The text discusses the challenges and opportunities in modernizing applications, emphasizing the critical role of operational data strategy in ensuring successful transformation. Despite advancements such as containerization, microservices, and cloud migration, many organizations face persistent issues like lengthy deployments and data bottlenecks, especially as AI introduces new complexities. The report by Cockroach Labs, in collaboration with Intellyx, underscores that superficial changes, such as updating UI layers, are insufficient without rethinking how data flows through architecture. Legacy systems often hinder modernization due to monolithic structures and centralized databases that struggle with global demands, particularly in AI contexts. The report advocates for a comprehensive operational data strategy, highlighting the importance of distributed SQL architecture like CockroachDB, which offers resilience, scalability, and compatibility with existing systems like PostgreSQL. This approach aligns data with business domains, ensures microservice autonomy, and supports global consistency, addressing common modernization challenges such as migration complexity and AI readiness gaps. The report suggests that a solid data strategy not only enhances cloud adoption and AI integration but also mitigates risks associated with fragmented data management and operational complexity, providing a pathway for future growth and competitive advantage.