What happens when a business changes faster than its BI team can respond?

Following his Data Community Meetup presentation, Neil Strange joins Alex Higgs to explore the challenges facing modern BI teams, why many organizations still rely heavily on spreadsheets, and what leaders can do to unlock more value from their data.

They discuss the realities of data maturity, the politics of BI, the role of AI in modern analytics, and why the first 90 days of a transformation program can shape the future of a data team for years to come.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:22 Why organizations struggle to see the full potential of data

01:14 Finding early adopters and creating momentum for change

02:55 The challenge of growing demand for BI

03:23 What developers should do when technical debt is ignored

04:01 Why BI often becomes invisible until something breaks

04:42 Underinvestment, communication, and organizational responsibility

06:39 The impact of AI on data teams and transformation programmes

07:05 How AI can accelerate delivery without cutting corners

08:00 Productivity gains, risks, and keeping humans in the loop

09:18 AI and the future of documentation, testing, and governance

10:23 Why AI still needs experienced data professionals

11:35 Using AI in real-world BI and analytics projects

12:03 Why BI is a political football inside organisations

12:58 How data teams influence business decisions

13:05 Why understanding business requirements matters more than technology

13:30 Closing remarks

Connect with Neil Strange

Neil Strange is CEO of Business Thinking and a regular speaker at Data Community events.

Learn more:

🌐 https://www.business-thinking.com

Join the Data Community:

🌐 https://www.data-community.org