Process Improvement

Steps to Finding Value in The New Information Explosion

Written By: David Linthicum
March 20, 2024
5 min read


In an age where the volume of data surpasses human beings' ability to digest it meaningfully, businesses are grappling with some fundamental challenges. One is converting sprawled data sources into coherent, actionable strategies. This data sprawl phenomenon is often referred to as "information becoming noise," and its management is a critical step in our journey toward digital transformations. The potential of dynamic work to navigate and capitalize on complexity can be maximized by leveraging platforms like Quickbase.

As I pointed out in this article, even with the wide use of cloud computing, we do not see value in using business data in ways that are additive to business value. Indeed, the cloud was often considered our savior from data sprawl and complexity. However, it ended up being just another repository of data that businesses need help utilizing to address their evolving needs.

So, what’s the essence of this problem, and how do we solve it?

Understanding the Core Challenges

Gray Work” is at the beating heart of modern business problems. When your technology fails you, Gray Work refers to the slow, often manual ad-hoc solutions used to improvise and get by. Gray Work involves tasks that, while necessary, fall outside the core competencies of businesses and their employees. As you may have guessed, this hinders productivity to a point where enterprises see negative value in using their data. This problem manifests in several ways:

  1. Information overload. It is universally acknowledged that enterprises are already swamped by information, and few have workable ideas about how to fix the problem. AI is expected to take the information overload problem to the next level, considering the amount of data needed to train AI engines and the amount of data that will be generated.
  2. Challenges of multiple tools. The proliferation of digital tools has led to data fragmentation within most enterprises. As you may expect, this hinders effective collaboration and creates barriers to productivity.
  3. Finally,unseen costs. A significant but often overlooked cash drain is typically associated with under-optimized processes and workflows. This drain normally stems from inefficient tool utilization and an under-engaged workforce.

Charting a Path to Solutions

The wholesale abandonment of complex systems and data is an unworkable strategy. To solve complex system and data challenges, it's essential to adopt a strategic approach for managing dynamic work environments using the correct tools and technology. Today’s work is dynamic –it’s complex, multi-stakeholder and flexible. This problem is solved by taking a meaningful approach to managing dynamic work environments using the right tools and technology. Quickbase’s Dynamic Work Management platform has emerged as a core mechanism for companies to navigate this transformation. The approach has a few key benefits, including:

  • The abstraction of meaningful information that can leverage dynamic work environments. This includes the ability to distill vast amounts of data into valuable insights. Most importantly, the ability to prioritize relevance over volume.
  • Enhanced collaboration across domains, which breaks down silos between departments. If businesses leverage shared data, they can cultivate a culture of collaboration.
  • Finally,dynamic information visibility ensures that the correct information reaches the right people at the right time to address a specific business need. Businesses without timely access to information are at a disadvantage compared to those that do.

Transforming Business with No-Code Solutions

Why use tools such as Quickbase? The aim is to employ a tool that businesses may need to use their data more effectively. Quickbase provides a ow-code platform that aligns with the dynamic nature of work. This tool facilitates rapid application development in which frontline workers, regardless of technical ability, can develop and tailor the applications to their specific business needs.

A Stepwise Guide to Leveraging “Dynamic Work”

Implementing a dynamic work environment through low-code tools such as Quickbase involves a few strategic steps. Each is important and should be considered as a checklist for success:

  1. Consider adopting an approach that facilitates logical data integration across various platforms. This approach allows for a comprehensive view of the data without physically centralizing it. Therefore, we can maintain data validity in a single domain that can be altered using configuration instead of development, testing, and deployment. This approach is more agile and scalable, and most importantly, it avoids the risk and cost of massive data migration.
  2. It is important to make sure that data is easily accessible and tailored to the specific needs of each user's role. This is especially vital in industries like manufacturing, where specialized information may be required. One way to achieve this is through the use of low-code and no-code tools, which provide a high level of control over data access. Business users are empowered to customize these tools as per their requirements.
  3. To ensure the free flow of information between different departments, leverage communication channels and tools like Quickbase. These tools help create an environment that transcends departmental boundaries, allowing easy access to information by business users. This can streamline processes and improve productivity.
  4. Continuous improvement enables businesses to foster a culture of optimization by iterating on their processes, as part of DevOps' dynamic work concept.
  5. Dynamic Work Management solutions can be used to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up human resources for other purposes and eliminating the margin of error associated with manual interventions.

Call to Action

Most businesses pursue operational excellence, enabling them to return value to employees and shareholders. The ability to embrace dynamic work through Dynamic Work Management platforms has now become a necessity. This concept and technology provide a pathway to transforming data noise into usable insights, thus turning the challenges of Gray Work into opportunities for innovation and optimization.

Businesses now need to choose between leveraging the paradigms of the past and stepping into the future using dynamic and data-driven collaboration. No-code and low-code technology represent technology that can revolutionize business operations and drive business value.

The journey promises to be one of learning and empowerment. The path to revolutionizing your business operations is clear and should be embraced with an open mind. By utilizing dynamic work and low-code and no-code solutions, you can drive greater business value and find the right technical path to achieve your goals. It's important to keep an open mind and explore all options to ensure success. This should be the core objective.

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David S. Linthicum is an Enterprise Technology Analyst for SiliconANGLE and theCUBE, with over 30 years experience in technology.