Data collaboration crucial to tackling humanitarian challenges

Lenovo has published the results of the ‘Data for Humanity’ report, which cites a collaborative approach to data as fundamental to improving global stability and security. The research shared today indicates that companies successfully using data across several business areas are more likely than others to be taking action against humanitarian challenges. This same group, dubbed Data Leaders, are already benefitting financially too, with over three-quarters (78%) having increased their revenues over the past 12 months, compared to only half (50%) of those not fully harnessing their data. With an expectation to increase their revenues by 50%, the study also finds that companies will invest an average of $3million in data technology and initiatives over the next 12 months. But while profit is undoubtedly important in these turbulent times, purpose is equally front of mind for business leaders.

“Data has the potential to help tackle a multitude of business and humanitarian challenges while boosting profits in the process, so it’s a win-win for today’s organizations who are actively harnessing the value of the data they have,” comments Giovanni Di Filippo, EMEA President, Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group. “It’s clear that leaders at companies large enough to make a difference to the world are recognizing this as they look to increase investments in capabilities like artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and data storage. The optimism shown through this research demonstrates executives’ strong confidence in the capabilities of data – particularly when we consider the challenging economic backdrop that many companies are experiencing.”

Pioneering data for good

In the study, data is regarded as a solution for helping companies address humanitarian challenges while improving financial stability, with a quarter (26%) of respondents indicating they want to do more with their data to benefit humanity.

The results indicate that the energy crisis is regarded as the biggest threat over the next three years, with nearly three-quarters (71%) of executives expecting it to have a moderate to severe impact on their business. This is followed by the threats of global warming (59%), poor healthcare (53%) and income inequality (52%). However, only two-fifths (40%) of respondents indicated their company is taking steps in the next three years to tackle the energy crisis, falling lower for global warming (33%), poor healthcare (22%) and income equality (18%).

Collaboration for innovation

As datasets and analytical capabilities grow, senior executives believe that a collaborative approach to data will be fundamental to improving global stability and security. Whilst over a fifth (23%) do not know how to use data in a way that has a human impact, many feel that collaboration can benefit humanitarian purposes, innovation, as well as profitability.

Businesses are already sharing data with external partners and organizations to help improve education (46%) and commerce (46%), strengthen democracy and human rights (44%), support environmental initiatives (43%), and enable innovation (43%).

Those yet to participate in data partnerships and ecosystems cite cost as the biggest barrier (60%), followed by concerns around security (57%) and risk and compliance (57%).

The Data Leaders

Lenovo’s research identifies an elite group called the Data Leaders, making up 15% of the sample, and Data Followers, making up 37% of the sample.

Over the next three years, the Data Leaders are more likely than the Data Followers to be taking action against the energy crisis (60% of Leaders vs 33% of Followers), poor healthcare (29% of Leaders vs 18% of Followers), poor education (61% of Leaders vs 25% of Followers), and global warming (34% of Leaders vs 29% of Followers). They also better understand the importance of data in solving these challenges, and their most effective use of data is in progressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives (96%). In contrast, only a minority (41%) of Data Followers say they are effective here.

The Data Leaders are more likely than the Data Followers to say they are using their data for a mix of business and altruistic initiatives, rather than only on for-profit measures. This suggests that as organizations become more advanced in using their data, they are more likely to use it for good.

“The Data Leaders are paving the way through their use of data and have the financial results to show for it,” adds Di Filippo. “Harnessing coordinated approaches that unite strategy, culture, people and technology, they are embedding data within their daily operations and analyzing the journey from information to output. This is helping them make informed decisions that not only benefit themselves and their organization, but also the planet, using smarter technology to enable an ethical digital future.”