Data has been described as everything from the new gold, to the new oil - but really, it’s much more than that. Data has become more than just a valuable commodity, for many businesses, it’s essential for their very survival. However, immersing yourself in data carries its own risks.
For Or Lenchner, CEO of data collection platform Bright Data, many organisations make the mistake of trying to run before they can walk, gathering as much data as they can with little thought to what their actual needs are, and how they’re served by the data they’re gathering.
“Data isn’t the new gold,” says Lenchner, speaking on The IT Pro Podcast; “it's the new water. But you know, you can drown with too much water – so just take what you need. No more. You can always scale up in the future.”
The most valuable tip for businesses who want to experiment with data collection and analysis, he says, is to eschew fancy AI-powered tools altogether, and start with manual processes.
“There’s no replacement for just doing it yourself for the first time. You can throw terms like AI and ML into the air, and yeah, they'll handle it. But what the hell; I mean, you know what data you need. So just grab the data that you need, and later on scale up.”
Implementing mass-scale data collection, he said, is a waste of time and money if you don’t know what you’re looking for. When Lenchner started as a product manager, he said that his most valuable data came from simply calling customers and asking them a few basic questions.
“As a data company, it took us, like, four years to implement our first data warehouse,” he says, “not because we couldn't, but because we didn't want to; we had so much to do with the basic data that we collected internally.”
“If you're doing a good job, you'll need to scale up to more places, gathering more data, which is great. Just, you know, start reasonably.”
-
Third time lucky? Microsoft finally begins roll-out of controversial Recall featureNews The Windows Recall feature has been plagued by setbacks and backlash from security professionals
-
The UK government wants quantum technology out of the lab and in the hands of enterprisesNews The UK government has unveiled plans to invest £121 million in quantum computing projects in an effort to drive real-world applications and adoption rates.
-
Four-day weeks and Nadella's AGI skepticismITPro Podcast As the Microsoft chief casts doubt on ultra-advanced AI systems, a famous security blogger has fallen victim to a classic attack
-
Creating space for women in techITPro Podcast Tech's huge gender divide can only be tackled with more welcoming, proactive sectoral efforts
-
Alteryx unveils double leadership appointment in fresh growth driveNews Alteryx has announced the appointments of Jon Pexton as chief financial officer and Steven Birdsall as chief revenue officer.
-
Three-quarters of data analysts are still reliant on spreadsheets and manual preparation – but AI tools are now transforming the profession, boosting productivity, and supercharging efficiencyNews Data analysts are still largely reliant on spreadsheets and manual preparation techniques, but AI and automation are shaking things up.
-
What is the EU's AI plan?ITPro Podcast As the EU moves to enable AI innovation, it could end up striking the perfect balance between regulation and public support – especially as US AI laws become more complex
-
The trends we’re watching in 2025AI for security and sovereign cloud could be top driving forces in the coming year
-
The 2024 that didn't happenThese are the megatrends of the year that failed to materialise
-
What DORA means for businessITPro Podcast Stringent requirements for third party monitoring and ongoing resilience testing could help put businesses on the best track for security
