In late 2022, O’Reilly conducted a survey to delve into the concept of “healthy data” and its integration into everyday business practices. One fascinating aspect explored was data democratization, which involves enabling staff members without “data” in their job titles to access and utilize data effectively. In this article, we present the most compelling findings and noteworthy insights that left a lasting impression on our team.
A Lack of Consensus
Healthy data has the power to transform processes, challenge preconceived notions, and expose unfair or discriminatory practices. The survey, however, didn’t yield a one-size-fits-all answer; no resounding “everybody does X” or “nobody does Y.” While this lack of consensus might seem unhealthy at first glance, it indicates an ongoing exploration of data’s role and the diversity of approaches in the field.
Breaking the Data Barriers
Gone are the days when data was exclusively the domain of actuaries, analysts, and database administrators. The walls between staff members and the data they need have been gradually crumbling, but data scientists still hold their specialized positions. Nevertheless, O’Reilly’s survey indicates that companies are making progress in democratizing data access, for example, by allowing Healthcare vendors to onboard data automatically through a no-code interface. This positive shift towards greater accessibility bodes well for the health of data usage.
Opening the Gates to Data
According to the survey, a staggering 26% of respondents revealed that less than 20% of their company’s information workers had access to self-service queries and analytics. Now, that’s a significant chunk (and it topped the charts), but let’s look at the bright side – 74% claimed that more than 20% had access. Among those, 23% mentioned that 41% to 60% of their data workers had self-service capabilities, while 15% boasted 61% to 80%. A daring 16% even declared a resounding 81% to 100%. It seems that companies are grappling with the challenges of self-service data and making strides in the right direction.
Empowerment through Data
Enabling staff to perform their own data queries and analyses leads to increased productivity and engagement. However, this empowerment doesn’t occur magically; people need to be aware of the available data, understand its meaning, and have the ability to build necessary data pipelines. This is where a robust data catalog comes into play. Additionally, adherence to regulations and company policies is crucial, which is where governance steps in. Oh, and let’s not forget about the non-coders among us; they can still revel in the delights of data integration through no-code tools. Although data catalogs, governance tools, and data integration solutions have made some headway, there’s still a long way to go. Technical health lies in empowering users with the tools they need to effectively, ethically, and legally harness the power of data.
The age of healthy data is upon us, ushering in an era of data democratization and empowering individuals across organizations. Companies are gradually embracing the potential of self-service data, allowing staff members to explore and leverage its benefits. As data catalogs, governance tools, and no-code data integration solutions continue to evolve, we can expect a more inclusive and effective data ecosystem.
Read the full article here https://www.oreilly.com/radar/healthy-data/