Most senior IT leaders agree on one thing: becoming more data-driven is no longer optional.
The challenge isn’t understanding why it matters, it’s knowing where to start and how to make progress without overwhelming already stretched teams.
If you’ve ever felt that building a data-driven culture sounds easier in theory than in practice, you’re not alone. Legacy systems, siloed data, competing business priorities and change fatigue can make the journey feel daunting. The good news is that this isn’t a single transformation project, but rather a series of practical, achievable steps over time.
As Pradeep Ahuja, Director of Application Development, puts it, “Most organisations don’t struggle with a lack of data. They struggle with turning that data into something teams can actually use with confidence.”
Start with purpose, not platforms
A common misstep is leading with tools rather than outcomes. Before rolling out dashboards or analytics platforms, get clear on a few simple questions, such as:
- What areas of decision making do we want to improve?
- Where are our teams currently relying on gut feel?
- What data already exists that we’re under-utilising?
This framing shifts data from being an IT initiative to a business enabler. When leaders and teams can see how data helps them do their jobs better, adoption and successful change management follows more naturally.
Make data accessible and trusted
A data-driven culture can’t exist if data feels hard to access, slow to arrive or unreliable. Early wins along the journey often come from:
- Consolidating key data sources into a single, trusted view
- Reducing manual reporting and spreadsheet dependency
- Establishing basic data governance without heavy bureaucracy
Trust matters as much as technology. If people don’t trust the numbers, they won’t use them, no matter how sophisticated the platform.
According to Rod Doyle, Director of Data Integration, “The biggest shift happens when teams stop arguing about whose numbers are right and start discussing what the data is telling them.”
Invest in people, not just capability
Technology enables insight, but people create value from it. Building confidence with data across the organisation is critical, especially for non-technical users. This might include:
- Role-based training focused on real scenarios
- Encouraging curiosity rather than perfection
- Creating safe spaces to ask basic data questions
Cultural change happens when teams feel supported, not judged, as they learn new ways of working.
Think in steps
Data-driven cultures are modelled from the top. When senior leaders ask for evidence, use dashboards in meetings and openly discuss insights (and uncertainties), it sends a powerful signal.
There’s no final destination called “fully data-driven.” Treat this as a journey, prioritise high-value use cases and build momentum through small, meaningful wins.
If you’re unsure where to begin, or how to move from intent to action, reaching out to PerData for a discussion is a great starting point. Sometimes, clarity begins with a conversation.
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