Information is power for many organisations, but companies often feel overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of data they need to locate, sort, store and then analyse if they are to make the most of this vital asset. The challenges are immense and only the very bravest will claim total success. Yet so great are the potential rewards that most organisations are committed to keep on trying, even if progress is disappointing.
This year’s Evaluation Centre survey confirms the biggest problem most companies face is the enormous rise in the amount of data now held in key applications. Around two-thirds of respondents (68%) say data volumes have increased substantially over the past three years, with a further 25% indicating more modest increases. Significantly, only 2% reckon data volumes have stayed constant over that time period and nobody says they have fallen. There is near universal agreement that more information than ever is now distributed around the organisation.
The reasons are varied. The most obvious is the simple fact that there are more computer systems in use, a point made by half (54%) of our sample.