Contextual Ads: From Cassandra to ScyllaDB at GumGum

GumGum, a company specializing in contextual advertising, transitioned from using Apache Cassandra to ScyllaDB Cloud due to challenges with Cassandra's performance under high loads and operational complexities. GumGum's Verity platform utilizes natural language processing and computer vision to analyze web content for precise ad placement, reducing reliance on cookie-based methods. Their previous Cassandra setup required significant resources and maintenance, but the switch to ScyllaDB Cloud, a managed system, allowed them to reduce server instances and operational overhead, resulting in cost savings and improved performance. ScyllaDB's architecture, which differs from Cassandra's, required some adjustments in keyspace management and query consistency levels to optimize performance. Despite these initial challenges, the transition led to a more efficient data system, enabling GumGum to focus on developing their ad technology rather than managing extensive database operations.