READY LAYER ONE
The 6 keys to data readiness
Every great transformation starts at level one: data.
Every transformation—AI or otherwise—begins with the same critical first step: building a strong data foundation. Across industries, companies are racing to launch ambitious new initiatives, especially in AI.
And while speed matters, skipping the fundamentals is risky. Without structure, governance, and clarity in your data, even the most advanced AI strategy can collapse under its own weight.
MIT research shows that 95% of AI projects fail to deliver meaningful results when foundational data maturity is lacking.
Skip layer one, and AI ambitions collapse under complexity.
Many organizations are racing ahead without laying the groundwork—overlooking the foundational systems, governance, and architecture that every transformation depends on, from AI to full-scale business reinvention. In the pursuit of quick wins, they risk building capabilities that are unsustainable, brittle, and disconnected from long-term goals.
To reach new heights of innovation, organizations must first strengthen the foundation—and that means both data and the people who bring it to life.
Today, everyone has access to the same models and increasingly simple tools to customize them. Competitive advantage no longer comes from the technology itself—it comes from the data and people behind it. The most effective AI solutions run on clean, connected, governed data that can actually sustain intelligence at scale. Without it, they crack at the foundation before they even truly start.
Layer one: there's no cheat code to skip it.
Before any organization can scale AI—or any business transformation—it needs a data ecosystem that’s fast, clean, and connected. This is the starting level, where you earn the right to advance. Skip it, and AI ambitions stall in a maze of bad inputs, broken systems, and misaligned teams. Master it, and you unlock agility, scalability, and confidence to move faster and smarter. Whether your business is pre-IPO, mid-transformation, or retooling for competitive advantage, every organization faces the same challenge: turning data chaos into clarity. To guide that journey, we’ve identified six keys to data readiness—and built a practical roadmap to help you assess your current state and move decisively toward AI maturity.
The 6 keys to data readiness are:
- Strategy
- Governance
- Architecture
- Security
- Intelligence
- Talent