Data Management Complexity a Major Challenge for Organizations

Data management complexity is a major challenge for almost one in three organizations in the Asia Pacific (APAC), according to a new study.

This highlights the need for robust data management solutions to streamline processes and drive efficiency across the region.

Commissioned by Lenovo, the second edition of the “Smarter Data Management Playbook” report by IDC delves into AI data management and encompasses data security, AI model integrity, data architecture and management, and data-driven enterprise IT strategy.

Over 550 CIOs and IT decision-makers were polled across the Asia Pacific, including “ASEAN+” countries which include Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Key findings

According to the report, 29% of businesses in APAC identified “Complexity of Data Management” as a major challenge in their organizational data initiatives, with ASEAN+ reporting the highest percentage at 32%.

The survey also found that 27% of ASEAN+ CIOs are leveraging cloud vendors to host the AI infrastructure demands, while 26% are developing new hybrid cloud environments specifically for AI initiatives.

When it comes to deploying GenAI, the top three data quality concerns are AI training on false information, absence of data quality assurances, and inaccurate code documentation. In that vein, the key limiting factors for the use of GenAI here are concerns over data security and control, lack of GenAI expertise, and lack of clear business case.

In a nutshell, data management has become a whole lot more complicated with GenAI, and businesses need to prioritize this to maximize the potential of AI models and solutions.

The IDC survey also highlights the hybrid cloud as the preferred infrastructure for enterprise AI needs, shaped by each enterprise's unique data architecture and strategy.

What struck me was the significant percentage of organizations across multiple industry verticals that either say they are repurposing existing on-premises technology for AI or existing hybrid architectures for AI. Another one in three are leveraging cloud vendors to host their AI infrastructure demands.

“Data innovation is crucial for today's CIOs to unlock new business opportunities and drive digital success. [The study found that] data management complexity [is] the prime challenge for 29% of Asia Pacific enterprises,” said Sumir Bhatia, president of Lenovo Infrastructure Solutions Group, Asia Pacific.

“This represents a significant shift towards hybrid cloud environments tailored for AI. Lenovo's open, reliable, and secure infrastructure empowers organizations to modernize their data strategies, ensuring agility and competitive advantage,” he said.

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