ETL vs ELT and Why Data
Lakehouse?
Presented By: Nirajan Tiwari
Contents:
• Introduction to Data Pipelines
• What is ETL?
• What is ELT?
• How is ETL Different than ELT?
• Data Warehouse vs Data Lake vs Data Lakehouse
• What is Data Lakehouse?
• Why ELT Works Better in Lakehouse
• Real-World Use Case
• Data Lakehouse Platforms
• Conclusion
• References
Introduction to Data Pipelines
A data pipeline automates the movement and
transformation of data from source to destination.
Key Stages includes Ingestion, Transformation,
Storage, Analytics and Reporting.
ETL and ELT are two main types of data pipelines.
Modern systems require speed, scalability, and
flexibility in pipeline design.
What is ETL?
ETL: Extract, Transform,
Load
1. Extract: Pulls data from
source systems.
2. Transform: Cleans/formats
data before loading.
3. Load: Stores data in data
warehouse.
Best for structured
environments with strict
schema.
What is ELT?
ELT: Extract, Load,
Transform
1. Extract: Data pulled from
sources.
2. Load: Raw data stored in
lake/warehouse.
3. Transform: Processed in-
place using SQL, Spark, etc.
Supports large-scale,
unstructured data.
How Is ETL Different than ELT?
Features ETL ELT
Data transformation is
Data transformation is
Data Processing implemented before
implemented after loading.
loading.
ETL can be slower for
Performance Generally faster
large datasets
and Scalability
Involves additional cost Uses fewer hardware
Cost for processing power and resources which lowers
storage costs.
ELT may need additional
Data Accuracy Ensures high data accuracy data cleansing to avoid
inaccuracies.
Data Warehouse vs Data Lake vs
Data Lakehouse
What is a Data Lakehouse?
Aims to combine the best of data lakes and data
warehouses.
Offers a more balanced solution by integrating the
scalability and low-cost storage capabilities of data
lakes with the performance and governance
strengths of data warehouses.
Support real-time data processing.
Why Lakehouse Over Traditional
Architecture
Reduces data silos and duplication between lake and
warehouse
Ensures ACID transactions and schema
enforcement.
Offers unified governance, security, and data
quality.
Why ELT Works Better in
Lakehouse
ELT aligns well with Lakehouse: store first,
transform later.
Lakehouse stores raw data in open formats making
it ideal for ELT pipelines.
Handles large-scale data efficiently without needing
upfront schema or structure.
Real-World Use Case
Modern data analytics
o Supports real-time analytics, business intelligence.
o Enables teams to analyze both historical trends and
live data from a single platform.
Data-driven applications
o Powers applications that demand real-time insights and
automated decision-making.
o Delivers personalized user experiences and intelligent
recommendations by leveraging up-to-date data.
Data Lakehouse Platforms
Databricks Lakehouse
o Built on Delta Lake, enabling ACID transactions and
high data reliability.
o Combines the scalability of data lakes with the data
management capabilities of data warehouses.
o Offers a unified platform for analytics, BI, and
machine learning — all in one environment.
Google BigLake
o Google BigLake integrates data lakehouse principles
with its existing Google Cloud services.
o Provides centralized data storage and analytics for
structured and unstructured data.
Conclusion
ETL and ELT are both critical in modern data
workflows.
Their limitations have driven the emergence of the
Lakehouse.
Offers scalability, performance, and flexibility in a
single platform.
References
https://airbyte.com/data-engineering-
resources/etl-architecture
https://airbyte.com/data-engineering-
resources/what-is-elt
https://www.databricks.com/glossary/
data-lakehouse
https://www.datacamp.com/blog/what-is-
a-data-lakehouse
Any Questions?
Thank You!!
