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It’s All About the Data

This time, we're diving into a crucial but often overlooked question:

Is your Data AI Ready?

Artificial intelligence is the buzzword of the decade, with leaders everywhere itching to integrate AI into their organizations. But let’s pump the brakes—successful AI isn’t just about the coolest new tool or shiny capability.

It starts with something fundamental: your data.

Common Data Challenges

Building AI capabilities can feel like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. Consider these real-world hurdles:

• Delayed Access: AI projects often grind to a halt because critical data isn’t available when needed.

• Misaligned Data Contracts: Agreements about what data looks like often don’t match reality, forcing costly rework.

• Inconsistent Naming: Data may be labeled differently across systems, creating confusion and inefficiency.

These challenges aren’t new. Many organizations have spent decades wrestling with data issues—AI just shines a brighter spotlight on them.

How to Prepare Your Data for AI

Here’s your checklist to determine if your data is ready for AI:

1. Decompose Your Project: Break down your AI goals into specific data needs and address dependencies early.

2. Conduct a Data Inventory: What data do you have, and where is it stored?

3. Establish Data Governance: Start with your project’s data but think enterprise. Implement standards for data quality, structure, and metadata (data about your data).

4. Prioritize Metadata: A picture named “file123.jpg” isn’t useful. Metadata like “bird, geolocation, 2023” transforms it into actionable information.

5. Invest in a Data Platform: Centralize and share data efficiently. Master data management (e.g., shared customer or product data) can prevent duplication and ensure consistency.

Keep in mind — all your project’s data doesn’t have to be ready before you can start. You must have the data pipeline and governance foundation in work to stay ahead of the project milestones for “data ready.”

The Portfolio Game-Changer: APP-RAT 360 Capability Featured on tradewindAI.com

We are thrilled to share that McLean Forrester's pitch video titled "Application Portfolio Rationalization 360 Degrees (APP-RAT 360)" has been deemed 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 by the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace!

APP-RAT 360 addresses critical IT portfolio management challenges within DoD such as the lack of unbiased data, tools, support for numerous legacy applications, budget constraints, and compliance with DoD modernization directives.

Key benefits of APP-RAT 360 include enabling smart migration to the cloud, enhancing portfolio efficiency and agility, and transforming legacy systems into efficient, cloud-native microservices. It provides data-backed decisions for portfolio modernization, reduces costs and risks associated with modernizing or retiring applications, and improves code security for cyber defense.

It’s an honor to be recognized among a competitive field of applicants to the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace for our innovation, scalability, and potential impact on DoD missions.

𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, please check out our 5-minute video solution on Tradewinds: tradewindAI.com.