Cultivate your ‘data as an asset’ agenda

Nearly every organisation we speak to has battle-hardened stories of data woe. Having faced challenges in capturing, categorising, organising and/or governing their data. Many CDO’s still cite ‘data quality’ as one of their biggest weaknesses and the topic that keeps them up at night.

Forgetting these challenging circumstances, all of a sudden, CTOs, Digital Directors and Heads of Engineering are being asked to resolve these issues urgently to take advantage of rapidly progressing opportunities in artificial intelligence.

Instead of data being a challenging node of quality and fidelity… it needs to shift and shift fast to become ‘a point of differentiation’.

15 years ago the rallying cry was “Data is the new oil”, today business data is still as slippery as the decade-and-a-half-old analogy.

We believe that every organisation that seriously considers its data a business asset will have addressed each of these five areas.

Let’s explore each in turn…

Capitalise on your data’s value

Investments in your data infrastructure, maintenance and management has the potential to deliver incredible returns. However, the decision to invest needs to be made with a clear strategy in mind and target operating model validated and instantiated.

With falling storage and processing costs, the potential of data to drive growth and innovation is massive. However, many organisations still struggle to maximise this potential due to fragmented systems, data governance challenges, and cultural barriers.

When reshaping business models and operational modalities, there needs to be a North Star in place, a process for value measurement in place and benchmarks set for impact.  As data becomes a foundation for decision-making, risk modelling, customer insights and operational excellence, the chances are the business will change with it, so people and process are going to get a light shone on them!

Clarify Data Accountabilities

The growing importance of data has – in many cases – prompted organisations to redefine data leadership roles and data governance. 

The introduction of positions like Chief Data Officer (CDO) emphasises managing the value chain of data as a strategic resource alongside a range of new business structures, which would have been unthinkable 15 years ago.

Clear responsibilities, accountabilities and collaboration across leadership groups are critical for aligning data strategies with business objectives, minimising internal conflicts, and ensuring effective use of data for growth and innovation.

We have met many business leaders who depend on adjacent siloed teams for the data that drives their ability to be effective. So, org charts are much more important than you’d think.

Embed Data Fluency

Data fluency across all levels of an organisation is essential for leveraging data effectively. The rise of “citizen developers” – employees who combine business and technical acumen – highlights the importance of democratising data tools and education. 

Modern business professionals need to be data literate, of course data is a deep specialism, but it is also the lifeblood of good decision making. If your teams are still making decisions based on subjectivity and gut-feel, then the complex system that those decisions are occurring in, may well be impacted.

Training programs, accessible platforms, and collaborative environments help organisations foster a data-literate culture that supports agile decision-making and innovation.

Data fluency is a future state complimentary skillset that can’t be undervalued.

Move Data Curation into the Business

Data curation, traditionally handled by technical professionals, needs to start  transitioning into your core business functions. This shift enables organisations to respond faster to market demands. Tools like internal data marketplaces and signals repositories simplify access to curated datasets, empowering business users to derive actionable insights. 

This shift does require careful attention to detail when it comes to data privacy and protection, but it is a game changer. 

By designing and developing solutions with user-centric designs and simple UX you will make curated data easier to access and simpler to leverage.

Reimagine the Data Supply Chain

The traditional, linear data supply chain is being replaced by a dynamic, accessible framework powered by technologies like microservices, data virtualisation, and AI, so why fight the tide?

The aim of a frictionless data supply chain emphasises seamless access, real-time processing and the integration of advanced tools to drive value. 

Automation and AI play a significant role in enhancing data governance and management, reducing manual effort, and adapting to rapid business changes, so by reimaging the data supply chain, you are creating pipelines to business value.

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In conclusion, cultivating your data as an asset agenda is no longer a luxury but a necessity in today’s data-driven world.

Organisations that recognise and harness the true value of their data will unlock opportunities to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge. This shift requires not only the right tools and technologies but also a cultural change within your business.

Our teams have recently worked with a client to reimagine their data environments. Taking structured and unstructured data in order to support business analysis and data science. The solution was built using a mixture of Azure SaaS and PaaS products with extensive usage of Azure object storage services, service bus and queuing products, structured and unstructured data storage, cloud containerisation platforms, and machine learning products.

As we move through 2025, now is the time to focus your data priorities for future success. Reach out to our team of industry experts today to discuss your data ambitions.