A survey among close to 1200 professionals across different industries shows that while more than half recognize the importance of big data, only a quarter is able to achieve productivity gains.
52% agree that big data represents an opportunity from a business point of view, while only 23% have a clear strategy. It is however evident that the topic is high on company agendas as 65% are planning for a future where big data plays a significant role, and 76 % plan to maintain or increase big data investments.
These findings emerge from an international survey conducted by the certification body DNV GL – Business Assurance and the research institute GFK Eurisko, on close to 1200 professionals from businesses in different sectors in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Big data represents an opportunity for more than half of the companies interviewed – even 70% for companies employing more than 1,000 people – and 45% recognize the direct importance of big data for their own business.
Although big data is high on the agenda, only 1 in 4 are able to leverage big data to boost productivity, showing that most companies are only starting to leverage the potential.
“Big data is changing the game in a number of industries, representing new opportunities and challenges. I believe that companies that recognize and implement strategies and plans to leverage the information in their data pools have increased opportunities to become more efficient and meet their market and stakeholders better,” says Luca Crisciotti, CEO of DNV GL – Business Assurance.
View the infographic below:
A NEW JOURNEY
Realizing benefits of big data starts with implementing technology and analytics enabling organizations to draw insights from their data pool. The benefits come when you are able to understand your business, customers and market better and make decisions based on updated information and boost productivity or results. The majority of companies in the survey have embarked this journey – half of the companies interviewed implemented at least one big data related initiative.
Most efforts are done to enable and prepare the organization for utilizing big data to the full extent. 28% have improved information management and 25% have implemented new technologies and methods. Fewer have taken actions impacting daily routines: 16% have worked to change the culture or organization, and 15% changed their business model.
BENEFITS AND OBSTACLES
All companies that leverage big data report concrete benefits from the efforts. 23% report increased efficiency, 16% see better business decision making and 11% reported financial savings. 16% have improved customer experience and engagement because of big data, and 9% improved relations with other stakeholders.
The main factors preventing companies from making more progress relate either to the lack of an overall strategy and of technical skills, both counting for 24%.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Big data offers a world of opportunities that companies should not miss out on. Most companies (57%) believe that big data will play a key role in the mid-term and are preparing for this (65%). A majority plan to maintain or increase investments (76%). They also plan significant changes for their workforce, by either developing specific in-house competences (47%) or working through dedicated partnerships (20%).
“The ability to use data to obtain actionable knowledge and insights is inevitable for companies that want to keep growing and profiting. The data analyst or scientist will be crucial in most organizations in the near future,” adds Luca Crisciotti.
METHODOLOGY AND SURVEY SAMPLE
The survey was conducted in February 2016, on a sample of 1,189 professionals who work at companies in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors across different industries in Europe, The Americas and Asia.
The sample consists of DNV GL customers and is not statistically representative of worldwide companies:
25% of the firms involved employ less than 50 people, 52% from 50 to 1000 and 17% 1000 or more;
3% of the companies are from the primary sector, 55% from the secondary sector and 35% from the tertiary sector.
The sample includes 82 companies defined as “leaders”
The classification of a company in the leaders category is based on it meeting a group of pre-requisites specifically defined by DNV GL: the company is able to evaluate big data as opportunity or threat; the company leverages on big data to boost productivity; the company has a clear strategy on big data; the company has taken action to deal with big data; the company is able to evaluate benefits achieved from leveraging big data; the company is preparing to manage big data in the mid-term future; the company is going to invest the same or more than today in big data in the next 2/3 years. Further information is available in the report.
The questionnaire was administered using the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interviewing) methodology.