Study: The most sought-after roles to transform operations are…

Businesses are eager to better serve their clients, but most lack the skills, processes and technology needed to leverage data effectively.



In fact, 61% of U.S. companies agree that inaccurate data is undermining their ability to provide an excellent customer experience, according to “Investing in Digital Transformation: The Year’s Most Sought-After Data Roles,” a report from Experian Data Quality.



“Data has become a strategic asset — often the most important strategic asset — for many businesses,” said Thomas Schutz, senior VP and general manager for Experian Data Quality. “That means they need to invest in innovative ways to maintain, control access and leverage data.”



To combat these challenges, more companies are investing heavily in new data-specific positions. The most sought-after data roles this year include a mix of business- and regulation-focused positions, both key areas for leveraging information.



For example, the top role being recruited today is the data analyst — and 46% of U.S. organizations are planning to hire data analysts in the next year. These roles can be placed within many areas of the business, from finance to marketing.



Other important roles include data protection officers, compliance officers and chief data officers (CDOs). Findings also revealed that 51% of C-level executives plan to hire a CDO in the next 12 months.



“Since data is a high priority, it’s not surprising that we’re seeing such a keen focus on hiring in these areas,” Schutz said. “While the talent shortage around data roles is certainly a challenge for many businesses, organizations need to come up with creative ways to attract and maintain this talent to keep up with the changing business landscape.”



Other key findings include:

•According to C-level respondents, the top roles being hired in 2017 are chief data officers, data protection officers and data analysts.

•More than half of organizations use data to better serve their customers and increase revenue.

•Most (97%) companies use data to power business opportunities.