Querying vs. Vibe Querying: The Future of Data Access is Conversational

The way we ask our data questions is changing.

For decades, querying meant writing SQL, navigating rigid business intelligence (BI) tools, or waiting in line for a dashboard request to be answered. It worked, but it wasn’t fast, flexible, or accessible to most people outside the data team.

We at CData believe that’s about to change. We’re calling it Vibe Querying and it’s going to redefine how business users interact with their data.

Vibe Querying will change the way organizations interact with data.

And it’s here to stay.

What is traditional querying?

Traditional querying is built for precision. You specify exactly what you want from a database or API: the tables, the fields, the filters. Whether you write SQL by hand or use a visual builder, querying is fundamentally structured.

This model works best when:

• You know the schema.
• You have access to the data.
• You understand how to write or request the right query.

But for most people in an organization, those conditions don’t hold. Even simple questions like “What accounts are at risk this quarter?” can turn into a long feedback loop between business users and admins — lost in translation, buried in email threads, and delayed by resource constraints.

What is Vibe Querying?

Inspired by “vibe coding” — building software from intention, not syntax — Vibe Querying is about asking questions the way you would with a colleague, conversationally.

No SQL. No schema diagrams. Just a clear idea of what you want to know.

“Show me the top sales reps in the Northeast with pipeline over $500K who haven’t logged an activity in 2 weeks.”

With the help of large language models (LLMs) and a system to interpret that intent, you get structured results — in seconds. You iterate in conversation, not code. And you don’t need to wait for someone else to unlock the insights.

Vibe Querying in the real world

We’ve seen this firsthand. Before, if we wanted a report out of our CRM, we’d have to go through an admin — often with multiple rounds of clarification.

Now, with Vibe Querying powered by Model Context Protocol (MCP) Servers, we can ask the question directly in our chat client and refine the result in real time. The LLM interprets our question, accesses the data via CData’s tabular model, and delivers structured answers — fast.

The trade-offs: Access, control, and outcomes

Like any paradigm shift, Vibe Querying introduces new challenges as well as benefits.

One key consideration is governance. LLMs are only as safe as the permissions they're granted. If a seller can only view their own accounts in the CRM, but their chat assistant is over-permissioned, they might unintentionally access restricted data. On the flip side, under-permissioning limits the LLM’s ability to provide meaningful answers.

That’s why the infrastructure behind Vibe Querying matters.

CData’s role in making Vibe Querying possible

Many emerging MCP servers treat enterprise data as a set of tool-specific APIs — requiring custom calls like get_opportunity, get_contact, or get_account. LLMs have to be trained to understand those patterns.

CData takes a different approach.

We expose enterprise systems using a tabular, SQL-native model that LLMs can understand out of the box. It’s the same interface they’re trained on — a familiar, structured representation of CRM, ERP, finance, HR, and other business systems.

That means:

• No code required to define access.
• No special APIs or prompts to memorize.
• Just clean, governed access to business data — instantly explorable by AI.

And because it's backed by the same infrastructure we use for pipelines and data warehousing, every "vibe" query can be turned into a repeatable, secure data asset.

Who benefits from vibe querying?

We're already seeing value across teams at CData — and we believe most organizations will, too.

• Product managers exploring user behavior trends
• Finance leaders spotting forecast anomalies
• Sales and support teams tracking engagement gaps
• Marketers analyzing campaign performance
• Executives seeking fast, data-backed answers
• HR leaders monitoring team attrition and engagement

The common thread? These users don’t want to wait. They don’t want to learn SQL. They just want answers — and with Vibe Querying, they can finally get them.

Forget SQL. Get answers.

Vibe Querying isn’t about replacing data teams — it’s about freeing them.

When business users can self-serve the insights they need, data teams can focus on strategy, modeling, and innovation. Everyone wins. And with infrastructure like CData MCP Servers making those vibes both secure and reusable, it’s not just a cool trick — it’s a foundational shift.

Ready to try Vibe Querying?

CData is making Vibe Querying real — and you can start today:

• Try the free, beta MCP Servers and connect your LLM to real business data in minutes.
• Join the Vibe Querying series to explore real-world use cases and behind-the-scenes insights.
• Connect with other early adopters in the CData Community and the Vibe Querying subreddit.

Ask better questions. Get better answers. Welcome to the future of data access.