Data lakes do not provide any business value in isolation. Collecting, storing, and managing data is a cost. Data become (incredibly) valuable when they are used to produce knowledge, hints, actions. To make the magic happen, data should be accessible and available to everybody in the company. In other words, organizations should invest in a company-wide data-driven culture and aim at a true data democratization.
Data should be considered a strategic asset that is valued and leveraged throughout the organization. Managers, starting from the C-levels, should remove obstacles and create the conditions for people in need of data to access them, by removing obstacles, bottlenecks, and simplifying processes.
Creating a data culture and democratizing data allows organizations to fully leverage their data assets and make better use of data-driven insights. By empowering employees with data, organizations can improve decision-making, foster innovation, and drive business growth.