a first-draft, database-built model is great for speed but falls short on reuse, and how moving that work into a semantic layer and catalog transforms your metrics into a locked-down source of truth. We talk through the benefits of standardized joins, predefined aggregations, and security layers that boost collaboration and stakeholder alignment—key steps in any solid data strategy. By modeling in a semantic layer, we unlock consistent analytics, stronger data storytelling, and real business impact every time someone taps into those cataloged metrics.