Volume of data is key challenge, concludes IBM Start

Start attendees said the data deluge is a pressing business issue

The biggest technology challenge for companies today is the ever-increasing volume of information they have to store.

This was one of the predominant views among those attending the IBM Start event yesterday at Lancaster House in London.

The theme of the event was "Smarter Analytics for a Sustainable Future" and it was attended by CIOs and other senior decision makers in the UK IT industry.

Participants took part in an interactive voting session in which 44 per cent said that the volume of information was the biggest business headache, followed by 35 per cent who said that their biggest challenge was making major decisions with incomplete data.

The event examined the role of information solutions in driving sustainability and what the role of analytics is in driving that outcome. The event included three facilitated debates on the ethics, politics and geography of information. Speakers included Information Commissioner Christopher Graham.

In tackling the data challenge IT leaders must be mindful of the interconnectedness of data and the idea that few business problems can be solved discretely, said Jon O’Donnell, business analytics and optimisation lead, IBM UK.

He added that the challenges of data privacy and the sharing of data need to be addressed effectively so businesses can apply the data they have.

“The goal [of the day was] to change perspectives and challenge people. This is the start of the journey, “ said O’Donnell. “We intend to keep the dialogue moving.”