Platform engineering reality check: From big dreams to practical steps

Platform engineering journeys often start with ambitious visions of seamless developer experience and full self-service capabilities. The reality, however, is typically far more incremental.

In this talk, Paula shares three real-world case studies highlighting the tangible value platforms can deliver while also showing that successful platforms are not built overnight. They begin with practical, sometimes unglamorous, steps, and the most impactful initiatives are guided by clear metrics, continuous user feedback, and a strong focus on developer needs.

Drawing on examples from different industries, this session describes the common patterns, trade-offs, and pitfalls teams encounter on their platform journey. Attendees leave with practical advice on where to start, how to measure progress, and how to turn big platform dreams into achievable, sustainable outcomes.