Have you seen people wandering around in public spaces, eyes glued to their smartphones, pausing and turning in different directions as if seeking some invisible landmark? Chances are you’ve spotted someone playing Pokémon GO, a location-based augmented reality game that is taking the world by storm.

Released this summer, Pokémon GO has already smashed previous records for mobile game downloads while inspiring millions to leave their homes in search of virtual Pokémon creatures. The creatures are invisible to the naked eye, of course, but they appear on user’s screens as if occupying real-world space.

Just as the dPaaS model of data integration and management is changing the way companies approach data, Pokémon GO is altering the way we think about games. And that’s not all dPaaS and Pokémon GO have in common. Consider these three parallels:

1. Pokémon GO and dPaaS both represent adjustments to a changing world. The original Pokémon craze began in the 1990s with a Game Boy video game, collectible cards, and an anime   series. Pokémon GO is a reboot for a new generation, using digital tools like smartphone GPS and cameras to overlay the Pokémon universe onto real spaces. Similarly, dPaaS represents an upgrade from old-school software and SaaS, using advanced technology to integrate point solutions into a more useful whole, improve productivity and agility and provide enterprises with greater control over data.

2. Both Pokémon GO and dPaaS allow users to play a unique role. Pokémon GO players create an avatar to represent themselves, choosing characteristics that depict their identity and displaying this representation on a map of their immediate surroundings. dPaaS allows users to define unique roles at data consumption time, which is important because it frees data scientists, developers and engineers from the tasks involved in acquiring, harmonizing, and storing data. Company experts are therefore free to concentrate on gleaning real-world insights from data.

3. Pokémon GO and dPaaS give users a chance to capture something they need. With Pokémon GO, players locate virtual creatures that they can capture and train. A dPaaS solution lets enterprises capture and leverage data, one of their most valuable resources. With dPaaS, companies can discover new ways to control costs, understand customers and assess the marketplace. dPaaS not only solves basic master data management challenges, it enables companies to find solutions to issues that are unique to their organizations and/or industries.

At first glance, an augmented reality game like Pokémon GO might appear to have little in common with a groundbreaking new approach to data integration and management like dPaaS. But both are game-changers in their respective spaces, harnessing technology to integrate data, enable customization, and allow users to explore a brand-new space. No wonder both are taking the world by storm.