In the late 19th century, a technological disruption called electricity revolutionized how people lived and worked. It became known as the Era of Electrification. Today, a parallel transformation is unfolding, driven by the widespread availability of data. We call it the era of Datafication, and it’s changing the dynamics in both personal and professional spheres.
Datafication is transforming many traditional businesses into data businesses. Think about the buggy whip makers from the 19th century who disappeared because they failed to realize they were part of the broader transportation industry. Similarly, businesses that don’t grasp their crucial role in the data world and harness the power of data effectively may lack the ability to adapt to market changes and eventually become obsolete.
What Is Datafication, and How Does It Differ from Digitalization?
Consider the wealth of data that businesses collect and measure about different facets of our daily lives: our screen time, social media usage, video consumption, financial transactions, credit card activity, and more. Likewise, even our exercise routines have undergone ‘datafication.’ Modern fitness devices can log details such as the distance covered during a run and even monitor heart and respiration rates.
Datafication, as outlined by Mayer-Schoenberger and Cukier, revolves around translating various social actions and everyday activities into measurable digital data, facilitating immediate monitoring and predictive analysis. To put it simply, it involves converting once unmeasurable processes and behaviors (e.g., customer sentiment, shopping behavior, traffic patterns, vehicle behavior) into data that can be observed, monitored, scrutinized, and enhanced.
Datafication and digitalization are two distinct concepts. Digitalization involves using advanced digital technologies to process data originating from various facets and assets, thereby transforming a business model and creating new opportunities for value generation. In contrast, datafication centers on the active conversion of specific aspects of our lives, behaviors, and interactions into data points that can be leveraged to drive the process of digitalization.
Uncovering the Impact of Datafication
The shift towards data-driven decision-making revolutionizes industries, enabling companies to enhance efficiency, deliver personalized experiences, and discover valuable insights. Let’s look at some real-world examples of how datafication is reshaping various sectors:
Supply Chain Optimization
By continuously monitoring and analyzing data related to inventory levels, transportation routes, production rates, and demand patterns, companies can now reconfigure their supply chains. As a result, they benefit from reduced operational costs, improved inventory management, and faster response to market changes. Additionally, data-driven insights enable businesses to minimize waste, enhance sustainability efforts, and ensure products reach consumers more efficiently.
Personalized Content
Datafication has revolutionized how we discover and engage with content, such as books. E-book providers leverage datafication to track readers’ habits and preferences. By analyzing the genres, authors, reading pace, and even the specific pages readers spend the most time on, these platforms can curate highly tailored book recommendations, enhancing the reader’s journey and boosting e-book sales. Authors also benefit from receiving feedback on reader engagement, which helps refine their writing style and content.
Smart Tire Management
In an increasingly data-driven world, even something as fundamental as tire management has undergone a transformation. Tire manufacturers like Pirelli are at the forefront of this innovation by embedding sensors in tires. These sensors continuously collect a wealth of data, including tire pressure and temperature, helping with tire wear prediction, proactive maintenance, minimized breakdowns, and reduced costs.
Risk Assessment in Motor Insurance
Datafication enables motor insurance companies to assess risk with high accuracy. Metrics such as speed, acceleration, braking patterns, and even factors like time of day and road conditions are monitored. The holistic view of driving behavior allows insurers to distinguish between safe and high-risk drivers. Armed with granular data, insurers can further tailor policies to match individual driving profiles. Safe drivers have to pay lower premiums, while riskier drivers may see adjusted rates that reflect their behavior more accurately.
Education Evolution
Education is rapidly being “datafied” with Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). These online platforms collect data on how students engage with course materials, enabling personalized learning experiences. Educators can customize learning paths, employ adaptive platforms, and intervene early to support struggling students. Data-driven insights also aid institutions in refining curricula and teaching methods.
Modern technological advancements such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Predictive Analytics, etc., have paved the way for integrating data-driven aspects into our everyday routines and essential activities. Datafication offers opportunities to optimize processes, provide personalized experiences, and gain insights that were previously unimaginable. Embracing this data-driven paradigm is no longer a choice but a necessity for businesses looking to survive and thrive in the modern world.
