People in various departments can’t get the reporting that they need

As a CEO, you know you need data to help create efficient operations and logistics. However, like most companies, you are having trouble transforming your data into action. Focus on this problem becomes real when you hear your department heads lamenting about not getting the information and insights they need. Having access to analytics and information is vital to the growth of your business. Without access, you can not make insightful business decisions and you may miss information needed to help prevent you from starting unprofitable projects.

Why Your Departments Aren’t Getting the Information and Reporting They Need

Your company collects a lot of data, so you know you have the technology to gather it.

NewVantage Partners published a survey this year detailing why companies are failing with their efforts to become more data-driven. In the survey, 93% of participating C-suite respondents said that technology was not the hindrance. They said that people and processes were their biggest stumbling blocks.

In support of those respondents, Forbes reported that data scientists spend 80% of their time cleaning up messy data. Time spent doing clean up work slows down the process of getting reports to your department heads, and can frustrate data scientists looking to produce insights.

Lacking the right tools also contributes to slow access to data. A Forbes Insights/Dun & Bradstreet survey found that 29% of surveyed companies rely on spreadsheets for their data work.

With so much data available, it might be hard for you to find clarity of where to start in fixing your data reporting problem. Many large early-adopter companies are able to leverage analytics because they have in place a clear data-driven strategy from the start. This strategy lets them utilize their data in a timely manner. These companies are able to take advantage of their analytic insights to forge new business initiatives.

These larger leading-edge companies also have quality data scientists that allow them to address the data problems that pop up. Yet, many other companies struggle to find the right employees to turn their data into actionable insights. A lack of clarity regarding what skills sets are needed, or ability to expend the costs needed for a full time addition, further delays implementing a data-driven culture and staffing to meet reporting demands.

How Adding to your Team Can Solve Your Analytics and Reporting Problems

Gaining access to the right data analytics talent will give you the ability to get the information and reporting you need. As a result, you can leverage your data to make insightful operational and logistical decisions.

Businesses of all sizes are taking advantage of a freelance workforce as a service strategy. Other organizations are investing in adding to their team on a permanent basis, prioritizing hires based on critical needs. In both situations, understanding the skills, competencies, outcomes and technologies involved is fundamental towards a successful entry into data analytics.

A novel approach is “on-demand” analytics. This strategy affords flexibility to your organization. Having an on-demand analytics talent ready to jump in at a moment’s notice allows you to address analytical needs on an as-needed basis for a specific project or effort you have underway, or to supplement an existing need.

Using an on-demand analytics team will help you:

• Hire talent specific to an opportunity or to meet a new challenge — while using the latest techniques.
• Tap into these new techniques without committing to costly consulting engagements that leave you with little more than a PowerPoint.
• Improve your ability to deliver new data-driven solutions much more quickly.

If you chose to employ this approach, be sure to carefully vet the candidate’s qualifications and true ability. By not being with your company full-time, these sort of specialists need superior skills so they can bring value quickly, not spending all of their time learning or ramping up.

These sorts of engagements are especially valuable when doing research for a new product launch, evaluating a seasonal project, transitioning technologies, in conjunction with a merger/ acquisition (pre- and post-) and similar scenarios where a start and end can be defined.

Chisel Analytics helps you employ the right talent needed to break the barriers to your company’s data. That means all your departments get the insights and reporting that they need. In turn, as the leader, you see the performance of each segment of your operations and supply chain with ease. As a result, you’ll be equipped to make insightful business decisions that will help your company grow.