Databricks introduced Lakebridge, a free and open-source tool that helps companies quickly move their data from Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or Teradata to Databricks. Lakebridge can automate up to 80% of the migration process, making it much faster and cheaper for businesses. It scans old databases, changes old code to work with Databricks, and checks everything to make sure the data is correct. Early users have cut their migration time in half and saved a lot of money. With Lakebridge, Databricks hopes to attract more businesses by making data migrations a lot easier.
What is Databricks Lakebridge and how does it simplify enterprise data migrations?
Lakebridge is a free, open-source migration tool from Databricks that automates up to 80% of migrating data and workloads from Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or Teradata to the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. It streamlines planning, code conversion, and validation, reducing migration time and costs significantly.
Databricks just changed the game for enterprise data migrations. The company is now offering Lakebridge , a free migration tool that promises to automate up to 80 percent of the workload when companies want to break away from Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or Teradata and land on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform.
What Lakebridge actually does
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| *Analyzer * | Scans the source system, ranks objects by complexity, and builds a migration plan |
| *Converter * | Transforms legacy SQL (PL/SQL, T-SQL, BTEQ, stored procedures) into Databricks SQL/Spark |
| *Validator * | Runs reconciliations and gives you a pass/fail dashboard for data and logic integrity |
The entire workflow is open-source and packaged as a no-cost add-on for existing Databricks customers, eliminating the seven-figure line items that usually accompany large-scale data-warehouse moves.
Why enterprises care
- Average legacy migration historically runs 12-24 months and ties up 30-40 consultants at peak [1].
- Lakebridge pilot projects are finishing in 4-6 months with 2× faster delivery timelines [1].
- Early adopters report up to 50 percent lower total cost once licensing, tuning, and cloud-storage savings are tallied [1].
Competitive ripples (or the lack of them)
As of August 2025, none of the incumbents have issued direct counters:
| Vendor | Public response to Lakebridge | Stated 2025 focus |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle | None | Autonomous Database on OCI |
| Microsoft | None | Azure Synapse integrations |
| Teradata | None | VantageCloud Lake hybrid analytics |
That silence may not last. Industry watchers expect heavier discounting and “risk of migration” marketing once Lakebridge exits pilot phase at more Fortune 500 accounts [2].
GenAI upgrades on the horizon
Databricks has already previewed GenAI-powered migration coaches that will sit inside Lakebridge. Planned features include:
– LLM-driven code explanation cards so analysts understand why a Teradata macro became three Spark SQL statements.
– Synthetic data generators that create test rows where sensitive data cannot leave the source system.
These extras are opt-in and scheduled to reach general availability during the first half of 2026.
Getting started without a blow-up
Databricks recommends a three-stage approach:
- Quick scan – run Analyzer on a non-production copy to see object count and complexity heatmap.
- Minimal viable lakehouse – convert and land the top 15 percent of queries that drive 80 percent of business value.
- Full cut-over – use Validator’s reconciliation dashboard to prove row counts, aggregates, and business logic before flipping traffic.
Because the tool is free, partners are bundling it with fixed-price migration programs, making it possible to sign a contract that caps risk instead of hours.
The bigger bet
Every Oracle, SQL Server, or Teradata instance that moves to Databricks shifts not only storage revenue, but also the downstream AI workloads that incumbents once handled with proprietary add-ons. With Lakebridge removing the single biggest barrier (migration complexity), Databricks is aiming to convert database refresh cycles into platform-switch cycles.
[2] https://www.datafold.com/blog/lakebridge-alternatives
What is Lakebridge and how does it simplify data migration?
Lakebridge is Databricks’ free, open-source migration tool launched in June 2025 to automate the transition from legacy databases to the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. According to Databricks’ official announcement, the tool automates up to 80% of the migration lifecycle – from initial assessment through final validation – effectively cutting migration timelines by half compared to traditional approaches.
The tool works across three core components:
– Analyzer scans existing Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and Teradata environments to classify objects by complexity
– Converter automatically translates legacy SQL code (including Oracle PL/SQL and Teradata BTEQ) to Databricks SQL
– Validator provides built-in reconciliation tools to ensure data quality post-migration
How much faster can enterprises migrate using Lakebridge?
Based on early implementations, enterprises using Lakebridge have reduced migration timelines by 2x compared to manual approaches. The tool’s automation capabilities address the biggest bottleneck in data modernization: the months or years typically required to manually convert complex SQL codebases.
The automated code conversion achieves 75%+ success rates for standard SQL patterns, with built-in dashboards providing real-time transparency into migration progress. This represents a significant shift from the traditional approach where 60-70% of migration projects exceed their original timeline due to unexpected complexity.
Which legacy systems does Lakebridge support?
Lakebridge specifically targets three major legacy platforms:
– Oracle (including PL/SQL stored procedures)
– Microsoft SQL Server (T-SQL and related features)
– Teradata (BTEQ scripts and proprietary functions)
The tool handles both “lift-and-shift” migrations and hybrid approaches, allowing organizations to migrate workloads in phases while maintaining business continuity. This flexibility addresses the reality that 78% of enterprises cite migration complexity as their primary barrier to cloud adoption.
What are customers achieving with Lakebridge?
While specific named case studies are still emerging (Lakebridge launched in June 2025), related Databricks migrations show significant impact:
- Italgas achieved 50% cost reduction and 20% performance improvement after migrating to Databricks SQL
- DoorDash consolidated customer data platforms, eliminating excessive data movement
- Viessmann analyzes terabytes of daily IoT data with improved ML model development
These results align with Databricks’ broader customer base where 80% of migrated workloads report improved price-performance metrics.
How will AI enhance Lakebridge in 2025-2026?
Databricks plans GenAI-powered migration features through:
– LLM-as-Judge evaluation frameworks for automated SQL quality assessment
– Synthetic data generation to fill testing gaps in migration validation
– AI-assisted code translation for complex Oracle-specific constructs
The roadmap includes opt-in AI features with full traceability, addressing enterprise concerns about accuracy in automated migrations. These enhancements target the 30-40% of SQL code that typically requires manual intervention due to platform-specific features.
