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CIOs on becoming data-driven

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Monday, 02 November 2020 22:27

Toronto – November 2, 2020 – The pandemic accelerated the move toward digital business models because of mandates to enhance engagement with employees, suppliers, and customers. Companies must plan for this trend to continue through the recovery phase and beyond. CIOs play essential roles in implementing robust data frameworks and providing comprehensive digital services to stakeholders throughout their organizations.

Data provides the basis for operational and business value. Businesses that effectively harvest their data assets will emerge as market leaders. Unfortunately, the volumes, types, and sources of data add complexity to IT capabilities. To enable the data-driven enterprise, IT must modernize operations and provide an agile data foundation. These objectives require that CIOs protect and manage data assets while also ensuring easy access to analytical services throughout their organizations.

With these principles in mind, The IT Media Group brought together 12 cross-industry IT executives for a virtual roundtable entitled 'Strategies for Enabling the Data-Driven Enterprise.' The session provided an opportunity to discuss how organizations bridge the gap between business strategy and the data-based execution of that strategy.

Moderating the roundtable was Jeff Ishii, Chief Technologist at The IT Media Group. Also participating were two executives from the session sponsor Hitachi Vantara, a world leader in data-driven solutions and technologies: Canadian Chief Technology Officer, Ian Sinclair, and General Manager of Canada, Marcel Escorcio.

The interactive session included a combination of live-polling and panel discussion about the challenges, best practices, and tactics being used to address:

• Creation of a modernized data framework
• Governance and compliance considerations
• Enabling data services and discovering insights
• People-centric data enablement strategies

Following the session, Ian observed, "The biggest value I gained was hearing common cross-industry problems. It doesn't matter whether you are large or small; companies are struggling with the same issues." He added, "We regularly solve these problems by helping organizations realize the value of their data by leveraging insights from the verticals that we service."

Marcel noted, "It was a remarkable event with a broad range of executives from different verticals. It was reassuring to hear that data is considered critical to success. I believe that this mindset will generate significant opportunities for these organizations as they modernize their data frameworks." When asked about how to accelerate this effort, Marcel added, "Companies realize that they can't do it alone and are looking for strategic partners to make them successful. I recommend choosing a vendor with an ecosystem of partners and solutions that are focused on helping organizations meet their business goals."

All participants will receive a strategic insights report highlighting key tactics and best practices discussed during the roundtable.

Video highlights of this event and one-on-one interviews with some of the participants will soon be posted in our video section, where a host of other CIO roundtable videos on key IT management topics can be found.

The IT Media Group’s CIO roundtables are one of the most successful event programs for IT executives in Canada, bringing together scores of senior-level peers for thoughtful private discussions around the top issues facing enterprise IT.

The IT Media Group is an award-winning producer of events and content for senior IT executives. Based in Toronto, our leadership team includes some of the most experienced and well respected media, technology and business professionals serving the IT executive community in Canada.