When we speak of “data democratization,” we refer to making data accessible to all employees within an organization, regardless of their hierarchical level or role.
Traditionally, data access was limited to certain departments, such as data analysis, creating information silos and restricting the ability to make data-driven decisions. However, democratization aims to ensure that anyone within the organization can access, interpret, and effectively use data.
Seizing opportunities and staying ahead of changes are essential aspects for any company. Alongside this, organizations should always be engaged in continuous improvement processes to ensure they evolve in line with the market and their own needs. But what exactly does data democratization entail, and why is it so crucial in today’s business world?
This is where data and information management are essential in order to be more resilient and predictable.
What does this mean? It’s quite simple, and we can even refer to the famous phrase: “information is power.” In the business world, information is becoming increasingly important as it enables us to analyze a multitude of areas: market, competition, trends, improvements, and more.
In this context, the IT sector is striving harder than ever to make data as accessible as possible to companies.
The Awakening of Data Democratization
Several years ago, there were no “easy” methods to extract valuable insights from data. Instead, obtaining information required lengthy manual processes of extraction, transformation, and loading of data. This resulted in a high cost for companies seeking to exploit stored information and required highly specialized personnel to carry out these tasks.
If we add to this a corporate culture lacking transparency, we find a perfect recipe for realizing that this model had to change sooner rather than later.
This is how some companies began to “wake up” from this slumber and recognize the benefits of having information readily accessible to everyone within the organization. By doing so, all members can use it to act more swiftly, effectively, and predictively when it comes to achieving set goals.
The first step for a company to create a roadmap that achieves its objectives and becomes a data-driven entity is to assess its current level of maturity regarding the use and exploitation of data.
At Keepler, we have designed our own methodology, which combines specific variables (attitude – aptitude) that, in many cases, represent the first step in a data strategy.
Keepler Data Maturity Formula Variables
The Current State of Data Democratization
With advancements in technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, data access and interpretation will become even more accessible to all employees. This has paved the way for new decentralized data management models, such as Data Mesh, which reinforce this democratizing trend.
Steps to Democratize Data:
- Foster a data-oriented culture.
- Implement self-service tools to facilitate data access.
- Provide training in data literacy.
- Ensure data standardization and quality.
- Create a centralized data infrastructure and promote interdepartmental collaboration.
Benefits:
- Improved informed decision-making.
- Greater agility and operational efficiency.
- Boost to innovation.
- Enhanced customer experience.
- Reduction of information silos.
Challenges:
- Training employees in data usage.
- Maintaining appropriate governance and security.
- Avoiding information overload.
- Overcoming cultural resistance to change.
- Investing in infrastructure and ensuring data quality.
Data democratization is not just a trend but a necessity in today’s business environment. By empowering employees with access to relevant data and analytical tools, organizations can significantly enhance their capacity for innovation, adaptability, and decision-making, thereby ensuring their long-term success and competitiveness.
Photo by Freepick
Scrum Master en Keepler. "My experience has been created in the software development environment and I currently help Agile teams to successfully achieve their goals. I am very outgoing and dynamic, and I enjoy both new challenges and delving into known issues."
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