Shhh. Don'tmention GDPR

Gathering Data

Attending a panel event in our home town recently, the respected and experienced speakers had the dubious honour of discussing how ‘digital’ was set to transform our lives in the coming years. Sheffield, believe it or not, is somewhat of a technology hub, and I’d hope our work is testament to some of the great and innovative work to come out of the steel city.

The panel hit on something that we’ve been shouting about for ages: the fact that most businesses have enough data already. The fact is, however, many still don’t have a clue how and when it should be utilised. Frightening terms, such as GDPR (don’t panic), are bandied about, but much of it comes down to common sense and just doing the right thing.

Data is gathered through multiple touchpoints in every modern business. Often data is being collected, even when you don’t realise it, and with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), this trend is only set to continue. So that begs the question, why are businesses not taking advantage of what is a clear commercial asset?

It’s true, many businesses might simply be afraid of it, and their commitments in terms of GDPR (again, don’t sweat it, this should help you work out whether you need some guidance), but many, simply aren’t resourcing the right areas. Investing in technology and data is a boast that many companies claim, but buying the latest MacBook for your remote staff, doesn’t constitute a digitally advanced business. It’s the behind the scenes changes, than can make a real impact to your bottom line.

What the gathered panel did agree on, was that there was a clear commercial benefit to utilising data more effectively. From our perspective, data shouldn’t be feared, it should be embraced, and by working with an innovative technology partner, you may just find some value you never knew you had.