Why are More Companies Turning to Data Strategy Consultants?
When business leaders hear terms like "data management" or "data strategy," they often think, "Data strategy? We have plenty of data but struggle to make use of it. We don’t have the time, expertise, or direction to begin addressing the issues. A clear strategy feels out of reach...”
That’s exactly why they seek out help from a data strategy consultant.
An expert in data strategy can bridge the gap, not just by implementing a plan but also by empowering you to feel confident using your data. It’s not enough to have someone with expertise — you need someone who can teach you along the way, making the process less daunting and easier to integrate into your business.
Now, you might be intrigued but still wondering how this all works. Let’s break it down.
What exactly does a data strategy consultant do?
A data strategy consultant is an expert trained to help businesses harness the power of data. They don’t just understand how to work with data; they know how to turn raw data into actionable insights that drive growth.
Here’s what a consultant typically does:
- Assessment: They begin by evaluating and documenting the current state of your data—looking at how it's collected, organized, and used.
- Optimization or Creation: If there are processes in place, they’ll refine them for efficiency. If not, they’ll establish new processes that are sustainable.
- Framework Development: Once the groundwork is laid, they create a comprehensive strategy that includes policies, data governance, and a roadmap for the future.
- Implementation & Training: They assist with testing the new processes, provide employee training, and make necessary adjustments.
- Continuous Improvement: The focus then shifts to long-term innovation, monitoring, and refining your data strategy over time.
This gives a broad overview of what you can expect from hiring a data strategy consultant, but you may wonder: What exactly does this look like in practice?
Here’s a basic timeline for how a consultant might approach your business:
1. Evaluate Your Current Data Landscape
- In-depth assessment of data assets: The consultant will begin by thoroughly reviewing your existing data ecosystem. This includes analyzing how your organization collects, stores, and manages data. They will review your data sources, whether they are internal systems, third-party tools, or customer inputs.
- Identify gaps and inefficiencies: During this stage, the consultant identifies any gaps in data collection, inconsistencies in data formats, or inefficiencies in how data is being stored and accessed. They’ll also assess whether the data is accurate, up to date, and aligned with your business goals.
- Understand business objectives: It’s not just about the data itself but how it aligns with your overall business strategy. The consultant will work closely with key stakeholders to understand your company’s objectives, challenges, and desired outcomes from leveraging data.
2. Enhance or Establish Processes
- Optimization of existing processes: If your business already has some data management processes in place, the consultant will work on optimizing them for efficiency. This could involve automating manual processes, improving data flow between systems, or enhancing data quality standards.
- Establish new processes where needed: If your business lacks defined data management processes, the consultant will create them from the ground up. This includes developing clear protocols for data collection, storage, processing, and security. They will ensure these processes are scalable and sustainable, preparing your organization for future data growth.
- Data collection methods: At this stage, the consultant will also help identify the most effective ways to collect meaningful data, whether through customer interactions, operational systems, or external sources. They’ll set up workflows to ensure the data is accurate and collected consistently.
3. Develop a Comprehensive Data Framework
- Create a governance structure: A key component of any data strategy is governance. The consultant will establish a governance framework that includes data ownership, roles, and responsibilities within your organization. This ensures data is handled securely, complies with regulations such as HIPAA or SOC-2, and remains high-quality across all departments.
- Design policies and procedures: The consultant will develop detailed policies for how data should be managed, accessed, and protected. This includes outlining how data is classified, secured, and audited. Procedures will be designed to guide employees on how to handle data responsibly.
- Roadmap for future growth: The consultant will lay out a roadmap that outlines the next steps in your data journey. This roadmap includes short-term actions for quick wins and long-term strategies that align with your company’s goals. It may also highlight technologies and tools that will support your business in scaling its data capabilities.
4. Test and Train for Real-World Application
- Pilot testing: Once the new processes and frameworks are in place, the consultant will conduct a pilot phase to test these strategies in a controlled environment. This helps identify any issues or adjustments that need to be made before full implementation.
- Employee training: A crucial part of the process is empowering your team. The consultant will offer tailored training sessions to ensure employees understand how to use the new systems and tools effectively. This includes how to interpret data, how to follow governance policies, and how to use insights in decision-making.
- Feedback and iteration: After testing and initial training, the consultant will gather feedback from employees and stakeholders. Based on real-world application, they’ll refine the strategy, adjusting processes or technologies to better fit the organization’s needs.
5. Future-Proof Your Data Strategy
- Establish monitoring systems: The consultant will help set up systems that continually monitor data quality, usage, and security. These systems ensure that any potential issues are detected early and that data processes remain efficient and compliant with evolving regulations.
- Ongoing improvements: A data strategy isn’t a one-time fix—it’s an evolving process. The consultant will develop a long-term plan for continuous improvement. This might involve periodic audits, updating data governance policies, and staying on top of technological innovations.
- Innovation and scalability: As your business grows, so will your data needs. The consultant will create a scalable strategy that allows your data processes to grow with your business. They will also advise on new data technologies or analytics tools that can help you stay ahead of the competition.
How do you find the right data strategy consultant?
Many businesses want to find an expert who can hit the ground running without breaking the bank. You could hire someone full-time, but that can be costly. Alternatively, many businesses work with a team like ours on a fractional basis — offering top-tier expertise while keeping costs down.
What should you look for in a data strategy consultant?
- An ability to understand your business and to see the big picture to align your data strategy with your business goals.
- Skilled in data management, governance, and a variety of data-related tools.
- An ability to consolidate multiple employee viewpoints into the best solution for your specific company.
- Flexibility in adapting strategies to fit the unique needs of each client.
- A proven track record with references or case studies to demonstrate their expertise.
What outcomes should you expect when working with a data strategy consultant?
- Goal-Aligned Strategy
Develop a scalable data strategy tailored to your business goals, driving growth and innovation while maintaining a competitive edge. - Operational Efficiency
Streamline processes, automate tasks, and enhance cross-team collaboration to boost productivity and decision-making speed. - Cost Savings
Optimize resource allocation, reduce overhead by using fractional expertise, and improve ROI on data initiatives. - Actionable Insights for Decision-Making
Learn how to transform data into insights that inform business decisions, fostering a data-driven culture for real-time responses. - Clearer Data Understanding
Gain full visibility into your data, improving its quality and uncovering new opportunities for business growth.
We hope this overview has provided a clearer understanding of why so many companies partner with data strategy consultants to enhance their business. As you can see, managing data effectively involves many complex, time-consuming steps, and without the right expertise, you risk missing out on the full potential of your data—leading to wasted time, effort, and resources. A simpler, more efficient solution is to work with a skilled data strategy consultant who can guide you through the process and unlock the true value of your data.
If you’re ready to create a data strategy for your business, we invite you to visit our website and schedule a discovery call today!
Know another business owner who could benefit from our expertise? We’d greatly appreciate it if you could pass along our information. Together, we can turn data challenges into opportunities for success!









