Data Platform Evolution and the Future of Snowflake in China: Insights from Industry Leaders

As big‑data technologies converge, enterprises demand data platforms that can integrate, store, manage massive heterogeneous data and provide diverse services, with cloud‑native implementations evolving from Hadoop to Snowflake. To explore the next wave, InfoQ hosted a special "Re‑talk Data Architecture" livestream featuring Guan Tao (co‑founder & CTO of Yunqi Technology), Xiao Guo (Senior VP of Technology at Bolt), and Wu Yingjun (Founder & CEO of RisingWave).

Guan Tao traced big‑data’s 20‑year history back to the 2003 MapReduce, GFS, and BigTable papers, dividing its development into three phases: a 2003‑2013 incubation period, a 2013‑2023 growth period driven by Hadoop and cloud computing, and a current "mass‑adoption" phase where technologies mature and become widely used.

Wu Yingjun highlighted that data platforms evolved from database origins, noting milestones such as Google’s 2004 MapReduce paper, the rise of open‑source projects (Hadoop, Hive, Spark), and the shift to cloud‑based services like Snowflake.

Xiao Guo described the current landscape: most companies now use SaaS data warehouses (Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery, Snowflake), emphasizing real‑time analytics, AI/ML integration, and tight coupling with experimentation platforms.

The discussion then examined technology routes—open‑source self‑built versus commercial SaaS—showing that enterprises choose based on cost, scalability, and operational simplicity, with Chinese firms increasingly favoring SaaS to avoid high maintenance overhead.

When comparing US and Chinese markets, speakers noted that US firms prioritize ease of use, while Chinese firms focus on performance, prefer unified solutions, and exhibit stronger technical curiosity, leading to different adoption patterns and payment willingness.

Snowflake’s popularity was attributed to its seamless integration, multi‑cloud neutrality, and elastic pricing model that lowers entry barriers, allowing users to focus on business value rather than infrastructure.

Looking ahead, the panel identified five essential traits for a Chinese Snowflake‑like product: multi‑cloud support, deep integration (one‑stop solution), original technology beyond simple open‑source assembly, next‑generation innovation, and strong B2B (to‑business) capabilities including localization, compliance, and service.

From an investment standpoint, Xiao Guo emphasized that data remains the foundational driver for AI and generative AI, and that startups must demonstrate strong technical teams, clear market pain points, and sizable addressable markets.

Finally, Guan Tao announced Yunqi Technology’s upcoming Lakehouse platform launch on July 20, positioning it as a multi‑cloud, highly integrated solution built on a "Single‑Engine" architecture aimed at filling the current market gap in China.