Company vs AI: using a consultant for data analytics

We have recently been in discussions with a lot of industry professionals and there is one question that we get asked a lot: why would someone want to hire a data analytics company when the introduction of AI has supposedly made life simpler for many organisations and small businesses alike. 

So we thought this seems to be the perfect time to write this post addressing all such questions and concerns. Whilst we agree that AI is a powerful calculator for speed and scalar measures, it still lacks the human context and strategic judgement that no algorithm can replicate - at least not yet. AI excels at pattern recognition but fails to understand why the patterns exist within the complex realities of the business and industry. A data analytics form provides: a. domain expertise to ensure insights are relevant

b. business acumen to connect data to specific organisational needs and behaviour

c. ability to spot the signal from within a noisy, and low quality data

AI helps us answer a question, but who asks the question? We ask the question. A good data analytics company will know exactly what questions to ask and what parameters to input to be able to achieve a holistic picture of organisational performance. They do not stop at the first answer. They follow patterns, challenge assumptions, and perform diagnostic dives until they uncover the true cause. We are interested in not only what is statistically significant but also what is significant. 

Whilst automation is good for the business, don't automate your entire decision-making process. Partner with an expert team to orchestrate it. Keep the human in the loop.