The Universal Data Layer: Apache Iceberg as the Foundation for Agentic AI and Interoperability
Thu Feb 05 2026
Source: https://medium.com/workday-engineering/facing-data-fragmentation-and-high-costs-large-organizations-require-an-universal-data-layer-b984a82decb5
Author: Phoenix MajumderThis article explores how Apache Iceberg serves as a Universal Data Layer to solve the problem of data fragmentation in large enterprises.
By decoupling storage from compute, this open-source table format provides unparalleled interoperability across various processing engines while maintaining ACID compliance.
The text highlights that Iceberg is uniquely suited for Agentic AI and Multi-Agent Systems, acting as a persistent memory and state synchronization layer for autonomous software.
Through the example of Workday’s technology stack, the author illustrates a three-pronged strategy involving pipeline standardization, governance integration, and compute decoupling.
Ultimately, the source positions Iceberg as a critical foundation for intelligent automation and reliable, real-time data access.
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Source: https://medium.com/workday-engineering/facing-data-fragmentation-and-high-costs-large-organizations-require-an-universal-data-layer-b984a82decb5 Author: Phoenix MajumderThis article explores how Apache Iceberg serves as a Universal Data Layer to solve the problem of data fragmentation in large enterprises. By decoupling storage from compute, this open-source table format provides unparalleled interoperability across various processing engines while maintaining ACID compliance. The text highlights that Iceberg is uniquely suited for Agentic AI and Multi-Agent Systems, acting as a persistent memory and state synchronization layer for autonomous software. Through the example of Workday’s technology stack, the author illustrates a three-pronged strategy involving pipeline standardization, governance integration, and compute decoupling. Ultimately, the source positions Iceberg as a critical foundation for intelligent automation and reliable, real-time data access.