Five steps to becoming a data-driven business using technology

GUEST OPINION: Every organisation and industry are transforming. They are striving to move faster, become smarter with data and innovate more with technology. In 2022, businesses are acutely aware that digital transformation is a must-do. As organisations navigate this journey, they manage increasingly complex data and tasks. And while data is considered critical for any efficient operation, it also has the potential to become the number one barrier to transformation.

According to the recent Breakthrough study led by Dell Technologies, 61% of Australian respondents believe the opportunity to become a data-driven business will pass them by. Another way to put this is that at every business conference, there is a chance more than half of the attendees are worried about data.

Going deeper, 39% of respondents believe their people won’t be able to keep up with technological change. It is an interesting paradox. While technology is an enabler to human potential, the number of solutions and settings to navigate can overwhelm workers with too many choices. However, the path out of the data labyrinth is often a mix of the right set of tools with a human perspective.

Here are five steps to help navigate digital transformation in your business:

1. Have a clear shared vision of how digital transformation can help you realise your business goals.
Every IT problem starts with a business problem. Before laying down the foundation for dealing with your data, consider the challenges you are trying to solve as a company. Once you have that vision, you can articulate the right technology solution and partner with the IT experts on your team to build a plan. You don’t have to create an aggressive timeline. A phased approach accounts for your most important asset—your people. Give them enough time to understand the strategy and align with it.

2. Invest in appropriate edge and as-a-Service strategies that can scale.
As-a-Service experiences ease or eliminate your team’s infrastructure management burden. With a flexible IT consumption model, you can operate with agility. But you can also control and scale your environment, adapting to different dynamics. And then there is an opportunity at the edge—where you can act on data near its point of creation to generate. With real-time data analysis, you can work faster and reduce the costs associated with sending large amounts of data to a central location. This is especially true in industries like retail, healthcare, and even public transportation.

3. Automate mundane tasks.
The research shows that people would be willing to partner more with technology if the personal benefits are clear. In fact, 69% of respondents would look forward to having more time to
develop their skills and elevate their roles. By automating work, people are available to focus on what inspires them and on uncovering business opportunities. The curiosity mindset is a valuable skill for data analytics. And once your teams have enough time to look at the data with a strategic approach, you start to pave the way for insights-driven decisions.

4. Start with small-scale pilots.
The sandbox environment is perfect for the test-and-learn method. People feel safe, and you have control over the impact. It is one of the best tactics to gain insights from analytics while stimulating people to adopt and publicise the successes. At this point, you go back to the number one step in this framework. Look at the initial business problem. Combine your newly added technology with your team’s recent gains in time to generate a positive outcome. Then assess your pilot, replicate and scale.

5. Provide adequate coaching, mentoring, and reassurance.
Real breakthrough happens at the intersection of people and technology. Thus, it is paramount to recognise that while consumption-based IT models provide the necessary breathing room to your teams, you must deploy them in ways that are sensitive to human behaviour. Make sure that everyone is accessing the necessary tools and has enough training and resources to use them to their fullest. Communicate and establish a platform to contribute ideas and be heard. Lack of communication is one of the areas where respondents say their teams struggle the most.

Technology plays a role in unlocking a company culture shift toward data-driven decisions. Once you enhance human capabilities with automation and consumption-based IT, you create new opportunities and experiences that excite your team. Then you can elevate their productivity to new heights and ensure they find purpose while delivering exceptional outcomes.

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