When businesses get to a certain scale, they produce huge amounts of data. That means there are almost always improvements to be made in the way that data is handled. There is often room for improvement in how data is managed. Issues like silos, outdated data or poor traceability can directly impact the decision-making of business analysts. Because of that, solving these problems can have a huge business impact too, but this time positively. Let us show you how.
Unlocking hidden value
Earlier this year, Qlik discussed the Data-to-Insights gap and the hidden value within data. They summarized the issue as follows:
“The real struggle lies in the divide between data producers – those who build the data artifacts – and data consumers – who meticulously seek to leverage these data assets to drive impactful business outcomes. This gap goes beyond communication issues. It is amplified by fragmented data management, scaling challenges in centralized teams, inconsistent data quality, lack of transparency, and unclear data ownership.”
Communication issues, fragmented data management, and a lack of transparency across the data value chain are challenges that PlatformManager helps to solve. So, what better way to highlight a key feature that tackles these problems?
Why traceability is so important
Larger businesses often have BI teams working from multiple locations, usually in a hybrid setup where team members rarely meet in person. And it’s not just devs and BI analysts who are not sitting together in the same office – but the members of those individual teams won’t see each other regularly either.
There are plenty of communication tools, like Teams, that do a good job of keeping us all connected even when we are physically together. Time zone differences, varying communication styles and tight deadlines often lead to miscommunication.
This is where traceability comes into its own. PlatformManager’s data lineage tracking provides clear insights into where data is being used and how changes to data sources, like QVDs, impact your applications. By tracking data sources, you can ensure users have the most up-to-date information they need to do their jobs effectively. All this can be done without any misinterpretation of a quick Teams message or a fifteen-minute video call. It’s instant access, 24/7.
What this value means
So if traceability, through PlatformManager, is one of the best ways to get more value from your data, what is that value? Well, first and foremost, it results in better decision-making for everyone who relies on BI apps. In the first instance, that’s analysts, and in the last step, it’s the most senior members of your business who rely on the work of analysts to make the decisions that steer a company in both good times and bad. The importance of that can’t be overstated.
However, better decision-making is just one part of the equation. If we zoom in on a dev team, making data management processes more streamlined is a huge help for them in particular. If they’ve got a perfect view of what’s happening, then they spend less time chasing down old data or out-of-date apps. That time can be spent clearing other technical issues, or even better, focusing on building new apps to help the business gain even greater insight into how best to operate. They’ll also be a lot happier because they get to do their job rather than be under the pressure of fixing things.
Additionally, ensuring data traceability and proper management aligns closely with maintaining data security, which is critical for businesses today. If you’d like to explore how Qlik ensures your data remains safe and secure – a concern closely related to the value PlatformManager brings – take a look at our blog on Qlik’s data security features. It’s another layer of assurance that your data processes are robust and, very important, well-managed.
To sum it up: PlatformManager bridges gaps between your teams, data, apps and processes, delivering significant value to your business.
Does this sound familiar? Slow app updates, teams struggling to resolve issues, and persistent communication challenges? You need PlatformManager – It will make all of that so much easier to manage. Get in touch with us today to book a free demo.