"The ability to evolve to a data-driven world will be linked to the agility of structures."

What role does data play in a company?

Data in general allows to enrich the data of statistical models in order to obtain better correlations between the data of the model (the past) and the current situation of these data.

Data in general allows us to contextualize problems at a micro level, but also at a more macro level.

The data is part of a data set in the manner of a data network. You can look at a part of the network or the whole network with a magnifying glass. After that, it all depends on the story you want to tell from it.

In fact, data is a major source of information for a company:

• Knowledge of its history,
• Awareness of its victories and failures
• Anticipation of future paths
• Greater appreciation of the economic environment

 

But it can also be an important communication vector. For example, the development of citizen data almost everywhere since the opening of data to the general public, as well as the democratization of data management tools.

 

What are the issues involved in implementing data management?

In my opinion, the main challenge is to acquire independence in the collection and use of data, in order to respond quickly to needs.

Given the broad spectrum of data use, a good data management system must allow you to quickly focus on the context of your needs. Data is moving fast, and so are its uses.
Another challenge is to structure the data so that it can be found quickly. The objective: to be able to contextualize it quickly, in order to provide a precise and efficient response.

 

What are the main expectations of companies on the subject?

Today, companies are looking for relevance. Whether it's in putting user data into perspective or contextualized data. They are also looking for intelligence in the delivery or enrichment of traditional data on "classic" files.

 

Are CRM/ERP and data still in sync?

Not always. On the one hand, we are oriented towards internal production tools (in the broadest sense), and on the other hand, we have access to more macro or more precise information in the same way as knowledge bricks. This information can be punctual, subjective, volatile... Data can indeed be used to enrich CRM or ERP systems, but within a strategic vision of acquisition and loyalty defined beforehand, thanks to an understanding of the context, an analysis at the cutting edge of the micro to macro system.

 

What are the impacts of the tools in companies?

The real challenge in business is to bring together talents that can find, manipulate and put into perspective data for a particular need. Today, the tools are common to all companies. A few major leaders are doing well, but the data acquisition and delivery processes are classically the same.

Another important point about the tools, however, is the ability to process large volumes in a minimum of time.

 

How do you see the world of data evolving?

Everything will depend on the vision of the world that we will have in the future. Towards more censorship, meaning that data will be harder to find, harder to cross-reference. Towards more freedom, it will be the development of citizen data, an easier use, a greater transparency of economic, environmental and political actors, the disappearance of whistleblowers and data-leaks (panama paper, wiki leaks...).

 

What are the differences between large groups and small and medium-sized companies?

The ability to evolve towards a data-oriented world will be more or less linked to the agility of structures and the ease of changing industrialization models for data capture and data restitution.

This seems to be easier for a small or medium-sized company than for a large group. Nevertheless, the latter will have the financial resources to carry out this project. A few years ago, we were talking about digital transformation. Today, there are more "small" platforms on the web than large consortiums. It is therefore more a question of a will and a strategy, than a transformation process.