Why elasticity is essential for delivering realtime updates at scale

Elasticity is a crucial aspect of real-time update systems as it enables the software infrastructure to adapt and scale according to fluctuations in usage. Real-time updates pose unique challenges for elasticity due to their resource-intensive nature and inevitable user fluctuations. The importance of achieving and maintaining elasticity is heightened by the fact that products with real-time updates typically offer a "live" experience, which can be broken if users cannot access updates promptly. The impact of scalability varies between companies providing real-time updates and those offering traditional services. For example, Facebook experienced a significant outage in 2021 but managed to recover as most users returned once the issue was resolved. However, for real-time update systems, even minor delays can lead to user dissatisfaction and churn. To efficiently manage an influx of users, companies can adopt either manual or automated strategies. Regardless of the chosen approach, factors such as scalability, reliability, security, and cost must be considered when building a real-time update infrastructure. Ably offers a data broadcast solution that ensures high levels of scalability and elasticity while maintaining data integrity. This enables companies to meet stringent real-time requirements and deliver seamless user experiences.