AWS re:Invent 2025 - Utilizing AWS GenAI to deliver enterprise data modernization in CommBank-AIM416

AWS re:Invent 2025 - Utilizing AWS GenAI to deliver enterprise data modernization in CommBank-AIM416

Overview

• The presentation showcases the data platform modernization journey of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), the largest bank in Australia, in partnership with HCL Tech and AWS.
• CBA has transformed its data strategy and infrastructure to empower its 40 lines of business with a federated, self-service data platform on the AWS cloud.
• The key highlights include the largest and fastest data migration in the Southern Hemisphere, the use of AWS GenAI to accelerate the migration, and the strategic partnership between CBA, HCL Tech, and AWS.

CBA's Data Strategy and Transformation

• CBA's data strategy is built on three core pillars: People, Safeguards, and Technology.
• People: CBA embedded data engineers and data scientists directly into the lines of business to bring data closer to the users and customers.
• Safeguards: CBA embedded governance and risk controls at every stage of the data lifecycle to ensure safety by design.
• Technology: CBA established a data mesh ecosystem on AWS cloud, called "combank.data," to empower its federated data teams with the latest tools and technologies.

The Data Migration Journey

• CBA migrated 61,000 on-premise data pipelines, equivalent to 10 PB of data, to the AWS data mesh ecosystem in just 9 months.
• The migration involved 229,000 tests to ensure 100% accuracy in data transfer, with every single row, column, and number accounted for.
• CBA, AWS, and HCL Tech worked as a unified, tight-knit team to ensure alignment and ownership towards the common goal.

The Role of AWS GenAI and HCL Tech

• HCL Tech leveraged best-in-class engineering practices, including the convergence of data, AI, and engineering, to deliver the migration.
• The team strategically sourced and deployed talent in phases, creating a data and AI lab that encouraged learning and innovation.
• AWS GenAI was used to transform code, check for errors, and test the output, reconciling the tables exactly to the on-premise platform.
• HCL Tech's focus on full-cycle engineering, AWS certification for engineers, and AI-driven automation were key transformation levers.

Key Outcomes and Impact

• CBA has successfully migrated its entire data engineering and AI workforce to the AWS cloud, enabling it to scale on its ambitious AI-powered, data-driven future.
• The migration marks the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, setting a new benchmark for large-scale data modernization projects.
• The strategic partnership between CBA, AWS, and HCL Tech, with a "one team, one dream" approach, was a critical success factor in the program's achievement.

Conclusion

• CBA's data platform modernization journey showcases the power of AWS GenAI and the strategic collaboration between enterprises, cloud providers, and technology partners.
• The successful migration and the creation of a federated, self-service data platform on AWS have positioned CBA to accelerate its data-driven transformation and deliver enhanced customer experiences.
• The lessons learned and the technical details shared in this presentation can serve as a valuable reference for other organizations embarking on similar data modernization initiatives.