August 2022 Summaries

Observe has introduced a new metrics expression builder to simplify the alerting process, addressing challenges such as noisy alerts and complex metrics configuration. The tool aims to make metrics more accessible, enabling users to set up alerts without needing advanced statistical knowledge by abstracting time vs. space aggregation and automatically selecting appropriate functions for different metric types. It features a preview function using 13 months of historical data, helping users refine alerts to reduce noise. Additionally, the builder supports multi-metric expressions without manual join conditions and allows power users to modify the underlying OPAL code for more complex analytics. The alerting experience also includes incident graphs and historical context to provide quick insights during notifications. The tool is currently in public preview, with plans to integrate it into dashboards and worksheets.

Observe's "State of Observability" report explores the current landscape of observability within organizations, highlighting both the challenges and benefits of implementing such practices. Despite growing familiarity with the concept, many organizations still struggle with a clear understanding of observability, leading to varied interpretations and inconsistent implementation. A significant portion of organizations cite benefits like improved service reliability and faster troubleshooting; however, only a minority are equipped to measure these impacts effectively. Tool sprawl remains a prevalent issue, with many organizations using multiple, often unintegrated, tools for troubleshooting, which complicates incident resolution and increases costs. The report also underscores the challenges of managing large volumes of observability data, with cost concerns leading some organizations to discard valuable telemetry data. Despite these hurdles, observability remains crucial for reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR) in incident management, although the effectiveness of existing tools for cloud-native applications is still debated. The report suggests that adopting integrated and context-focused observability solutions, like those offered by Observe, could help organizations streamline their processes, cut costs, and enhance their overall observability effectiveness.

Jyoti Swarnkar, a Senior Product Manager at Observe, discusses her role in improving pricing models and implementing a new billing system to ensure that costs accurately reflect pricing, showcasing the company's focus on customer-centric solutions. Her journey to Observe began during maternity leave when she sought broader opportunities beyond her previous analytics role and was impressed by the humble and kind culture during the interview process. Jyoti appreciates the startup environment for its proximity to customers, allowing rapid problem-solving, and she is particularly excited about Observe's pricing structure, which is based on usage rather than data volume or user count. She encourages prospective employees to consider Observe for its collaborative and mature work atmosphere, likening the company to a tiger for its focused and unstoppable approach to achieving goals. Observe is actively seeking passionate individuals interested in solving complex problems and offers competitive benefits to attract top talent.