OpenTelemetry (OTel) is an open-source framework developed under the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) that provides a unified system for generating, collecting, processing, and exporting telemetry data, including logs, metrics, and traces, to enhance software observability. It replaced the OpenTracing and OpenCensus projects and has rapidly become the standard for instrumenting cloud-native applications. By fostering consistency and interoperability in data collection, OpenTelemetry simplifies the task of understanding complex, distributed IT systems, allowing IT teams to ask meaningful questions and act effectively on the insights they gain. With contributions from major vendors like Dynatrace, OpenTelemetry is evolving to support initiatives like digital experience monitoring, code-level profiling, and AI system monitoring. As it approaches its graduation as a CNCF project, OpenTelemetry aims to expand its impact on improving digital experiences and delivering detailed application performance insights, while platforms like Dynatrace enhance its capabilities by turning telemetry data into actionable intelligence.