VIDEO | Google Cloud Value Advisors Global Director: Building a Robust Data Platform Is a Team Sport

(US and Canada) Monisha Deshpande, Global Director, Google Cloud Value Advisors, and Joyeeta Banerjee, Global Solutions Value Practice Leader, Data Analytics and Security Solutions at Google, speak with Derek Strauss, Chairman of Gavroshe, in a video interview about how CDOs can invest in the right data platform, the best practices to follow while creating a robust data platform, and a customer success story with Google data platform.

Banerjee begins by stating that she built a case for Chief Data Officers to understand how to invest in the right data platform. She urges CDOs to consider the following determiners while investing:

• Robustness

• Responsiveness

• Resiliency

• Risk accountability

Referring to them as ‘the four Rs,’ Banerjee explains that the data platform needs to be robust for it to be able to assess, design, plan, and implement the cloud data platform. It also needs to be responsive across the changing technology and business trends, being agile to support both the initial and future use cases.

Furthermore, it must be resilient regarding security controls, protocols, and governance and account for the risks while switching from on-premises to a cloud environment. CDOs can invest in the right data platform by considering these aspects, affirms Banerjee.

Speaking about best practices that lead to a robust data platform, Deshpande states that it is a team sport. She emphasizes the importance of recruiting representatives from the business and the offices of the CFO and CISO to ensure investment from all the stakeholders.

Then, she shares an example of a customer who successfully implemented the four Rs, but the project failed because of the lack of the right stakeholders. Thus, Deshpande underlines that having the right representatives on board is critical for the successful implementation of a data strategy project. She further highlights that incorporating tech and cost optimization, operational efficiency, and people benefits are fundamental for developing a robust business case. Then, the highest-level executive should sponsor the initiative.

Next, Deshpande recommends using a business case as a blueprint for the overall strategy and project. She asserts it is beneficial to benchmark the baseline to define success and keep everyone aligned. Delving further, she suggests that organizations should address data challenges in a bite-sized manner considering the current macroeconomic environment. She also advises identifying the low-hanging fruits for tangible business improvements achievable with better access to data and organization alignment.

Citing some industry examples, Deshpande states that retailers might prioritize personalization and stockout prevention, whereas manufacturers can focus on improving inventory visibility and routing optimization. She confirms that if done right, this approach will not only deliver a quick win but, in turn, will also finance future use cases.

When asked about a customer success story with Google Cloud, Banerjee shares how a retail customer went through a modernization process for its data platform. She explains that the project was successful as the customer saw a 96% reduction in processing time across the supply chain, customer orders, and store performance.

In conclusion, Banerjee points out that the journey from having 400 terabytes of legacy warehouse data to 15 petabytes of data in the Google Data Platform portrays the increase in scalability. This shows that the modernization of data platforms can lead to cost optimization while also delivering value to the business.

CDO magazine appreciates Monisha Deshpande and Joyeeta Banerjee for sharing their valuable insights and data success stories with our global community.