OPENDATABAY
Cloud Data Exchange Company -
Secure Marketplace For Dataset Distribution
Building a scalable platform that connects data providers and buyers through secure, transparent workflows
CLIENT
Cloud Data Exchange Company
PRODUCT TYPE
SaaS Data Marketplace Platform
INDUSTRY
Data & Cloud Infrastructure
SERVICES
The Overview
A data technology company set out to solve a growing challenge in the data economy - how to securely distribute, purchase, and manage datasets at scale.
While demand for high-quality data was increasing, the market lacked a reliable and transparent system where providers could upload datasets and customers could request or purchase them without security risks or friction.
The goal was to create a secure, cloud-based marketplace that simplified dataset exchange while maintaining full scalability, version control, and real-time communication between data owners and buyers.
Tech Stack
frontend
backend
Notifications
infrastructure
Security & Monitoring
DevOps
The Challenge
Data marketplaces often suffer from a trade-off between security and usability. Providers need confidence that their datasets are protected, versioned, and traceable, while buyers need assurance that they’re accessing verified, well-documented data.
Most existing solutions were pieced together with separate upload tools, payment gateways, and communication channels - making transactions slow and error-prone. Onboarding was a pain point too: complex registration flows discouraged new contributors, and lack of integration between frontend and backend systems created operational silos.
The client needed a unified SaaS platform that could securely handle large datasets, scale with growing traffic, and provide a frictionless experience for both providers and customers.
The Biz of Dev Approach
We approached this project through a discovery-first lens, mapping the entire dataset lifecycle - from upload and verification to purchase and retrieval. The goal was to make each step intuitive and auditable.
Our first step was designing a secure data flow architecture that maintained integrity without sacrificing accessibility. We integrated cloud-native services for storage, encryption, and monitoring, ensuring the platform could scale horizontally as dataset volume grew.
To improve user experience, we redesigned the onboarding and dataset publishing process. Every friction point - from registration to payment notifications - was simplified into a single, guided workflow. Automation became a key focus: status updates, access approvals, and download notifications were handled automatically, creating transparency for both sides of the marketplace.
By combining these layers - user simplicity, technical robustness, and scalable infrastructure - we positioned the product not just as another marketplace, but as a data compliance-ready exchange network.
The Solution
The final solution was a cloud-hosted SaaS marketplace that unified data exchange into one secure, seamless platform.
The backend architecture integrated a scalable Node.js API with Google Cloud Storage for dataset handling, ensuring fast, reliable uploads and downloads. The frontend, built with React, provided a clean and modern interface where users could browse datasets, manage purchases, and track delivery status in real time.
An automated notification system powered by SendGrid kept users updated on uploads, transactions, and data access requests. Admin users had complete visibility into activity logs, while buyers could securely access datasets with time-limited download links.
The system was designed with modular APIs and custom hooks, enabling rapid iteration and easy integration with future analytics or billing extensions.
The Results
The platform successfully launched its MVP, quickly onboarding both data providers and institutional buyers.
Scalability testing showed stable performance even under heavy data traffic. The improved onboarding flow increased activation rates among new users, and automated notifications reduced communication lag between providers and clients.
The secure architecture and cloud-native design provided confidence to enterprise users, positioning the product as a trusted foundation for compliant data transactions. As the user base expanded, the infrastructure scaled seamlessly - proving the product’s readiness for broader adoption.
The Takeaway
This project demonstrates how discovery-led SaaS design can transform complex, risk-heavy workflows into simple, transparent, and scalable systems.
By combining secure cloud infrastructure with thoughtful user experience, the platform bridged the gap between data ownership and data access - creating an ecosystem where trust is built through design, not just policy.
The marketplace now stands as an example of how compliance, automation, and clarity can coexist - enabling organizations to exchange high-value data confidently and efficiently.
At Biz of Dev, this project reaffirmed a key belief: scalability is not just about handling more users or data; it’s about ensuring every interaction - from upload to purchase - feels effortless, predictable, and safe.
