Data is at the heart of everything , so why is it so hard to articulate its value ? Why do digital transformations focus on collecting more of it , rather than using it more ? And why do we try to categorise data into marketing driven terms such as big data , machine learning , deep learning and artificial intelligence rather than focus on the potential they can unlock ?

Data is indeed at the heart of everything , but its value lies in how it is used . Like past technology evolutions , investing in great technology tools is necessary but not sufficient . Rather it is about embracing a culture that focuses on the intrinsic value of data to improve the organisations and society around us . That ’ s a feat few are achieving .

Last year , MIT CISR surveyed 315 executives to understand how companies generated economic returns from data activities .

• 60 % rated their company as average , or below , at using data to create operational efficiencies .

• 62 % believed their firm was average , below average or unable to integrate analytics into products and experiences .

• 40 % said they weren ’ t even looking at , let alone capable of , generating revenues from selling information solutions .

Many organisations are clearly still struggling to unlock value from their data , and it ’ s this challenge that motivates us at Ignite . Lessons we have learnt have taught us to take a pragmatic , business-centred approach to data . We want to make data the hero and put it at the core of solving problems . The focus is on finding repeatable value and then unlocking it perpetually by implementing decision intelligence at scale .

That ’ s how we have built our relationship with SIMEC Energy Australia . For utilities , the issue isn ’ t convincing anyone of data ’ s value , it ’ s proving how to extract it . Leveraging Databricks for machine learning on a Microsoft Azure platform has given SIMEC a powerful solution . As the organisation has grown , we ’ ve invested together to augment this capability . Though AEMO and market changes mean many utilities have had to rethink and reinvest in their data platforms , SIMEC are well positioned for the future ; poised for data from the Playford Battery , able to adapt to the changing data landscape 5-minute settlements will bring , and able to provide customers the ability to interpret their own data using SIMEC provisioned insights . Using data to improve the communities we live in is at the heart of the partnership investments we make with SIMEC .

“ In partnership with Ignite , we have successfully implemented a number of data-intensive and complex initiatives that have had a very positive impact on SIMEC ’ s growth .”

GM Retail Operations , SIMEC Energy Australia

The Ignite way is simple : understand and communicate data science in terms of business application and value . To determine the size of the prize , we work with your experts to discover how data can streamline day-to-day decisions , improve products and experiences or create revenue streams . This focused collaboration allows us to generate excitement around data and data science techniques early . The analytics pathway assesses the feasibility and impact , creating a genuine path to embedding the outcome . It also gives sponsors confidence that time and money are not being wasted “ just experimenting ” whilst allowing for the exploratory nature of data science .

Our relationships reflect our commitment to improve data literacy across the community . As industry mentors with Monash University we help nurture the analysts of tomorrow . By partnering with us , clients know we ’ ll be doing everything we can to upskill their own talent . For us , a future with amazing analytics platforms , operated and developed by even more amazing people , is one worth pursuing .

www . csomagazine . com