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INTRODUCTION
Data modernization marks a defining moment for any organization seeking
to reinvent itself. With data becoming the new organizing principle—and the
beating heart of successful, modern organizations—the individuals tasked
with using data to make decisions and solve problems want to leverage it to
become more agile, efficient, and innovative. Major market trends influencing
technical investments indicate this next-level focus on data will continue for
the foreseeable future. IDG's 2021 State of the CIO Executive Summary lists
data and business analytics as the number-one initiative driving technology
investments, a clear indication that the ability to collect, process, and
understand data defines an organization's capacity to adapt and thrive into
the future.
Business reinvention begins with
data modernization
While organizations understand the importance of data, they struggle with
their existing on-premises data infrastructure, which has become increasingly
complicated, requiring a large staff with additional investments that take
time, money, and focus away from innovation and application development.
Lowered expectations about data storage, management, and processing
capabilities undermine competitiveness as well. Current market dynamics are
all the motivation many leaders need to become data-driven; leaders bogged
down with time-intensive on-premises administrative work get pushed further
and further away from that drive.
