Even as your data, applications and systems increase in number, the Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) helps connect data to enhance data-driven decision-making. But what will it take to deliver value for your organization?

Change will feel within reach with our six practical steps from formulating a strategy to fostering an environment for thriving collaboration in the enterprise.

IDMC helps CIOs, CDOs, business leaders and data teams to maximize the value of digital transformation in effective data and AI management strategies. Automated services on a single, centralized platform deliver consistent data management that reduces the inefficiency found in disconnected systems.

You can harness the full potential of our connected and integrated approach, which includes the following benefits:

• Fuel digital transformation by turning data into a strategic asset when you integrate disparate data sources and connect data consumers to data.
• Achieve scale and high performance by ensuring relevant data is readily accessible even as data volumes increase.
• Enable strategic decision-making and better customer experiences by improving data quality and consistency for accurate analysis and AI initiatives.
• Reduce risk, safeguard sensitive information and support compliance with a comprehensive data and AI governance framework.
• Enable seamless user experiences and facilitate self-service access to trusted, well-governed data by boosting accessibility, AI fluency and data democratization.

The six steps in this article are based in our success in delivering centralized and integrated data management that helps enterprise customers tackle the challenges of operating in silos and disconnected systems. Each step will help you launch and maintain a platform that adapts to the evolving business landscape over time.

The first step is to develop a clear data strategy that aligns data management with your organization's business goals and processes. A well-crafted data strategy serves as a foundation for future initiatives and helps manage regulatory risks, supply-chain disruptions and operational costs. It’s vital for creating a culture where data is regarded as a strategic asset and data teams demonstrate their value to senior leadership.

The second step is to carefully select and plan a pilot project. Start with a simple, strategic use case that is both manageable and capable of delivering quick, noticeable results that matter to sponsors and executives. This could focus on a particular business unit and ensure their data stores, governance processes and end-user tools are all connected and aligned.

Prepare to break down data silos by documenting where data is stored, where it is typically required, what it is commonly used for and any deliberate limitations on access. Better still, automate data delivery pathways to help users achieve successful outcomes quickly. Factor in scalability to accelerate your project’s expansion into a broader program.

The next step is to provide training and resources to ensure that all participants are well-informed and proficient in using the platform. Stakeholders need to be adequately prepared and educated about the importance of their role. This will help ensure effective adoption and utilization while aligning users with your overall objectives and strategy for the marketplace.

The crux of this step is continuous tracking and monitoring of how data moves across your ecosystem and how it is used. Gathering feedback from users is crucial for understanding how effectively you are reducing the redundancy and inefficiency of silos and disconnected systems. This insight helps in making informed adjustments and improvements, ensuring the platform remains aligned with user needs and business objectives.

The final step involves refining your program based on feedback and the lessons learned during the earlier phases. Review your operating model, user engagement and the value delivered to continually enhance the marketplace's features and capabilities boost adoption when you expand. The goal is to better serve the business and its clients.

These six steps will set you on a path to implement a single, enterprise data management platform that breaks data silos, reduces risk and accelerates data sharing across your organization. For more flesh on these bones, our new workbook, "Data Chaos to Business Value in 6 Steps: A Guide to Adopting IDMC" will help you work through these steps with collaborative exercises and far more detail than we can cover here. Give your team a blueprint for success in your specific circumstances.

This workbook emphasizes the importance of clear communication, training, building trust and community and continuous adaptation based on user feedback. Organizations that connect fragmented data and disparate systems can foster a strong data-driven culture that aligns with their corporate vision.

Download "Data Chaos to Business Value in 6 Steps: A Guide to Adopting IDMC" today for a structured approach to breaking silos and connecting data-hungry users with trusted, reliable data that powers your growth.