Data democratization is the concept of creating a self-serve data layer where business users can access and manipulate data efficiently and effectively. This makes a more agile and flexible way to handle data based on your company's needs rather than being forced to compromise on user experience and data integrity to meet rigid compliance mandates.
While each industry faces its own set of challenges, the journey toward data democratization has universal components that drive the need for data unification across the organization. The vastness of information and its volume is ever-increasing as we continue to generate data from various sources.
What is democratized data?
Data democratization is the process by which business users have self-service access to data from a single source, with no artificial barriers preventing the creation of analysis using all of their data. Business users have this access through a software interface that uses standard conventions and allows for end-to-end use without requiring programming knowledge or assistance, i.e., IT staff.
Why is democratizing data essential for your business?
Increasing the democratization of data is not a simple process. It requires close interaction with all levels of an organization, an understanding of how it will benefit each group, and how it can be made easy to consume.
Data democratization, the diffusion of data as a commodity to all levels of your organization, can transform business operations for the better. As data becomes more portable with cloud solutions, companies can increasingly provide employees with the information they need to take action and make decisions.
Here's how to overcome those obstacles and turn data democratization into a competitive advantage for your company.
Assemble your team
Data democratization is defined as the ability of anyone in an organization, regardless of their location or department, to have access to data and make informed decisions from that data. Sounds straightforward, but it cannot be easy to achieve in an operational environment if the people in your organization aren't set up for success.
Make data-driven a mindset
Data democratization starts with involving people in the decision-making process and ensuring your data is put up for use—before your idea takes shape. Everyone who could profit from data democratization must know and supports its positive, far-reaching implications.
Get ahead of the game in terms of government
Should your business adopt a data governance approach? It depends on the circumstances. Data governance is more than just having a strategy to avoid disruption and platform failure. It's strategic data management that can help you use data to transform the way your business operates. With the right approach, you can make intelligent decisions with your data and turn it into something more than just a priority.
- Secure the strategy
- Identify data disparity
- Maintain strict access controls
Choose the appropriate technology.
The modern analytics platform can be customized to meet almost any size organization's needs, from large corporations with a reliable IT staff to small businesses that rely on external service providers. The data-analysis process is simplified through a combination of tools that support visualizations and machine learning that can help spark new insights and better decisions.
Obtain cloud security
The next generation of business information is stored in the cloud, hosted, and managed by your company. When a company is willing to invest in their infrastructure — not just their apps — they can ensure that all data will be secure and compliant. Access is no longer a challenge for employees in the modern workplace. Companies have taken advantage of this potential benefit to streamline operations, increase efficiency, speed innovation, and stay competitive.
Seek out real-time data
Data can be an essential and valuable asset for a company. A robust data governance plan will help your organization take the best advantage of this resource. A good data governance plan aims to create a roadmap that delivers and secures the maximum value out of shared, reusable corporate data and information. Data governance is not just about controlling data; it's also about optimizing its use.
Set the bar for success
The foundation for success lies in data democratization; everyone within the organization must have access to high-quality, relevant information about the business. Often, senior leadership is not considered a vital influencer of the company's success. This can be due to a lack of understanding or appreciation of how essential data is to business leaders. When senior executives understand the value of data and its critical role in driving business operations, they have lifetime advocates who are immediately enthusiastic when it comes to using data - drawing on their expertise and relationships with other executives and experts.