BrazilThree steps to building a data-enabled organization
As part of their ambition to enhance decision-making, a growing number of organizations are adopting data-driven ways of working. David Quider, a Director at Devoteam, outlines three critical steps for building a data-enabled operation.
The process of transforming into a data-driven business involves reassessing a company’s operating mode, processes and systems. Meanwhile, enabling a shift in data culture is just important, in order to embed the new ways of working and benefits.
While no two transformation journeys are alike, there are three essential steps every business must follow to successfully shift into a data-enabled organization.
Developing data culture
Data culture simply refers to an organizational culture that prioritizes data-driven decision-making. It involves raising awareness on the importance of data across every facet of the organization to maintain the quality and integrity of data and reduce the potential for human error.
To start developing a data-driven culture, businesses will need to answer a few key questions:
- Is the business treating its data as an asset?
- Are there any associated investments being made to maintain data?
- What is our data management approach and where can we improve?
- What data capabilities do employees possess? Where are skill gaps in different organizational levels?
Maturing data technology
When it comes to building a data-enabled business, it’s important to understand that not all tools are created equal. Businesses must consider their current systems and tools and their capability to provide and maintain high-quality qualitative data, as well as ease of accessibility.
Companies whose current data technology is not meeting their needs should look into elevating their data technology portfolio with advancements such as deep learning, artificial intelligence-based insights, cloud-based data warehouses, data lakes, and collaboration tools.
Defining data strategy and governance
At the end of the day, data should support the business strategy and help solve the key business challenges. To do this, a company’s data strategy must align with business goals, targets, and objectives for both the short and long term.
In terms of governance, businesses should strive to create a framework across the organization that meets business, legal, and regulatory requirements. Effective data governance further involves identifying potential risks related to data and its usage and setting the parameters of data ownership. Together, the data strategy, in alignment with a defined governance framework and risk management plan, forms the foundation of a data-driven business.
