Duck tape, AI and Data Alchemy !
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Duck tape, AI and data alchemy - an easy win
Today I read a post which said
"AI 🤖 is only as good as the data its based upon" ! (ffs deep sigh we have moved on from machine learning)
Which is essentially the old "dross in dross out statement", which has been the problem statement for most failed data strategies over the last three decades.
Leading to
Many organisations having a hotch potch of data and analytic solutions (data repositories) littering the enterprise architecture, all under utilised and failing to deliver the shinny over optimistic outcomes promised.
And that got me thinking 🤔
Fundamentally the statement is wrong and was clearly designed by pre-sales to flog some god awful hybrid legacy data warehouse with some duck taped AI tooling bolted on, to make it seem relevant. Yet another crap data solution that will become outdated in the blink of an eye, added to the collection !!
But let's calm down, drink some coffee, there is a better way....
AI and Data Alchemy to the rescue:
or put another way, time to unlock the hidden data value, release AI the ultimate disruptor, l
Firstly AI will enable data alchemy turning dross data in to gold by enabling the data fabric concept What is a data fabric? | SAP Insights
Essentially AI will work across the enterprise architecture interigating and exposing the multitude of legacy data repositories in to a virtual data layer.
AI will be able to understand the data, judge the quality of data and fix data to enable slick agrigated analytics at the drop of the hat.
This isnt an espresso enduced dream
I have seen data alchemy ......
Earlier this year I got to see SAPs new "Just Ask" AI cockpit that will sit on SAP Analytics cloud and it was clear that this new tooling would help link dispersed data and enable aggregated reporting. This is just the beginning of SAPs in injection of AI into the data and analytics space.
Don’t worry if you're one of those CIOs that doesn't fancy moving your data needs to RISE and the SAP cloud .... all of the hyper-scalers will be offering similar, its simply a question of selecting the right tooling that will be part of your long term data journey.
Why does this matter ?
Data is the new gold ! At long last the masses of data swirling around the enterprise can be leveraged to improve productivity and profitability
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/03/27/how-to-make-use-of-the-new-gold-data/
Well most business users are wholly frustrated with the data promise that is never delivered so at long last we have a credible route to improve data quality and aggregation. They are forced to accept bodged second class analytics all in the name of SOX compliance.
We can also reduce some of the technical debt backed into the data architecture.
Pragmatism is the new Agile.......
Lets now apply some lessons learnt from all of those data false dawns:
1. Leverage your current investment
Dragon ERPs alternate Future SAP doctrine is based upon upcycling as much of your existing SAP / tech investment, instead of perpetually starting from scratch and driving value from the smorgasbord of legacy data apps. (So that might mean keeping the legacy BW lights on for longer)
2. Plug and play all the way
Only select easy to deploy SaaS cloud data fabric tooling.
Start thinking AI data micro-services.
3.Blow it away
Work on the assumption that AI and data is moving forward rapidly so only focus on targeted data AI micro services proof of concepts with a fully stacked benefits case.
Work on the basis that the solution will last no more than 2 years so write it off as a cost of sale linked to the revenue or productivity generated.
Be ready to simply blow it all away in two years as data and AI 🤖 singularity takes us to the next level, no more junk in the architecture.
4. Get the right team in (new skills and new people)
To fully take advantage of data alchemy you need to invest in a data science team, people with the skills and vision to drive value out of your data, sorry but thats not going to be your legacy in-house reporting team !
How is SAP leading the evolution of Data alchemy !!!
This is an area I have real passion for, having completed SAP BI7 Academy and then SAP Bank Analyser training, loving the rise of BPC and seeing the panic PowerBI generated leading to SAC, I was enthused to complete in 2021 SAP data intelligence training.
SAP data intelligence established the SAP data fabric concept with AI machine learning dropping in on top for big data algorithms, its now being surpassed by SAP DataSphere which has consolidated all of SAPs data assets into one application which can then be integrated into SAP analytics cloud. SAP Datasphere | Unified Data Experience
Its taken time and SAP DataSphere is still evolving but its clear to me it is the worthy successor to SAP BW with the help of SAP BTP and a finally mature SAP analytics cloud.
But don’t forget, only consume and pay for what you need !!!!
Don’t boil the ocean
and ride the AI 🤖 wave 🌊 as it continues to surge forward......
So where can Dragon ERP add value
We are establishing a SAP Business AI foundry service to develop AI micro services helping organisations maximise their dirty ERP core....
We help organisations audit their existing data architecture and level of data tech debt.
We help define a pragmatic Intelligent data strategy and road map based upon upcycling the current investment.
We will help you define your SAP BW and SAP BPC replacement strategy linked back to the bigger picture and the disruption caused by AI.
We help identify and deploy the tactical data fabric tooling to drive value.
We offer a "data science as a service" providing the fractional plug and play resource required to move the data dial.
Need help just message me,
Alisdair
Dragon ERP, A SAP Target Operating model Innovation Integrator , changing the way organisations unlock the value of their SAP investment.
If you want to know more about how SAP is changing and how Dragon ERPs Plug and Play transformation methodology unlocks accelerated benefit realisation then contact a Dragon today.
https://dragonerp.co.uk/contact-us
About the Author:
Alisdair Bach, Dragon ERP Co-founder is a SAP mentor and influencer with over
33 years’ experience in shaping the SAP journey for the global 2,000.