Modernizing applications often involves adopting distributed systems, which can pose challenges, particularly when transitioning from NoSQL to relational databases like CockroachDB. Megan Janes, a Senior Software Engineer at Procter & Gamble, recounted their experience of shifting the company's IoT infrastructure from using various NoSQL databases to implementing CockroachDB. Initially, the company's data management faced issues such as incomplete data validation and mismatched data schemas, leading to inefficiencies for their data science teams. By switching to CockroachDB, they achieved a simplified architecture with a single multi-region cluster that enforced schema validation, ensuring data accuracy and eliminating the so-called "data graveyard." This transition not only improved data management but also influenced the team's approach to database design and data localization, supported by resources like O'Reilly's Guide to CockroachDB and courses from Cockroach University.