Accenture: 48% of UK survey respondents fail to find big data talent

A new Accenture big data survey has found that nearly half of UK respondents, and 41% of global respondents are struggling to find enough  skilled data management professionals to deliver plans to be more digital.

The survey found big data to be considered “very important” or “extremely important” to the ‘digital transformation of respondents’ organisations.

The survey team polled and interviewed over 1,000 chief information officers, chief operating officers, chief data officers, chief analytics officers, chief marketing officers, chief financial officers and other senior technology, data and analytics professionals from companies in 19 countries across seven industries. 

More than 60% said their companies have successfully completed a big data implementation, while 36% have not pursued a big data project.

Narendra Mulani, senior managing director, Accenture Analytics said: “Businesses are at a transition point­­ where instead of just talking about the potential results that can be achieved from big data, they are realizing actual benefits including increasing revenues, a growing base of loyal customers, and more efficient operations,” said. “They’re recognizing that big data is one of the cornerstones of digital transformation.”

The firm said it knows of a British utilities company that processes data in real time from sensors in water pipes to better anticipate equipment failures and respond faster to leaks and adverse weather events.

Respondents said they expect big data to have the biggest impacts on their organization in the next five years in customer relationships (UK: 62%), product development (UK: 56%), and operations (UK: 54%).

A majority of respondents reported running into problems with security, budget, and integration with existing systems.

Almost half of British respondents (48%) reported a lack of big data implementation talent.

Accenture advised building the big data skills of existing employees through training and development. The survey found that 66% of UK respondnets said their companies have already developed internal technical training. Only 4% of UK respondents rstrict themselves to internal resources for their big data efforts.