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Quality before quantity

Growing data volumes, enormous computing power and powerful analysis tools provide companies with an excellent framework for using analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.
E-3 Magazine
July 7, 2021
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This text has been automatically translated from German to English.

This means that, at least in theory, existing SAP customers have a very good basis for using their data to optimize internal processes and develop new business models in order to remain competitive.

The new IDC study on the current data situation in Germany shows that the reality in this country is different: Developing innovative cases is not trivial, so data-driven innovations are currently not an issue for three quarters of German companies, because good data quality is one of the biggest challenges in data management for 37 percent of decision-makers.

But 66 percent of organizations see the cloud as the central solution approach for all data issues. IDC surveyed IT and business decision-makers from 261 organizations with more than 100 employees in Germany last year, providing detailed insights into implementation plans, challenges and success factors in storage, data management and data governance.

Growth with little quality

According to IDC estimates, the global volume of data will grow to 143 zettabytes by 2024. Just under a third of the companies surveyed in Germany are recording annual data growth of between 31 and 60 percent. This very dynamic and heterogeneous data environment requires new approaches to solutions in companies.

"The growing volume and variety of data are both a curse and a blessing. The great business potential of data can hardly be tapped with existing solutions and processes, and data-driven business models are thus becoming a distant prospect in this country. However, no decision-maker can afford to", explains Matthias Zacher, Senior Consulting Manager and Project Manager.

Data is increasingly moving to the cloud. What is the percentage distribution of your company's data in the following areas? n= 168, Source: IDC

For 37 percent of respondents, ensuring high data quality is one of the key challenges. The aspects are diverse and complex and range from capturing all relevant data to capturing the data context to data governance and data security, see also the current E-3 cover story in this issue. For these reasons, companies are reluctant to prepare and analyze their data end-to-end and for all business areas in the required quality.

Flexibility and efficiency

The demand for cloud-based storage solutions is currently growing disproportionately and unsurprisingly for both primary and secondary workloads. According to IDC, IT organizations will rely on different solutions in the medium term, with a growing dominance of cloud-based and hybrid approaches.

In this way, companies sustainably improve their flexibility and agility, and thus their ability to respond to changes in the market and to unexpectedly complex situations.

In many organizations, solutions for data governance and data intelligence are available in addition to the classic data management tools, but the study shows that the penetration rate is still far too low. Only a good third of companies use data mining tools or master data management tools.

Apparently, many decision-makers still need comprehensive explanations about how they can use modern solutions for data management. IDC believes that solution providers also have a duty to convince and educate with best practices and potential use cases. The E-3 cover story on Data Migration International contains numerous proof-of-concepts.

The cloud is continuously developing into an integral part of the IT landscape. Many IT and business decision-makers in all sectors, in SMEs and in large companies have defined the cloud as part or core element of their modernization strategy and are using it with growing success in more and more business areas.

This has significant implications for data utilization. On the one hand, data managers expect solutions for data management and data analysis from cloud-native workloads and, on the other hand, suitable tools for data use in the widespread hybrid scenarios. The path to the cloud is becoming more and more predefined. Two-thirds of respondents already see the cloud as the central instance for all data issues - a view that is in line with IDC's assessments.

Integration, automation, the use of modern tools across the entire process chain, and continuous optimization of data processes across all IT and business domains are the key to success. This must be the common goal of providers and users.

Based on the current survey, most companies in Germany have recognized the challenges in theory, according to IDC estimates, but they need to make many adjustments in order to be prepared for the challenges of digital transformation and to be able to use their data comprehensively for innovations.

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Working on the SAP basis is crucial for successful S/4 conversion. 

This gives the Competence Center strategic importance for existing SAP customers. Regardless of the S/4 Hana operating model, topics such as Automation, Monitoring, Security, Application Lifecycle Management and Data Management the basis for S/4 operations.

For the second time, E3 magazine is organizing a summit for the SAP community in Salzburg to provide comprehensive information on all aspects of S/4 Hana groundwork.

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The event is organized by the E3 magazine of the publishing house B4Bmedia.net AG. The presentations will be accompanied by an exhibition of selected SAP partners. The ticket price includes attendance at all presentations of the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2025, a visit to the exhibition area, participation in the evening event and catering during the official program. The lecture program and the list of exhibitors and sponsors (SAP partners) will be published on this website in due course.