Most businesses are transforming their focus and continuing to incorporate advanced data and analytical systems. Analytics has been proven to not only add value to business performance, as well as increase profits but also generates a number of other opportunities. Yet, many companies are struggling to take full advantage of the benefits of data and analytics. There are several challenges that businesses need to address before they can really utilise the benefits of data and analytics.

For one, data continues to be spread across multiple systems and sourcing and data management continue to be performed manually. Data industry experts are relatively scarce, yet the availability of data and information, along with security regulations are continuing to rise. In order to become more reliant on information and access the insights provided by data today mean businesses need to address these challenges and understand the real potential of analytics.

Creating a data plan for your business

Businesses need to ensure they maintain a clear strategy that connects with business goals. Any data or analytics projects need to clearly identify their value and show how this corresponds with overall business objectives. Investing further into innovative technologies such as AI and Machine Learning can support automation of some processes, reducing time spent on data management.

Delivering data in company culture

Creating a data-driven culture is vital to determine your business from other companies. Incorporating data into company culture is critical to ensure people connect decision making with data and information. This process requires effective communication of data strategies across all teams and departments within a business.  In order to progress and be an agile business, company culture needs to incorporate data and innovation and exactly how data and analytics are tools for your business.

As more businesses transform towards data, data professionals need to really emphasise the value. Incorporating new data tools and aligning these with business strategy will enable data leaders to highlight the potential benefits and investment returns that many business leaders are looking to see.