# Is a cultural change the key to unlocking the commercial value of data? Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2019-02-19 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: How to Ensure Data Quality in Financial Services Meta Description: Discover how to ensure data quality, comply with regulations, and maximise revenue through a data-first mindset and strategic data management. URL: https://financedigest.com/cultural-change-key-unlocking-commercial-value-datahtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/owen-1736839160320-compressed.jpg) Data is now the most valuable asset a business can have, and this is perhaps most true in the financial services sector. With a year of vast regulatory change, such as MiFID II and GDPR coming into effect, organisations are now tasked with ensuring this data is in the best shape possible to help comply with these. In light of this, it may not be a surprise that [80% of CDOs are now setting aside budget for data management and machine learning to automate tasks](https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/data-management-technologies-lead-chief-data-officers-priorites-for-automation-and-regulatory-compliance/53950/). Automation of certain processes will mean that people are put back in the driving seat, allowing them to see the true value of the data they are working with and how to best utilise it. Poor data can expose a business to [regulatory disclosure risk](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-rbc-tightens-grip-at-home-with-10-billion-hsbc-canada-bid-regulatory-risks-loom.html "Analysis-RBC tightens grip at home with billion HSBC Canada bid, regulatory risks loom") and a greater awareness of new data laws means the stakes have been raised when it comes to a business’s accountability. So how can you be sure that your data is in perfect condition, but also [unlock its commercial potential](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-firms-must-step-up-exploration-off-norway-to-unlock-potential-npd.html "Oil firms must step up exploration off Norway to unlock potential -NPD")? ![Owen Pettiford](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/owen-450x417-1736839160254-compressed.jpg) Owen Pettiford Firstly, creating a data-first mindset across the business should be a priority. This can be a daunting task, even if it is being done for both regulatory and revenue reasons. For it to be successful, it needs to be accepted by everyone in the [company and reinforced from the very top](https://www.financedigest.com/immunology-drug-market-growth-by-top-companies-trends-by-types-and-application-forecast-analysis-to-2030.html "Immunology Drug Market Growth by Top Companies, Trends by Types and Application, Forecast Analysis to 2030"). It may cause a sigh or two, but education [needs to be the foundation of this change](https://www.financedigest.com/change-is-inevitable-how-banks-need-to-adapt-to-customers-new-banking-habits.html "Change is inevitable – how banks need to adapt to customers’ new banking habits") in approach. This will often be the sole responsibility of the CFO or CDO, however, it needs to be a team effort. After all, all members of a business will be using [data in one way](https://www.financedigest.com/four-ways-data-and-ai-can-transform-financial-services.html "Four ways data and AI can transform Financial Services") or another. Poor data quality can have a huge impact on businesses, [costing time and money](https://www.financedigest.com/netflixs-gaming-foray-will-cost-time-and-money-wall-st.html "Netflix’s gaming foray will cost time and money – Wall St") and possibly reputation. The ramifications of inaccurate, inconsistent or incomplete data should be communicated across the entire organisation – from Chair to intern. Once this is instilled, not only will data will [become increasingly refined to the best possible quality](https://www.financedigest.com/smart-becomes-the-first-ssp-to-collaborate-with-white-bullet-to-safeguard-quality-in-the-digital-media-landscape.html "Smart becomes the first SSP to collaborate with White Bullet to safeguard quality in the digital media landscape"), it will also become more commercially valuable while adhering to regulatory requirements. Next, once your teams are aware of its importance and why they should care, [appointing a ‘data advocate’ within each team](https://www.financedigest.com/adnami-strengthens-executive-team-with-jorgen-gosvig-appointed-as-cfo.html "Adnami strengthens executive team with Jørgen Gosvig appointed as CFO") can help reinforce the message and wider cultural change. They will need to have full insight into current working [processes and is able to influence colleagues to consistently show