There was an interesting article written by two Accenture Managing Directors on ComputerWeekly.com recently and we felt that it was important to comment. Although the article reaches the correct conclusion – that using data analytics provides business with a competitive advantage – some of the authors’ commentary plays into the common misconception that the benefits of data analytics are out of reach for SMBs. In an environment where there are companies providing analytics and data science as a service, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

The article notes five actions that drive data analytics success:

• Establishing a “center of gravity” for analytics

• Initiating an analytics operating model

• Creating internal marketplaces for data collaboration

• Developing a data supply chain

• Training talent and building a data-driven culture

Some of these items, like building a “center of gravity” for analytics and a data driven culture, are organizational in nature and apply to companies of all sizes. They require changes in focus, not the expensive consultants and technology that are too often only available to large businesses. In fact, adjusting focus and getting the team on board is often an easier shift for the management of a mid-sized company than it is for leaders of a global enterprise.

The other actions, like the analytics model and data supply chain, are more technology-heavy. This is typically where SMBs lose traction. Building the infrastructure necessary to support data analytics is difficult and expensive. Resources like skilled developers and data scientists are scarce, and even though they have a growing supply of data most SMBs don’t have the technology expertise to even get started.

This article gives the impression that SMBs are just out of luck or are years away from realizing the benefits of analytics, but that is not the case. Rather than throwing up their collective arms and doing nothing, SMBs have the option of choosing companies like Actus Data to provide data science and analytics as a service. With a wide range of solutions that are powerful, flexible, and affordable, Actus Data takes care of the heavy lifting and enables SMBs to get the same benefits as the big guys by transforming data into action.