An international study reveals that Belgian companies do have a vision regarding data, but they insufficiently translate this into concrete applications and results.
Belgian organizations are not idle when it comes to data. According to an international study by Equans in collaboration with L’Usine Nouvelle and L’Usine Digitale, 54 percent of Belgian organizations have an ‘operational’ data policy.
Nevertheless, only 47 percent utilize more than half of their available data. Belgium is thus positioned between countries that are fully committed to data usage and countries where data is still primarily approached strategically or theoretically.
Six countries
For the study, 980 decision-makers were surveyed in six countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. The results show that English-speaking countries such as the US, Canada, and the UK achieve more results from data. Organizations in these countries more often use a central data platform, share data between departments, and measure the ROI of data usage, leading to broader adoption.
In Europe, the focus is more on governance, security, and reporting. This focus is important, but at the same time, it means that data is converted into practical applications less quickly.
Standardization
In Belgium, the structures for data usage are present, but usage remains fragmented. Data is often deployed on a project basis, and silos between departments hinder broad application. Many organizations still lack a shared data layer, meaning value creation occurs based on isolated cases rather than structurally.
The study states that standardization, consolidation, and simplification are essential for further growth. This becomes even more important in light of artificial intelligence. AI solutions only work optimally if the underlying data is shared, uniform, and of high quality. Countries with higher maturity in data standardization already apply AI more frequently in their processes. For Belgium, this means that the gap with frontrunners threatens to widen if this basic infrastructure is not put in order.