Blog Post
Data fundamentals – why good data is the essential precursor to effective AI
Do You Trust Your Data? – that is the question. Whether you’re thinking of “doing something” with AI or you just want faster, better reports – this is the question you need to address.
Do You Trust Your Data?
Whether you’re thinking of “doing something” with AI or you just want faster, better reports – this is the question you need to address.
In the modern data world where there’s a lot of pressure to deliver sophisticated AI solutions (which sit on top of your existing Business Intelligence), we need to look at the quality of the data that’s feeding them or you’ll run into trouble.
Organisations around the world have been attracted by the benefits promised by AI yet many are struggling to implement it in a way that delivers useful results, like improved performance and faster ROI.
There is no doubt that some truly amazing work has already been done, and many businesses now benefit from rapid insights extracted from huge volumes of data that might have previously been missed. But there are also a growing number of organisations that have invested heavily only to discover security weaknesses and data quality issues, which resulted in untrustworthy or unreliable outputs. Who knew AI would have this uncanny ability to uncover security and data quality weaknesses so fast!
Not surprisingly some businesses who have had their fingers burned now approach advanced data analytics and AI with a measure of caution and fear. Started projects stall while others don’t get off the ground.
But the thing is, your need for effective reporting and analytics doesn’t go away and the longer you leave it the further behind you get. A modern data platform can become a legacy system before you know it, and the cycle is getting faster.
So, we need to keep moving, even if it is slowly. The good news is that you don’t have to do everything at once. There is no need to migrate all your systems into a modern data platform in one go, but if you want to use AI you do have to get your data basics right.
The fundamentals remain the same whether you’re sticking with traditional reporting, upgrading to modern BI or going all out with a sophisticated AI solution. It comes down to having a solid Single Source of Truth for your data accompanied by good governance guardrails.
So, if you’re taking time out while you think about which data platform to choose or pausing while you consider where abouts to introduce AI, we advise keeping up to date with your central data hub. However you plan to use your data in the future, security and quality remain key.
Stuck on pause? Answer these quick questions to help you move on…
Which of the following are relevant to you?
- Have you been procrastinating over how to embrace the latest data platforms and data analytics technologies?
- Are you concerned that your original Data Strategy might not be fit for a world where we now have not only Business Intelligence, but Artificial Intelligence and Decision Intelligence as well?
- Are you concerned about making critical decisions based on data which might be flawed, outdated or unverified?
- Is data security an issue for you?
- Do you worry about starting from scratch with a new system? Would you like to find out how your current systems might integrate into new data ecosystems, like Microsoft Fabric?
Don't let these questions prevent you from making a start or continuing onwards with your data journey. Go back to data basics and ask these 3 questions.
- Have you got a high-quality single source of truth data repository? If not how can you get one?
- Have you considered the benefits of a modern Lakehouse using medallion architecture for building or enhancing your central data hub? Things have moved on from the more rigid and structured Data Warehouse (but that is not to say the data warehouse is dead – it could still be useful in some circumstances)
- Do you have a data governance and security compliance strategy to ensure that wherever your data goes it will be safe and accurate?
These are your data fundamentals, your three basic pillars of truth
Get these right and you can take advantage of all that AI has to offer. These secure foundations will allow you to break through the hesitation that has stopped so many businesses in their tracks and allow you to start making real progress.
In addition we urge you to bear these points in mind…
- Your Data is still your most important asset
- Data Engineers and stakeholders are still vital to your success
- Data Governance is key
Whether it’s Business Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence or Decision Intelligence you’re working on, they all require quality a trustworthy single source of truth and robust guardrails to protect them.
If you want to get your data projects moving again, focus on the data hub that feeds the rest. At PTR we specialise in helping organisations get the best out of their data and offer impartial advice and guidance. We can help with data platform choices as well as building robust data strategy and deploying tailored solutions to ensure the integration and interoperability of all your source systems with your data platform of choice.
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