The Transformation of Customer Data Platforms: CDPs Are Dissolving Into Application Layer Services Customer data platforms stand at the precipice of their most dramatic transformation yet. This isn't another tech cycle - it's a fundamental rewiring of how CDPs create value for the business. The winners in this transformation won't just have the best data. They'll turn that data into immediate action at every customer touchpoint. The walls between data and action are dissolving. Traditional CDPs solved the data gathering, stitching, and activation problem. That's table stakes now. Value lies in the application layer, where static data transforms into dynamic customer experiences. And there's precedent for this. Uber turns every ride data point into instant experience improvements. Netflix runs thousands of real-time decisions to optimize each viewing session. Starbucks reshapes store operations in real-time based on mobile app signals. This mirrors the cloud computing revolution. Just as AWS turned infrastructure into programmable services, modern CDPs transform customer understanding into activated offers. Ultimately, tomorrow's most valuable CDPs won't look like platforms at all. Like electricity, they'll become invisible yet essential - powering everything without being seen - the semantic data layer driving customer experiences. The question isn't who has the biggest scale, integrations, partnerships - it's who will turn that lake into living streams of customer experiences. *Originally published [here](https://x.com/barusebi/status/1859737482230673547)* >