Luka Jasionyte, in the marketing team at Snap Analytics, catches up with Tom Bruce, Group Managing Director & Co-founder, to get the lowdown on his journey through data and analytics, and to share insights on what he thinks are the most important trends, AI initiatives and challenges facing enterprise businesses today.
What inspired you to get into data and analytics, Tom?
My love for sports statistics and data, along with their transformative impact on sport itself, inspired me. Books like Moneyball showed me how data and analytics can help organisations, making me realise the considerable influence I could have on companies with a relatively small amount of resource.
What is the most exciting trend right now?
It’s the obvious answer but clearly AI is already transformational and seeing the applications and more importantly the evolutions that will happen within this space is going to be exciting. With the rate of development and change increasing the impact on productivity, the way we work and the benefits this brings to business makes it a thrilling development to be a part of. We’ve been working on some exciting and transformational AI initiatives with clients, and everyone in this space shares the buzz about the potential and opportunities available now and into the future.
What are some common data-related challenges that large enterprises typically face?
I’ve been seeing two big challenges that large enterprises face when it comes to data, and these aren’t exactly new issues, but they’re becoming even more crucial now with the push towards AI-based solutions.
First off, there’s data quality and governance. It’s all about having the right data, properly managed and owned in a way that’s governed and easily accessible to everyone who needs it. The challenge here is ensuring that the data is accurate, consistent, and reliable. Without good data quality and governance, any AI solution built on top of it is likely to be flawed or ineffective.
Then there’s data modelling. This is about setting up the right foundations with an optimised and easily understandable data model. It’s key to making the most out of AI solutions. A solid foundation ensures that everything else works smoothly and efficiently, allowing AI to deliver its full potential. If the data model is too rigid or poorly designed, it can limit the effectiveness of AI and make it harder to adapt to new requirements or changes in the business environment.
So, while these challenges aren’t new, they’re definitely more important now than ever before.
What are the top client priorities for those looking to drive successful outcomes in data and analytics?
We’ve often seen that a lot of investment has gone into cloud solutions, but there hasn’t always been control over the costs associated with these investments. Cost optimisation for cloud solutions is something that is increasingly coming up on our clients’ agendas. It’s becoming clear that while the cloud offers immense flexibility and scalability, without proper cost management, it can quickly become a financial burden. Clients are now more focused on finding ways to optimise their cloud spending to ensure they are getting the best value for their investment.
Similarly, there have been numerous Gen AI exploration projects as organisations are just getting started with AI. We’ve noticed that there often isn’t a suitable business case for these initiatives, and most aren’t taken through to production. It’s crucial to properly identify the value of AI initiatives and ensure that more focus is given to clearly scoped AI projects with tangible business benefits. By doing so, organisations can avoid wasting resources on projects that don’t deliver real value and instead concentrate on initiatives that have a clear and measurable impact on their business.
The key priorities for clients looking to drive successful outcomes in data and analytics are cost optimisation for cloud solutions and a focused approach to AI initiatives with well-defined business cases.
Tom, why Snap Analytics?
We’re experts in delivering the data foundations essential for successful AI projects. Our team is dedicated to ensuring our customers get the best service, reflected in our high retention rates and excellent feedback. What sets us apart is our focus on our customers. We understand every business is unique, and we tailor our solutions to meet each client’s specific needs. Whether it’s optimising data quality, implementing robust governance frameworks, or developing cutting-edge AI models, we’ve got you covered.
Our clients know they can rely on us to deliver results. We’ve built a reputation for being the team businesses turn to for new and innovative solutions. We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and are excited to help our clients achieve their goals. We’re here to provide the expertise, support, and innovation you need to thrive in today’s data-driven world.
