Data, Analytics & AI. Why Data and Why Now?

In today’s economy, data is everywhere, but value isn’t always present. Businesses generate massive volumes of data, yet many still struggle to understand how to get the best from it and prioritise as you would any other business-critical assets.

To thrive and become data-enabled, organisations must shift their mindset: data isn’t just a by-product of business activity, it is the business. When approached correctly, data becomes a powerful lever for decision-making, innovation, and long-term growth.

Here’s why it matters, and how to get it right.

Why Data is an Asset

Think of your most important assets: people, capital, intellectual property. Data supports each one. It enables smarter hiring, sharper investment strategies, more personalised customer experiences, and better operational resilience.

In short, data is not an IT issue. It’s a board-level concern.

• Informed decision-making: High-quality data fuels better strategy.
• Competitive edge: Organisations that harness their data effectively outperform those that don’t.
• Long-term value: Like financial or physical assets, data appreciates when curated and protected properly.

If you’re not treating data as an asset, you’re already falling behind competitors who are actively using it in day-to-day decisions.

What Data Is an Asset

Not all data is created equal. The true asset lies in high-quality, actionable, and trusted data, the kind that helps you make better decisions, identify new opportunities, and mitigate risks.

Key examples include:

• Customer insights and behaviour patterns
• Operational and supply chain efficiency data
• Employee engagement and workforce analytics
• Financial forecasts and real-time performance metrics
• 
  

It’s not about how much data you have. It’s about how useful it is. Poorly governed, outdated, or siloed data can do more harm than good.

How to Make Data an Asset

Treating data like a strategic asset isn’t just about tech infrastructure, it’s about mindset, governance, and culture. Here’s how to start:

• Ownership and stewardship: Assign clear data ownership across the business, not just in the IT or data teams.
• Governance and quality: Create frameworks to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and relevance of data.
• Data literacy: Upskill leaders and teams so they can confidently use data to inform their decisions.
• Alignment with business goals: Ensure that your data strategy directly supports core business objectives.

When teams understand the value of data, and are empowered to act on it, they start to generate real business outcomes.

Looking Ahead

The most successful organisations of the next decade will be those who treat their data not as exhaust from operations, but as fuel for growth. As AI and automation become more embedded in our systems, the value of well-managed, well-governed data will only grow.

The question isn’t if your business should treat data as an asset. It’s how soon you can start. Please see the link to the original article by Matt Small -  Data as a Strategic Asset: Unlocking Hidden Value Across the Business | Data Value Creation | Data and Analytics Consultancy