Over the past decade, advances in cloud technologies and big data created room for more data scientists in business. At first, specialists seemed like the proper solution — give the best data scientists access, and let them tell the rest of us how to use it.
Unfortunately, funneling data through a few individuals creates overdependence on already overworked specialists and prevents the rest of the company from using the data as effectively as possible. The data scientists might be able to understand the data better than anyone else, but there will never be enough data scientists to go around.
Spread the Data Around
Asking data scientists to act as intermediaries between your other employees and needed information bottlenecks their creative exploration, and it makes average business users wait longer than necessary for answers. As data analytics spending increases, companies need to make the most of the information they already have.
Think of data as a buffet: If you let only three people eat from the buffet and give everyone else ham sandwiches, you’re not making the most of your resources. You want everyone to eat from the buffet — the food is more useful, a bigger variety is consumed, and everyone gets exactly what he needs.
In a perfect solution, users can access the data they need to be more efficient, while data scientists enjoy the freedom to address more complex functions. Following these three simple steps will help everyone in your business use data to its full potential.
1. Add a Push Intelligence Layer
Push intelligence uncovers anomalies in data and alerts users when necessary. If something in your company’s data is changing, you want the right employee to know what it is and what action to take without having to sift through complex piles of data to find out.
2. Educate Employees
The more information employees have to keep in mind when working, the more complex their jobs become. Your employees need to understand the importance of using data effectively and being part of a data-driven business.
3. Use the Right Tools
Look for vendors and tools that can help your business digest data and present it to the company in a shareable, understandable format. The best business intelligence software marries modern BI functions with social aspects to engage employees.
The more efficient your use of data, the better collaboration you will see among team members as everyone gets access to information in real time and makes educated decisions as a cohesive unit.
Your software needs to support everyone in your company, not just a small percentage of specialists.