As a technology company you can imagine how easy it is to think of data-first modernization as a technology challenge. Data fabric, data cleansing and tagging, data models, containers, inference at the edge – cloud-enabled platforms are all "go-to" conversation points. While the instinctive response to the issue of being "data-driven" can focus on "what is it?" Being crystal clear about "why" will provide the vision for the use case you can seek to develop; it will force you to derive a compelling value proposition and identify the KPIs that will guide and measure success. In a previous article I introduced a framework called the HPE Digital Journey Map (DJM) precisely to guide our customers as they explore the "why."

Most companies recognize the potential for data insights to improve customer experience, better direct marketing strategies, create new products and services, and optimize operations, among myriad compelling use cases. "If you need outsiders to tell you your data is valuable, you're living in the wrong century," says Wayne Sadin, an independent advisor and former CIO/CTO/CDO. Data is even more valuable during this pandemic period, when economies are volatile, markets are uncertain, and businesses face unprecedented challenges that underscore the need for intelligent insights to guide strategic decision-making. "The pandemic has already accelerated many organizations' digital transformation programs, and in many cases, data has emerged as an invaluable component of the successes of the modern-day enterprise," notes Sridhar Iyengar, managing director at Zoho. "Those businesses which are not already leaning on data insights risk being left behind." Defining and seeking clarity on how to value data as an asset.