Does a solid data strategy mean better financial performance?

One of the most important decisions you’ll make as your business continues to grow is how to manage big data. A 2015 study conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit with more than 500 global executives found that well-defined big data strategies directly correlate with strong financial performance. What makes for successful strategic data management? Let’s take a close look.

Many companies today are entering the data adolescence phase. They’ve moved past the initial excitement around the potential applications of big data and are now realizing that it is time to set priorities. These companies typically have a strong focus on the relevance of information and analytics and how these translate into measurable business results.

The key to a solid data strategy is to first identify the value of things that cannot currently be accomplished but are achievable, then specify how reaching these goals would give your business a leg up on competitors. Strategic data managers are not just better at strategy, they are also good at applying nearly all of the relevant data and analytics to real business problems.

There are a few issues that companies face when developing a solid data strategy:

• Collecting and managing large amounts of data
• Ensuring data security and privacy
• Maintaining the quality of the data

Who is in charge of the big data and strategy?

Today’s executives recognize that a solid data strategy is necessary for better financial performance; as such, data has become a top priority and earned a spot in the C-suite. Business and IT now work together to design, prioritize, and carry out big data strategies. We are also seeing the emergence of a new role of Chief Data Officer. These leaders are taking control of engaging the company across organizational boundaries, mediating among different agendas and balancing priorities among big data initiatives.

The future of solid data strategy

Companies are continuing to evolve toward strategic data management. The ability to predict future outcomes based on the data and analytics will help energize the application of data to assist in decision making. Companies will have to keep reinventing themselves and as their business increases exposure to technology, the client value proposition will become increasingly driven by data.

The bottom line is that decisions that are backed by data and analytics often result in greater financial results. Data can offer predictability and facts so that executives can make decisions that will better both themselves and their clients. Companies that have not yet build a data strategy and a strong data management function need to do so or they will fall behind their competitors and could risk losing profits.

Knowing what data is needed and knowing how to apply the data to the business is something that will truly change the game when it comes to a company’s bottom line. A solid data strategy should be central to any and all businesses.

Ryan Nelson

Ryan Nelson is Conservice's SVP & General Manager, ESG. He has over 20 years in enterprise software and management consulting experience, including supply chain software implementation and process optimization for fortune 50 companies. Since 2009, Ryan has been focused on helping companies amplify their ESG impact with technology.

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