The recent COVID-19 pandemic has tested businesses in more ways than one, and really highlighted the fact that being agile and resilient is key to business continuity, especially when it comes to periods of unprecedented disruption.
It has also highlighted the fact that it is vital for business leaders to have a good understanding of data and how important it is for their business – especially when it comes to the recovery and strengthening of their business over the next twelve months.
Balancing cognitive skills with technical data skills
If companies want to be successful moving forward, it is critical that not only do they have the right recovery knowledge and technical expertise within their business, but they must also implement a data recruitment strategy that highlights the importance of cognitive skills. In this new digital-first ecosystem we are all working in, it is vital that business owners don’t take a siloed view of their technology and operational infrastructures but instead make fast and effective decisions to shape the strategic agenda of their business.
The CEO also needs to be more risk-aware moving forward, in order to harness the information that data can provide them with, without compromising on data compliance regulations or cyber security.
Improving business responsiveness through the use of data
Most companies this year will be trying to navigate the road to recovery, and the best way to do this is through the use of real-time data in order to make accurate and timely decisions in a responsive manner. This means that it is essential for their business to be able to gather and convert large amounts of raw data into useful information.
Investing in business intelligence tools and processes is a great way for businesses to have a better understanding of their customers and how to serve them the right products and services now, and in the future – especially should any future disruptions arise. After all, valuable insights can be gained from looking at consumer patterns, including sentiment and spending patterns.
Sustained analytics and data innovation
We are seeing a rise in the number of companies that are recruiting for data and analytics staff who also have competent cognitive skills and are innovators. This backs up the research that shows that many CIOs are looking to invest in new technologies over the coming months in order to help foster a culture of innovation within their companies. And to also improve their insight quality, allowing them to convert the insights they get into actions that will boost their profits. These actions could include delivering new services ahead of the competition, finding more effective ways to work, or even shifting their focus to new products and services.
The impact of this focus on analytics, data and new technologies is being felt across all areas of businesses, from financial planning and analysis to office admin roles. These functions are key to business success at the moment, due to the increase in remote working in response to the current pandemic, and so the more data-focused they can be, the better.
What all of this points to is that businesses need to recruit talented data professionals who can:
- Identify new data sources and then leverage them
- Lead on initiatives that help develop a 360-degree view of the customer
- Modernise the existing cloud infrastructure
- Retrain existing algorithms (based on new realities)
With this in mind, we think that the coming months will see an uprise in the number of companies looking for Business Intelligence Analysts, Data Analysts, Data Engineers and IT Systems Analysts to name but a few. Agile Recruit is perfectly placed to help you fill these gaps in your existing team, or help you progress to the next level in your career – so please get in touch with us to find out more.