data](https://www.financedigest.com/crowdsourcing-of-data-to-drive-the-high-throughput-process-development-market.html "Crowdsourcing of data to drive the High Throughput Process Development Market") the respect it deserves. Showing this diligent approach can also help secure buy-in from the board and help secure budget for implementing and maintaining an ongoing data [governance strategy](https://www.financedigest.com/adnami-to-receive-six-figure-sum-of-investment-from-danish-government-in-recognition-of-its-pioneering-technology-and-strategy.html "Adnami to receive six-figure sum of investment from Danish government in recognition of its pioneering technology and strategy"). Just as attentively as you are approaching staff mindsets, these procedures will need to be fine-tuned during their implementation, testing and reviewing. Something else to consider will be that team members will inevitably be [pulled away](https://www.financedigest.com/sterling-struggles-to-pull-away-from-march-2020-low.html "Sterling struggles to pull away from March 2020 low") from data duties if the business requires it, so a contingency plan will need to be put into place. Not only will this ensure that your data will [remain in a good state](https://www.financedigest.com/kremlin-remains-downbeat-on-state-of-black-sea-grain-deal.html "Kremlin remains downbeat on state of Black Sea grain deal"), but also demonstrate across the business the importance that is placed on it. Finally – and perhaps vitally – is the case for implementing the [technology that can take on the bulk of the manual work](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-5g-technology-and-how-it-works.html "What is 5G technology and how it works"). Data [management services](https://www.financedigest.com/cyclic-innovation-to-drive-the-medical-case-management-services-market.html "Cyclic innovation to drive the Medical Case Management Services Market") can be customised to suit the specific needs of individual businesses and are often highly flexible. As well as providing best practices in [data quality and the right processes to remediate any errors](https://www.financedigest.com/amazons-twitch-hit-by-data-breach-due-to-configuration-error.html "Amazon’s Twitch hit by data breach due to configuration error"), they can also minimise the need for human intervention. When it comes to instilling that data-first mindset, it can help to take the burden off of [busy teams and allow them to focus](https://www.financedigest.com/world-bank-scrapping-ease-of-doing-business-index-is-a-reminder-to-focus-on-fundamentals.html "World Bank scrapping Ease of Doing Business Index is a reminder to focus on fundamentals") on what they do best. Once this mindset is well and truly ingrained into a working culture, it can be a tool that can be used to help unlock valuable [revenue opportunities](https://www.financedigest.com/the-potential-impact-of-coronavirus-covid-19-for-riveting-tools-market-revenue-opportunity-forecast-and-value-chain-2021-2028.html "The Potential Impact Of Coronavirus (Covid-19) For Riveting Tools Market Revenue, Opportunity, Forecast And Value Chain 2021-2028"). Up to date and accurate real-time data can give you that edge over competitors – the best [business decisions can’t be made](https://www.financedigest.com/tripling-the-size-of-my-business-in-the-pandemic-the-mistakes-made-and-lessons-learned.html "Tripling the Size of my Business in the Pandemic — The Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned") using yesterdays’ data after all. With a solid and supported internal education campaign, the best practices in place and the right technology for the business implemented, [cleaning up your data](https://www.financedigest.com/optable-announces-new-data-clean-room-capabilities.html "Optable Announces New Data Clean Room Capabilities") act will not be as painful as it first seems. With hefty fines for not doing so, [businesses can’t afford to sit back](https://www.financedigest.com/generali-pulls-back-from-russia-intesa-reviews-business.html "Generali pulls back from Russia, Intesa reviews business") and relax. By putting people at the [centre of your data](https://www.financedigest.com/data-centres-and-the-changing-financial-trading-landscape.html "Data centres and the changing financial trading landscape") strategies, you will be able to unlock it’s real commercial vaule. _Owen is SVP of SAP [Digital Transformation](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-create-value-in-digital-transformations.html "How to create value in digital transformations") and SAP Mentor at BackOffice Associates. Working with SAP and non-SAP systems since 1991, he helps clients understand how to extend SAP and migrate to S/4Hana._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---