Every survey on generative AI—including our own—points to one inescapable conclusion: data immaturity is going to get in the way of fully realising the potential of generative AI.
When we asked about challenges to AI adoption in our 2024 State of Application Strategy report, the top response with 56% of respondents was “data immaturity.”
A quick look around the industry validates that data immaturity is a serious obstacle on the AI adoption path.
What is data immaturity?
Data immaturity, in the context of AI, refers to an organisation’s underdeveloped or inadequate data practices, which limit its ability to leverage AI effectively. It encompasses issues with data quality, accessibility, governance, and infrastructure such as:
- Poor data quality: Inconsistent, incomplete, or outdated data leads to unreliable AI outcomes.
- Limited data availability: Data silos across departments hinder access and comprehensive analysis, limiting insights.
- Weak data governance: Lack of policies on data ownership, compliance, and security introduces risks and restricts AI usage.
- Inadequate data infrastructure: Insufficient tools and infrastructure impede data processing and AI model training at scale.
- Unclear data strategy: Lack of a clear strategy results in uncoordinated initiatives and limited focus on valuable data for AI.
Data immaturity prevents organisations from harnessing the full potential of AI because high-quality, well-managed, and accessible data is foundational for developing reliable and effective AI systems. Organisations looking to overcome data immaturity often start by building a data strategy, implementing data governance policies, investing in data infrastructure, and enhancing data literacy across teams.
The impact on AI adoption
In short, data immaturity is a drag on AI adoption. Adoption is already slowing because organisations have, for the most part, already picked the low-hanging generative AI fruit (chatbots, assistants, co-pilots) and are running into data immaturity issues as they try to move toward the more valuable use cases such as workflow automation. Organisations that fail to prioritise data maturity will struggle to unlock these more advanced AI capabilities.
Data immaturity leads to a lack of trust in analysis and predictability of execution. That puts a damper on any plans to leverage AI in a more autonomous manner—whether for business or operational process automation. A 2023 study by MIT Sloan Management Review highlights that organisations with mature data management practices are 60 per cent more likely to succeed in workflow automation than those with immature data practices. Data immaturity limits the predictive accuracy and reliability of AI, which are crucial for autonomous functions where decisions are made without human intervention.
Organisations must get their data houses in order before they will be able to truly take advantage of AI’s potential to optimise workflows and free up valuable time for humans to focus on strategy and design, tasks for which most AI is not yet well suited.
Overcoming data immaturity
Addressing data immaturity is crucial for enabling advanced AI capabilities.
Key steps include:
- Develop a clear data strategy
Align data collection, management, and quality standards with organisational goals to ensure data supports AI projects effectively. - Implement robust data governance
Establish policies for data ownership, compliance, security, and privacy to improve data quality and build trust in AI insights. - Invest in scalable data infrastructure
Adopt modern infrastructure, such as cloud storage and data pipelines, to support efficient processing and scalable AI training. - Enhance data quality standards
Set standards for data accuracy, consistency, and completeness, with regular monitoring and cleaning. - Promote data literacy and collaboration
Foster a culture of data literacy and teamwork between data and business units to improve data accessibility and impact.
By adopting these practices, organisations can establish a solid data foundation for AI, leading to optimised workflows, reduced risks, and more time for strategic tasks.
Data maturity is not just a technical necessity; it’s a strategic advantage that empowers organisations to unlock the full potential of AI. By overcoming data immaturity, organisations can transition from basic AI applications to more transformative, value-driven use cases, ultimately positioning themselves for long-term success in an AI-driven future.
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