Enterprise leaders recognize the potential of unstructured data to boost operational efficiency, but expertise gap hinders progress

Qlik's recent survey sheds light on the untapped potential of unstructured data and the challenges enterprises face in leveraging it effectively. Despite recognizing its significance, organizations struggle with expertise gaps and integration issues. This article explores the findings of the survey and how enterprises are addressing these hurdles to harness the power of unstructured data with AI.

Key Insights:

• Untapped Potential: Enterprises acknowledge the significant potential of unstructured data for enhancing operational efficiency and driving insights. However, many struggle to leverage this resource effectively due to expertise gaps and insufficient tools.

• GenAI Adoption: Interest in leveraging generative AI (GenAI) for unstructured data is high, but investment remains modest. Organizations seek solutions that seamlessly integrate AI into existing analytics environments without requiring extensive skillsets or technology overhauls.

• Top Priorities: Data privacy, compliance concerns, and integration issues dominate enterprise priorities when evaluating vendors for unstructured data initiatives. Cost, system integration, and governance features outweigh vendor reputation in decision-making.

• Operational Efficiency: A majority of respondents see unstructured data as a key driver for improving operational efficiency, while fewer believe it can drive innovation. Use cases primarily revolve around enhancing search and query tools for internal documents.

• Challenges with Traditional Tools: Traditional enterprise search tools are deemed insufficient for maximizing the value of vast document libraries. Most efforts to leverage unstructured data remain in early or pilot stages, highlighting the need for specialized tools and expertise.

Expert Perspective:

Erik Bradley, Chief Strategist & Director of Research at Enterprise Technology Research, emphasizes the critical challenge facing enterprises: the expertise gap in harnessing the full potential of GenAI for unstructured data. To capitalize on opportunities, organizations must invest in bridging this knowledge gap and seamlessly integrating advanced AI capabilities into existing analytics frameworks.

Qlik's survey underscores the significant opportunity presented by unstructured data for driving insights and operational efficiency. Despite challenges such as expertise gaps and integration issues, enterprises are increasingly recognizing the value of leveraging AI to unlock the full potential of unstructured data. By addressing these hurdles and investing in advanced AI capabilities, organizations can position themselves for success in the data-driven era.