Subscribe to the Teradata Blog

Get the latest industry news, technology trends, and data science insights each week.



I consent that Teradata Corporation, as provider of this website, may occasionally send me Teradata Marketing Communications emails with information regarding products, data analytics, and event and webinar invitations. I understand that I may unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email I receive.

Your privacy is important. Your personal information will be collected, stored, and processed in accordance with the Teradata Global Privacy Policy.

Analytic Insights Remain Trapped in Complexity and Bottlenecks

Analytic Insights Remain Trapped in Complexity and Bottlenecks
Today, Teradata released the results of a global survey of some of the largest companies in the world that found business and IT decision-makers are increasingly frustrated by the complexity, bottlenecks and uncertainty of today’s enterprise analytics.
 
The survey was conducted by independent technology market research firm Vanson Bourne. It found significant roadblocks for enterprises looking to use intelligence across the organization. Many senior leaders agree that, while they are buying analytics, those investments aren’t necessarily resulting in the answers they are seeking.

They cited three foundational challenges to making analytics more pervasive in their organization:

Analytics technology is too complex: Just under three quarters (74 percent) of senior leaders said their organization’s analytics technology is complex, with 42 percent of those saying analytics is not easy for their employees to use and understand.

Users don’t have access to all the data they need: 79 percent of respondents said they need access to more company data to do their job effectively.

Unicorn” data scientists are a bottleneck: Only 25 percent said that, within their global enterprise, business decision-makers have the skills to access and use intelligence from analytics without the need for data scientists. 

What does this all mean?
blog1.png
The largest and most well-known companies in the world have collectively invested billions of dollars in analytics, but all that time and money spent has been met with mediocre results. Companies want pervasive data intelligence, encompassing all the data, all the time, to find answers to their toughest challenges. They are not achieving this today, thus the frustration with analytics is palpable.

Overly Complex Analytics Technology

The explosion of technologies for collecting, storing and analyzing data in recent years has added a significant level of often paralyzing complexity. The primary reason, cited in the survey, is that generally technology vendors don’t spend enough time making their products easy for all employees to use and understand; this problem is further exacerbated by the recent surge and adoption of open source tools.
  • About three quarters (74 percent) of respondents whose organization currently invests in analytics said that the analytics technology is complex.Nearly one out of three (31 percent) say that not being able to use analytics across the whole business is a negative impact of this complexity.
  • Nearly half (46 percent) say that analytics isn’t really driving the business because there are too many questions and not enough answers.
  • Over half (53 percent) agree that their organization is actually overburdened by the complexity of analytics.
  • One of the main drivers of this complexity is that the technology isn’t easy for all employees to use/understand (42 percent). 

blog-2.png
Limited Access to Data

The survey further found that users need access to more data to do their jobs effectively. Decision-makers and users understand that more data often leads to better decisions, but too often, a lack of access to all the necessary data is a significant limiting factor for analytics success. According to the survey, decision-makers are missing nearly a third of the information they need to make informed decisions, on average – an unacceptable gap that can mean the difference between market leadership and failure. 
  • 79 percent of senior leaders said they need access to more company data to do their job effectively.
    • On average, respondents said they are missing nearly a third (28 percent) of the data they need to do their job effectively.
  • 81 percent agree that they would like analytics to be more pervasive in their organization.
  • More than half (54 percent) of respondents said their organization’s IT department is using analytics, compared to under a quarter (23 percent) who said that C-suite and board level are doing so.

blog-3.png
Not Enough Data Scientists

Finally, “unicorn” data scientists remain a bottleneck, preventing pervasive intelligence across the organization. Respondents see this as an issue and connect the problem to the challenge of using complex technologies. To combat it, the vast majority say that they are investing, or plan to invest, in easier-to-use technology, as well as in training to enhance the skills of users. 

  • Only 25 percent of companies said their business decision-makers have the skills to access and use intelligence from analytics without the need for data scientists.
  • Nearly two thirds (63 percent) of respondents from organizations that currently invest in analytics agreed that it is difficult for non-analytics workers to consume analytics within their organization.
  • In 75 percent of respondents’ companies, data scientists are needed to help business decision-makers extract intelligence from analytics.
  • To reduce this over-reliance on data scientists, 94 percent of respondents’ businesses where data scientists are currently needed are investing, or plan to invest, in training to enhance the skills of users; while 91 percent are investing, or plan to invest, in easier-to-use technology.
blog-4.png

The survey findings suggest success can only come by reimagining analytics as a driver of pervasive data intelligence throughout the organization. In other words, genuine and actionable intelligence can only come with platforms that provide all the data, all the time, to people anywhere in the organization.  Survey participants seem to be getting the message: More than 90 percent are investing or planning to invest in easier-to-use technology and more training to enhance the skills of users. 

About the survey:
The global survey was conducted in August and September 2018 among 260 senior business and IT decision makers in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. Respondents’ organizations had 1,000 employees or more, were from any public or private sector, and had a global annual revenue of $250 million or more (with 69 percent of respondents from companies with at least $1B in global annual revenue). Interviews were conducted online or via telephone using a rigorous multi-level screening process to ensure that only suitable candidates were given the opportunity to participate.
Portrait of Martyn Etherington

(Author):
Martyn Etherington

Martyn Etherington is former Chief Marketing Officer for Teradata, and member of the Executive Leadership Team. Responsible for all aspects of Teradata’s corporate marketing strategy globally, as well as brand and digital programs, Martyn focuses on the creation, delivery, and follow-through of the company’s strategic marketing goals, strengthening its brand and enriching its customers’ experiences.

Martyn has a distinguished track record of driving top-line results, growing market share, improving customer experience, and enhancing brands. Before joining Teradata, Martyn was Chief Marketing Officer at Cisco Jasper, a global market leader for IoT connectivity management. Prior to this role, Martyn served as Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief of Staff for Mitel, where he was responsible for driving global marketing.

Martyn has been recognized by The Economist as one of the Top 25 Social Business Leaders, by Forbes as one of the Top 50 marketers, BtoB Magazine as one of the World's Best Marketers, and The Internationalist as one of the top international marketers.

Martyn earned a national diploma in computer science from Northbrook College, United Kingdom, and served as the chair of the School of Business Advisory Board at Portland State University.

View all posts by Martyn Etherington

Turn your complex data and analytics into answers with Teradata Vantage.

Contact us