The text discusses the evolution of the modern data stack, emphasizing the need for orchestration and DataOps to address challenges in scalability and interoperability that traditional systems have struggled with in the wake of increasing data volumes and complexity. Companies like Snowflake and Databricks have thrived by offering scalable data compute platforms that integrate seamlessly with cloud services. However, the data stack remains fragmented, particularly in the DataOps layer, which is crucial for turning raw data into valuable business products. Orchestration is highlighted as a key component for unifying data operations, offering control, management, and integration across various tools and data sources. Apache Airflow is cited as the leading orchestration tool, widely adopted by major companies for its scalability and flexibility. Astronomer, leveraging Airflow, aims to lead the DataOps space by integrating observability and AI-driven enhancements into its platform, Astro, to streamline data operations and enhance business value.