A new report says that three quarters of business leaders have anxiety about data.
Fuelling Growth in an Age of Data has been published by AND Digital and includes a survey of 551 business decision makers across the UK.
Among the findings are:
- 73% of respondents experienced anxiety over challenges relating to data;
- 68% say they need greater data skills across their company to improve business growth;
- 24% believe lack of in-house skills is a major barrier to data-led success.
- 22% regularly worried when it comes to their company’s ability to collect, process and analyse data effectively to support business operations, decision making and growth.
- 68% said there was a need for greater data skills to help improve their business’ growth;
- 24% added that a lack of in-house skills is holding their data aspirations back.
AND Digital has offices, or “clubs” across the country, with its new Manchester operation headed up by Rick Boyce:
“In times of great uncertainty, it’s actually the ability to quickly codify business opportunities and processes into software and data that has supported many businesses in making the pivotal decisions that will shape their fortunes for many years to come,” he said.
“However, as well as the importance of data, the report also reminds us of the important role that people continue to play in an increasingly data driven economy – after all, technology alone can only take us so far. In an age where growth will be fuelled by the effective understanding, use and application of data, it’s vital that businesses do everything they can now to nurture and invest in a talent strategy, placing data at the heart of business operations and opportunities.”
74% of respondents to the survey in Manchester said that they did have a data strategy in place, with 72% agreeing that the use of data was “at the core of their organisation’s business operations.”
