Data needs to be used better to generate business insights, and the Channel lacks the quality of information needed to do that.
Number crunchers from data analytics specialist insightsoftware said that the channel was dealing with a gap that many still have to bridge to reach “data fluency”.
If they ever get there, insightsoftware claims, customers could understand the information they have and garner insights from it that would help in the decision-making process.
The Channel was not getting a complete picture of their data, inconsistent records and issues around accuracy, the research revealed.
Many also felt that their existing analytical tools were too complex and a lack of training undermined them further. The research also made it clear that users were looking for tools to be easier, with many saying they were looking for more intuitive offerings that would help with “enhancing custom reports”.
Monica Boydston, vice-president, product management at insightsoftware said: “As workforces shift to hybrid environments, businesses will continue to adopt cloud technology and as-a-service solutions. When these new solutions operate in tandem with legacy systems, the result is a large pool of data from multiple sources – ‘polluted’ data that requires cleaning.”
She added that there were tools the channel could employ that would help users improve their position and get into a situation where they could unlock more insights from their data.
“The growing recognition of the value of data fluency within organisations is positive, but also puts pressure and creates expectations across all departments”, said Boydston.
“Employees need to be properly trained, be able to piece different data concepts together, and possess soft skills to communicate that widely across departments. Quality of data, however, remains the most critical concern.”
