Event round-up: Being data driven in 2022 | Data Strategies Series

On 4 October 2022, techUK kicked-off its new Data Strategies Series with a webinar bringing together industry leaders to explore the tools and strategies businesses are using to unlock the value of data and deliver better products and services to customers.

The panel included:

• Yauheniya Tyler, Founder & CEO, Uptitude
• Fabio Ardossi, Partner, Reply
• Shaun McGirr, RVP of AI Strategy - EMEA, Dataiku
• Carlos Gutierrez, Director for ADM Solutions - EMEA, Micro Focus
• Sue Daley, Director for Tech & Innovation, techUK (Chair)

You can watch the full webinar here, or read our summary of the key insights below:

Please note that the below is a summary of the event, and readers are encouraged to watch the webinar to understand the full details of the discussion.

Sue opened the session with a conversation about how data strategies and data technologies are evolving and what organisations need to consider to be data driven in 2022.

The panel agreed that many organisations are undergoing a transition from crisis response during the pandemic to thinking more about their long-term data strategies and how they can integrate and scale the right solutions.

Yauheniya cautioned against top-down digital transformation and argued that organisations should empower those who collect and work with data at all levels across the business.

“Don’t implement AI just for the sake of implementing AI - that is a top-down approach, and you will waste time and find you don’t have the data, the structure, or the people - data strategies should start with your core business outcomes.” - Fabio Ardossi, Reply

The conversation moved to the skills shortage across the industry and ways to apply both technical “hard skills” capabilities and more creative or business focused skills.

Breaking down barriers

The discussion moved to the issue of data silos and the difference between companies born before the internet or after the internet.

Shaun pointed out that many digital native companies have a head start, but they can still face the same data silos and barriers to implementing analytics tools if they have lots of digitised data that is still low quality and poorly managed.

Carlos argued that the proliferation of data ‘solutions’ available across the industry can be a challenge for customers if they lack a strategic approach and a holistic view of how teams within their business are implementing different solutions.

The panel agreed that a successful data strategy must be built on connecting tech solutions to the broader business value.

Sue Daley

Director, Technology and Innovation

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Sue Daley

Director, Technology and Innovation

Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work.

This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame. A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK Sue is co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards.

Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel.

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

020 7331 2055

Twitter:

@ChannelSwimSue,@ChannelSwimSue