Making data work for your business
Introducing core data
A common challenge organizations face when attempting to strengthen their data governance, is implementing a core data architecture to support their business strategy. You need high quality, reliable data – but you also need robust processes and effective technology to ensure your data is a true asset. This is what core data design is all about, introducing a framework which can manage model layer objects in your application.
However, not all data architectures are the same. The choices businesses make about technical components, rules and access can have big impacts on security and the availability of data throughout their organizations.
When it comes to data design and management, it is essential that you can collect, organize and analyze the right kinds of information. This is how businesses drive improvements in the service they provide to customers as well as the efficiency and clarity of their own internal processes. It means having a clear picture of what’s happening to the data once collected, how much there is, how long the lead time from collection to reporting is, and so on. You don’t just need great individual pieces of technology, you need to make sure they can integrate.
This takes patience, attention to detail and, most importantly, the right technical skills.
Using data to save money
Both SMEs and larger enterprises need to make informed business decisions, predict future trends and support sustainable growth, which is where data mining tools, processes and techniques come into play. However, too often, teams end up reinventing the wheel each time they work with new data through trial and error, which isn't an efficient use of time.
Instead, if businesses are doing the same task again and again, the more methodical it should become. Teams should apply technical skills, rather than starting from scratch each time. The ability to mine data effectively makes all this possible. Upskilling teams through apprenticeships is the most cost-effective way of ensuring your workforce has mastered the data capability required.
Onboarding the right skills
Apprenticeships are ideal because SMEs and large organizations find it costly and difficult to attract data talent, as currently, the market is fiercely competitive. To put this into perspective, around 48% of businesses across the UK are recruiting in roles that require data skills.
On the flip side, there are also many professionals who want to develop their skills within data, whether that be Excel or Power BI. They are also open to learning new skills to find opportunities in other departments within their current businesses to develop and change their career paths.
The challenge is often that a lot of people aren’t sure how to have this conversation internally to make these changes within their skills or careers. At the same time, traditional recruitment methods are falling short. That’s why upskilling should be at the top of every business's talent agenda, alongside the need to look at how to promote internally, and how to offer new skills to the current workforce.
Having a dedicated, data-driven workforce who feel valued and invested in, adds more value to your business by increasing efficiency and enabling smarter decision-making while also helping to reduce staff turnover. And if a business uses the apprenticeship route, upskilling doesn't have to cost much at all.
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to grow your team's capabilities, no matter their age or location. They are an effective way to build the data security, data architecture, and data analytics skills that are essential in supporting data transformation within businesses.
At QA, we work with organizations to utilize the apprenticeship levy to bridge the digital skills gap, through recruitment of apprentices or upskilling and reskilling existing staff. Our apprenticeships develop the real-world skills and technical grounding needed to design, implement, test and work in the modern-day workplace.
Our approach is based on Digital by Design (DxD) – our market-defining digital delivery methodology, which offers flexible course structures, built on intuitive, digital learning content. DxD enables learning to be seamless, without disrupting productivity or ‘on the job’ contribution.
To find out more, please get in touch.