AI is shaking things up in every facet of business, from marketing and sales to customer service (chat bots have finally become competent!). It’s estimated that global GDP will increase by 14% by 2030 because of AI adoption, adding $15.7T to the global economy. You don’t want to miss this train! This has companies scrambling to get some skin in the AI game. Any organisation with a ton of data, can use AI to add value in their business. But for AI to reach its full potential, you need clean and connected data. If your data is out-of-date, it’s like trying to build a house without blueprints!
The problem with disconnected data
When your data is scattered across different systems, it’s like trying to find a needle in multiple haystacks. AI struggles to learn and make meaningful predictions when it’s dealing with a mess of inconsistent information. If you rush into AI implementation without preparing your data properly, everything will be disjointed and dysfunctional.
For example, if a sales team has outdated contacts and inconsistent sales data in their CRM, the AI platform could suggest irrelevant leads, leading to wasted time and effort, missed opportunities and frustrated sales staff. To make matters worse, too much time might be wasted proofing the AI-generated emails if they’re based on bad/outdated/’dirty data’.
To get the most out of AI, having clean data has to be a top priority.
Data integration platforms to the rescue
For IT teams that manage hundreds of applications across their enterprise, a shocking 98% say they’re facing difficulties with their digital transformation. With an average of 991 platforms per large (global) enterprise, there is usually little to no communication between these separate platforms, causing major headaches when team members try to compare or combine data sets necessary to leverage AI’s superpowers.
It would be great if only there was some way to integrate the data on a single platform…
Oh wait… there is!
Data integration platforms, like Salesforce’s MuleSoft, act as the glue that connects different applications across an organisation so you get clean and connected data. They ensure data flows seamlessly between systems, essential for for AI to access and analyse all the available data to make the best, most informed decisions.
Microsoft’s Azure AI: A powerful tool
Another option in the AI pool of productivity powerhouses is Microsoft’s Azure. This platform offers a suite of tools to connect data across cloud-based platforms. With Azure, you can use AI to analyse historical workflows and campaigns, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions. It helps businesses change the way they work by using AI in a practical and effective way, tailored to their industry’s specific demands.
For example, in the healthcare space, Azure is bridging data, AI, and building trust between providers, insurers and life science researchers so they can provide a better experience to patients while keeping data secure and in one accessible location even if that data resides in multiple platforms.
Getting clean and connected data for AI success
With the AI genie officially out of the bottle, 80% of organisations say they’re already using multiple AI models in their workplace. It’s already considered a helpful solution to growing backlogs with 85% saying AI has increased their productivity.
But to get the most out of AI, you need to clean, organise, and prepare your data. This involves tasks like:
- Data cleansing: Removing errors, inconsistencies, and duplicates.
- Data enrichment: Adding missing information to make your data more complete.
- Data standardisation: Ensuring data is formatted consistently across different systems.
Unlocking AI-powered insights
Once you have clean and connected data, you can start using AI-powered insights to improve your business. For example, AI can help you:
- Personalise customer experiences by understanding individual preferences and behaviours.
- Optimise marketing campaigns by identifying the most effective channels and messaging.
- Improve customer service by automating tasks and providing personalised support.
At the end of the day, AI is a powerful tool, but its effectiveness depends on the quality of your data. If you invest in data integration and cleaning processes, you can unlock AI’s full potential and gain a competitive advantage in today’s data-driven world.
