Data insights: how to understand the value of your data

1.11 GB of data is generated on average by every person on the planet – every hour. That’s 74 Zettabytes worldwide this year, which will almost double by 2024.¹

To put that into perspective: If every kilobyte of data were the size of a grain of sand, 74 Zettabytes would be enough to fill the Sahara Desert. By 2024, we’ll create enough data to cover all of Africa in sand. Even before COVID-19 ripped up the rulebook, organisations of all shapes and sizes across EMEA and the world were pouring vast quantities of data into their digital data sandpits. Then, as now, many struggled to make the most of that data – despite the accelerating progress of digital transformation in all industries. The pandemic has increased the urgency for organisations to properly invest in the tools required to surf their data sand dunes. The reasons for doing so are reputational as well as competitive and financial –the amount of data organisations produce means they simply cannot afford to neglect it, nor can they afford to let their competitors use their own to carve out an advantage.

There is obvious value to be found in all of this data. Last year, research from Iron Mountain revealed that COVID-induced investment in digital solutions had exploded, with most data decision makers (86%) saying these newly digitised solutions gave their organisation a competitive edge. Data is at the heart of any digital solution, so the opportunity is clear: in a few simple steps all organisations have the chance to bring data insights to every part of their operations.

This guidebook looks at the reality of data management in 2021 and provides practical guidance for organisations to ensure that, whatever stage of their data journey they are at, they have the tools to succeed.

¹IDC Worldwide Global DataSphere Forecast, 2020–2024 April 2020