As the number of workflow-engaged stakeholders interacting with data visualisation tools increases (within agreed policy access limitations), the natural propensity increases for actionable insights to be a) taken away and acted upon and b) further fed back into the analytics engine itself.
Recently, we're seeing some positing that data visualisation without data education is dangerous. Even a little data visualisation is seen as reckless in uneducated hands.
It is true we all could benefit from a more robust data education. In an ideal world, a team of data scientists could be readily available to help address issues with teams as they arise. But in our real-time culture, that is rather unrealistic to expect in most settings. Right now, 72% of people who complain on Twitter expect a response within an hour. And if have numerous complaints, the time available is cut sharply. You need to be able to react quickly.
We think data in the hands of the whole team is extremely valuable and has many benefits. Having a culture of open access and open data leads to better collaboration and increased response times. Not all data needs deep interpretation and analysis. For social data, you can start seeing many correlations and make valuable insights when it's presented in a meaningful way. We know that individuals process visual information 60,000 times faster than the time it takes our brain to decode text. And 90% of information that enters the brain is practically non-verbal. This is a large reason we feel data visualisation helps immensely. You can see what data points stand out and you can process data much more efficiently and quickly. When time matters, having your data visualised is a great aid.
Then there's collaboration. To make better decisions, you need the data in your hands. Data scientists can't be in every place at all times, so it limits your ability to collaborate. Companies with increased collaboration see increased revenue. Employees who collaborate together are more efficient and also see increased commissions. So, you want collaboration. Putting data in your employees hands ensures they are making the most informed decisions during those meetings.
Sure, train your employees in data analytics when you can, but trust your employees. Let the data start to tell your story and use it to inform your roadmaps. We've seen this work. Over 21 million customers visit leading UK retailer, Marks & Spencer, every week. Marks & Spencer wanted to create a culture of listening within their company, so using our platform created the M&S Social Walls: two giant 9 screen installations deployed in their Paddington HQ’s canteens and communal areas. It’s aim to create a live window that connected thier customers with their employees. Upon installation, their confectionary team noted that their Percy Pig product was a hot topic. They brought key decision makers over to share the insights and subsequently increased related products, many of which are now top sellers.
https://vimeo.com/64142290
It's time to pull down the data silos.
Published on 2015-04-09 17:57:01