diff --git a/examples/sideinput/simple_sideinput/udf/example.py b/examples/sideinput/simple_sideinput/udf/example.py
index 5f3bc8f1..9d8c7972 100644
--- a/examples/sideinput/simple_sideinput/udf/example.py
+++ b/examples/sideinput/simple_sideinput/udf/example.py
@@ -1,30 +1,71 @@
+import os
+import threading
 from threading import Thread
 import pynumaflow.sideinput as sideinputsdk
-from pynumaflow.mapper import Messages, MapServer, Message, Datum
+from pynumaflow.mapper import Messages, MapServer, Message, Datum, Mapper
 from watchfiles import watch
 
 
-def my_handler(keys: list[str], datum: Datum) -> Messages:
-    messages = Messages()
-    messages.append(Message(str.encode("Some Value")))
-    return messages
-
-
-def watcher():
+class SideInputHandler(Mapper):
     """
-    This function is used to watch the side input directory for changes.
+    This is a class that inherits from the Mapper class.
+    It implements the handler method that is called for each datum.
     """
-    path = sideinputsdk.SIDE_INPUT_DIR_PATH
-    for changes in watch(path):
-        print(changes)
+
+    # variable and lock for thread safety
+    data_value = "no_value"
+    data_value_lock = threading.Lock()
+
+    # Side input file that we are watching
+    watched_file = "myticker"
+
+    def handler(self, keys: list[str], datum: Datum) -> Messages:
+        with self.data_value_lock:
+            current_value = self.data_value
+
+        messages = Messages()
+        messages.append(Message(str.encode(current_value)))
+        return messages
+
+    def file_watcher(self):
+        """
+        This function is used to watch the side input directory for changes.
+        """
+        path = sideinputsdk.SIDE_INPUT_DIR_PATH
+        for changes in watch(path):
+            for change in changes:
+                change_type, file_path = change
+                if file_path.endswith(self.watched_file):
+                    with self.data_value_lock:
+                        self.update_data_from_file(file_path)
+
+    def init_data_value(self):
+        # Read the SIDE INPUT FILE for initial value before starting the server
+        path = os.path.join(sideinputsdk.SIDE_INPUT_DIR_PATH, self.watched_file)
+        print(path)
+        self.update_data_from_file(path)
+
+    def update_data_from_file(self, path):
+        try:
+            with open(path) as file:
+                value = file.read().strip()
+                self.data_value = value
+                print(f"Data value variable set to: {self.data_value}")
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"Error reading file: {e}")
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     """
-    This function is used to start the GRPC server and the watcher thread.
+    This function is used to start the GRPC server and the file_watcher thread.
     """
-    daemon = Thread(target=watcher, daemon=True, name="Monitor")
-    grpc_server = MapServer(my_handler)
+    handler_instance = SideInputHandler()
+
+    # initialize data with value from side input
+    handler_instance.init_data_value()
+
+    daemon = Thread(target=handler_instance.file_watcher, daemon=True, name="Monitor")
+    grpc_server = MapServer(handler_instance)
     thread_server = Thread(target=grpc_server.start, daemon=True, name="GRPC Server")
     daemon.start()
     thread_server.start()