Why people are the key to data-driven transformation

Alan Jacobson, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Alteryx, discusses why people, analytics and automation are key to data-driven transformation

Analytics and automation are absolutely key to successful digital transformation for organisations of all sizes. And with an impending global recession accelerating the need for robust transformation strategies, now is the time to act. The divide between analytically mature and those that aren’t will only become more pronounced in the near future, and organisations that fail to act will get left behind.

What is a workforce’s biggest challenge?

One of the biggest challenges to any successful digital transformation project is turning an existing workforce into highly productive data analytics workers. Focusing on people is essential to success, as is infusing a culture of analytics across the organisation. We recognise the importance of amplifying human intelligence to get the best from data analytics and the focus on human-centred design that makes data analytics accessible to everyone, something which is more important now than ever before.

Humans are incredibly intelligent beings and very analytic in their nature

Humans are incredibly intelligent beings and very analytic in their nature, so we’re reliant on people to unlock the full potential of data. Just having the right technology in place is not enough on its own. While in prehistoric days, humans fashioned tools out of sticks and rocks to solve the problems at hand, the problems we face are far more complex as we are inundated with ever-increasing amounts of data. The good news is that we are constantly developing tools that can help us to tackle these increasingly complex problems.

Empowering your workforce with the right tools is vital. Using a platform with self-service tools that enable employees to automate analytic processes also empowers them to eliminate the manual work that slows down problem-solving. Using this approach, they can get the insights they need most efficiently. This democratisation ensures that anyone can go on the data analytics journey, whatever their level of expertise. The process automation approach enables the rapid and perpetual upskilling of your workforce at scale — an absolute must for successful digital transformation.

What does data-driven transformation really entail?

Contrary to popular belief, upskilling in data and analytics doesn’t necessarily involve learning advanced maths or computer programming. It’s more about teaching people how to frame their questions as modelling problems so that they can solve problems using the data they have. Learning to look at these problems through an analytic lens is the key here. Only then can employees learn how to automate the right analytic processes to get the best insights.

There may be some concern that this automation of processes could lead to jobs being replaced. However, an employee’s job is far more likely to be lost if no action is taken. Instead, opportunities abound if workers can become digitally savvy, as both the public and private sectors are in dire need of these skills. If organisations don’t embrace data-driven transformation and nurture the necessary analytics skills, they’ll be far less competitive and in danger of becoming obsolete. Automation helps employees to harness their creativity and reach their full capacity for productivity.

What approach is best to achieve data-driven transformation?

While some organisations focus on building an elite data science team, others focus on the pure democratisation of analytics across their operation. I find that the most successful approach is a combination of both. Data scientists frequently act as teachers and guides for beginners, and when both camps speak the same language of data analytics, they can be more productive in ways they never could before.

Take, for example, Anthony Nolan, who uses self-service analytics to help save the lives of people with blood cancer. Technology has the potential to transform how organisations like Anthony Nolan operate and ultimately save vital time that could help save a person’s life. The charity has worked to expand its data analytics, AI and predictive modelling capabilities – something that only a few years ago seemed out of reach. Currently, near the end of a five-year data strategy focusing on governance, data management and insight development, Anthony Nolan previously had few data analysts stuck at their desks, not knowing the business very well and vice versa. But with the emergence of a data culture, it now has an all-hands data community centred around 25 people, all beginning to conduct rapid hypothesis testing on unexplored data flows, getting more employees skilled enough to supervise and explain AI effectively. It aims to deliver ethical and innovative data-driven innovations to the transplant centres, stems cell donors and fundraisers who are all part of the charity’s vital mission.

Opening up the world of analytics to the entire workforce is important in enabling any organisation to thrive in the data-driven world. And it’s not just about giving workers the right technological tools. Fostering a culture of analytics also involves participating in the wider community to find out how other companies and public sector bodies have used analytics to solve similar problems. If your organisation’s culture doesn’t embrace this human-centric approach, then it won’t matter what technology and data you have. It’ll be hard to cross the digital divide and remain competitive.

While the economic landscape may be unpredictable in the coming months and years as we prepare for the looming recession, one thing is clear: people are the key to data-driven digital transformation. They should be at the core of any data and analytics strategy. Automation can help your workforce to reach their full potential as they learn to think more analytically. The insights gained from a human-centric approach to analytics help companies stay ahead of the competition. A successful digital transformation journey involves combining technology, data and people. Mix those three ingredients together, and you can do amazing things.

Written by Alan Jacobson, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Alteryx