A data discovery workshop is the first step on your journey to becoming a data-driven business.
In our experience, the internal perception of a company’s data ecosystem often differs significantly from reality. But unless you have a clear, unbiased view of your current tools and processes, your digital transformation efforts are doomed to fail.
Working with a specialist consultant provides the outside perspective you need. Their opinions are free from preconceptions. And this enables them to help you identify your biggest challenges, define your goals, and show you how investing in the right solutions can help you unlock the value in your data.
Keep reading to discover what you can expect from a typical N-ZYTE data discovery workshop.
The 4 key features of a data discovery workshop
At its core, a data discovery workshop is a fact-finding exercise.
Over the course of one or multiple sessions, we engage with stakeholders from across your business to understand your challenges and requirements. We then use this information to build a bespoke digital transformation strategy that outlines the tools, infrastructure, processes, and support you need to achieve your goals.
Our data discovery workshops comprise:
- A thorough technology analysis
- Process reviews
- Stakeholder consultations
- Advice and guidance
1. Technology analysis
Before we can advise on the tools and infrastructure you need to underpin your digital transformation, we conduct a thorough analysis of your current tech stack. Our analysis covers everything from your data sources and storage solutions to your reporting and business intelligence (BI) tools.
What’s the most popular BI tool?
Gartner lists these 5 BI tools among the most reliable and accessible on the market:
- Microsoft Power BI
- Tableau
- Qliksense
- Sisense
- SAP
2. Process review
Data analysis relies just as much on people and processes as it does BI tools and technology. As part of our data discovery workshops, we take a closer look at how you gather, store, organise, and process your data – along with any process documentation and training you provide.
Are you losing revenue?
The Data Management Association (DAMA) estimates that organisations spend 10-30% of their revenue handling data quality issues.
3. Stakeholder consultations
To understand how you use data now, we need to see what things look like from the trenches. And the best way to do that is to spend time with key stakeholders from across your business. Our in-depth consultations help us identify your biggest challenges, bottlenecks, requirements, and goals. This information forms the foundation of your personalised data strategy.
Does your business have a digital strategy?
81% of businesses don’t have an effective data strategy, according to Accenture.
4. Advice and guidance
Data discovery workshops are only valuable if they provide actionable insights. We provide you with a list of recommendations that shows you where to focus your efforts and investment over the short, mid, and long term.
What's important to your business?
Digital transformation was the #1 priority for 77% of CIOs and IT leaders in 2021.
Outcomes and benefits
At the end of your final workshop, you’ll receive a personalised data discovery report that contains:
- A data ecosystem map. Breaks down your data sources by department. This helps you understand how much data you have and where it comes from.
- Quick wins. Outlines the areas where the smallest investments can provide the biggest gains.
- Risk observations. Where your biggest threats are and how to avoid them. Single points of failure in your team, for example.
- Recommended future state. The infrastructure and tools we recommend to improve data management and analysis in your business.
- Cost breakdown. How much you currently spend on data management and analytics.
- Potential ROI. The return on investment you can achieve by becoming more data-driven. For example, how much you can save each year if you automate reporting.
The information contained in the report offers a high-level view of your data ecosystem and the potential value of your business insights. This gives you a strong business case you can present to the board to get executive buy-in.
Additionally, the report serves as a comprehensive roadmap for your entire digital transformation project. It includes key milestones that allow you to easily monitor progress towards your goals, share updates, and measure project value.
Change doesn't have to be intimidating
We know how daunting it can be to embark on a digital transformation. If you’re used to doing things a certain way, even the smallest change can be overwhelming.
A data discovery workshop helps you get things off to the best possible start. Working together, we outline the steps you must take to transform data from a by-product into a strategic asset that fuels business growth and drives innovation.
