Post Written by InfraSpeak Team. 

We live in the age of Industry 4.0, the world of Big Data and Internet of Things. This means that generated and well-managed data are at the “pinnacle” of importance for companies and their workers. Its purpose lies in optimal performance and an increase in productivity. Let’s dive into the reasons that justify these theories.

Why data matters?

Firstly, for data to really matters, you’ll need to generate from the right source. It’s pretty simple: if you gather data to be analyzed on a specific situation that is not applicable, the results won’t be adequate. So, for a boost in productivity, you need to capitalize on generating suitable data.

The next step to upgrade your performance will be focusing on managing your data. Gathering all the data in the world won’t help you unless you manage it accordingly.

Analyzing big data is just a super-enhanced way of traditional data study, which processes information coming from a huge number of sources thanks to the connectivity allowed by IoT. This IoT technology grants higher efficiency and quick processing.

In enterprises, lack of information or data can lead to poor performance, non-motivated employees and mediocre results. Why? Because employers and workers won’t be able to track ways to improve the outcome of their performances, they won’t have a backlog or guidance toward better efficient operations and won’t have the necessary knowledge regarding all the trends that are being successful in the business.

Currently, big data and IoT technology are essential methods to a successful business, more productive employers, optimal processes and, in the end, a happier life.

The relation between data and productivity

Now that we assessed all the importance of big data, IoT technologies and suitable generated and managed data, let’s focus on the productivity aspect of it.

Motivation and happiness are essential productivity boosters. Without them, your workers will deliver substandard performance, which will result in poor results for your company. People need to feel valued, to track their work and performance to improve their engagement and motivation.

Disregarding the human aspect of an employee’s performance isn’t recommendable. Now, why data have any connection to your worker’s conduct?

First of all, collecting and managing big chunks of data helps the company in giving insights on working smarter and easier. Enabling and facilitating methods to deliver optimal processes will increase your team’s productivity and happiness.

It also enhances teamwork and elevates worker’s worth by being able to analyze and support each system through IoT technology and big data. It’s all about connecting, rewarding and recognizing.

And in that regard, data boost the understanding of each person in the company, its traits, strengths, and weaknesses which helps greatly in each individual being able to review their work, and by doing that, feel important, valued and engaged.

Also, it will help in streamlining tasks by reducing all the bureaucracy needed. Automation and optimization of processes improve worker’s productivity, by using all resources into full capacity the results will attain top-notch efficiency.

Big data can help you save time and costs by enabling rapid access to information that wouldn’t be available without IoT technology. How can this extra-information help in a company’s productivity?

It allows for workers to track customer’s experience, which products are trending, which marketing campaigns are generating more leads and which strategies can result in better revenue.

Failed tasks are reduced which means that people tend to be less frustrated at work, their performance contributes even more, and the pressure of failure is reduced by the help of big data.

How to use data to produce more?

Being smart while using smart technology will lead you to success. Even with all the automation and optimization of your company, it’s still required to manage and generate applicable and recommendable data. Leveraging data is the key to a bright future and to achieve a competitive advantage, which will increase the company’s ability to compete in the market. If every business uses big data then simply using it won’t give you any field-advantage, so you need to assure that you’re using this insightful technology effectively.

The strategy has been in the world of business since forever, so that approach doesn’t change even if the technology is evolving as it is. So, first, you need to draw your strategy and then use the big data that can be applied to improve your results. Data by itself won’t help your business grow, it needs to be managed and analyzed to achieve its purpose.

In short:

• For you to get optimal processes from data you need the proper technology to do that. It’s technology, so, the devices and software (like a CMMS, for example) are essential to get results, which means that they need to be top-notch and adequate to your business;
• Your needs. That’s your priority. Data can be used for almost any field in life, from agriculture to rocket science, so outlining your needs is mandatory;
• You start sourcing and gathering the data that best meets all your needs and use the analytics to achieve your goal;
• Outsourcing the data analysis and employ people that can manage and generate data that eventually will help in decision-making, operations’ optimization and adding value and profit to the company;

What can’t be measured can’t be improved

In the end, it all comes down to measurement: if you can measure and track every metric in the process, you’ll be able to analyze, to improve and to check whether or not your success is near and whether your path is the right one.

With Industry 4.0 and Big Data, this concept greatly increases its importance. Why? Because this idea is based on measuring and tracking everything which helps on enhancing your building, work processes, employers’ productivity and eventually leads to success and a greater work environment.

Gathering and managing data are needs in today’s world and it still lies in the words of Peter Drucker: “You can’t manage what you can’t measure”.

Management and measurement work together, but measuring metrics won’t lead automatically to successfully manage your business. As mentioned, before it’s still needed good tactics and approaches to lead your enterprise to higher grounds.

Also, transparency is added to your workplace regarding your employer’s performance, your business’ growth. How? By using a CMMS software, for example, or by simply using Big Data (in the right way) you’ll be able to track whether or not your workers are achieving their goals, fulfilling their tasks, exceeding expectations or even maintaining the level of production needed for the company. This system also helps increase your workers’ motivation by adding these measurements to their production.

All in all, this new world of Industry 4.0 is based on measurements and smart technology. Actually, being just smart isn’t enough anymore. You need to achieve the goals that were set. For your enterprise to improve, measuring everything, gathering data and managing all systems is essential. This symbiotic relationship between productivity and data is a defining trait of Industry 4.0, which will enable smart companies to achieve their goals and to turn their work environment into a happier and more productive place.