Build the Foundation to Digital Transformation through Big Data Enablement

Editor's Note: Take a look at our featured best practice, Six Building Blocks of Digital Transformation (35-slide PowerPoint presentation). Digital Transformation touches practically every function in the entire organization. This thus requires an unprecedented amount of coordination among people, process, and technologies throughout the organization, leading to a difficult Transformation program. The Six Building Blocks of [read more]

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The Digital Age is also the Age of Data. During Davos 2020, renown historian and futurist Yuval Harari once again emphasized us of the importance and potential power of data.

In fact, he envisioned a future where there where 2 classes of people–the wealthy elites who controlled data and the exploited “data colonies.” Data, he felt, would become so important, it will become the source of power. With enough data, he warned, countries no longer need to send soldiers to conquer others.

But, we may be getting ahead of ourselves! The point is–data is important. The fundamental way organizations can leverage data now is through the enablement of  Big Data technologies.

Today, the leadership of every organization recognizes the benefits of Big Data. What they do not realize are the measures they need to take to harness its full potential. Big Data has transformed the way data is obtained, examined, saved, and utilized.

Now instead of having discrete systems for individual departments, organizations can create one system performing diverse functions. To employ Big Data, firms will have to rethink:

1. The way information is retrieved and stored.
2. Adoption of new capabilities, tools, collaborations, organizational changes, and outlook.

Organizations that are able to rethink and pursue innovative new approaches to utilize Big Data will leapfrog ahead of competition. In order to achieve this, we must first understand the 3 core components of Big Data (depicted below).

Each of these 3 core components lends itself to 2 foundational capabilities. Let’s look at each component.

1. Data Usage

Through data usage, we identify new opportunities and build trust with customers (by utilizing data transparently and responsibly).

• Opportunities – Build a culture of innovation and experimentation.
• Trust – Establish trust among consumers to enable broad use of their data.

2. Data Engine

The Data Engine refers to how we deploy technology infrastructure and structure our organization. As with any technology deployment, the technology and our business processes must be seamlessly integrated to maximize its productive usage.

• Platform – Leverage flexible, scalable, and efficient data systems.
• Organization – Develop capabilities to implement and leverage relevant data applications.

3. Data Ecosystem

The Data Ecosystem captures how we participate in a Big Data ecosystem and make relationships/partnerships work.

• Participation – Identify strategic partners that can help unlock new economic opportunities.
• Relationships – Create an open culture to support partnering and the sharing of data.

By fully examining and leveraging these 6 capabilities, we can develop a Data Strategy that propels us ahead of the competition. Our data infrastructure and usage can become a source of Competitive Advantage. It can also provide a foundation to an overarching Digital Transformation Strategy that allows us to pursue new business models, product offerings, and markets (potential Blue Oceans).

Interested in diving much deeper into each of these 6 capabilities? Take a look at our framework on the Big Data Enablement Framework.

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Want to Achieve Excellence in Digital Transformation?

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Digital Transformation is being embraced by organizations of all sizes across most industries. In the Digital Age today, technology creates new opportunities and fundamentally transforms businesses in all aspects—operations, business models, strategies. It not only enables the business, but also drives its growth and can be a source of Competitive Advantage.

For many industries, COVID-19 has accelerated the timeline for Digital Transformation Programs by multiple years. Digital Transformation has become a necessity. Now, to survive in the Low Touch Economy—characterized by social distancing and a minimization of in-person activities—organizations must go digital. This includes offering digital solutions for both employees (e.g. Remote Work, Virtual Teams, Enterprise Cloud, etc.) and customers (e.g. E-commerce, Social Media, Mobile Apps, etc.).

Learn about our Digital Transformation Best Practice Frameworks here.