HP Survey Finds Unstructured Data to be the “Dark Matter” of Information Explosion
LONDON, UK, Nov. 5th 2008. New research1 announced today by HP shows that whilst European CIOs and Business Unit Heads are benefiting from better management of their information, they are tackling only part of the problem. This significantly underestimates the amount of unstructured data generated which puts their business at risk. Unstructured data includes such things as emails, documents and files from third parties which lie outside of internal systems.
The research, which included a survey of 1,020 CIOs and Business Unit Heads across Europe, found that on average, companies believe that only 25 percent of their data is currently unstructured. In contrast, research by leading industry analysts indicate that more than 70 percent of information is actually unstructured data.
Just as scientists studying the Universe found there was a significant missing factor in their model – the “dark matter”, this delta between the two research findings appears to be the information “dark matter” that can pose a serious risk for businesses.
“Companies will fail to fully understand their business information by ignoring their unstructured data,” said Erik Moller, EMEA marketing director, Information Management, Software, HP. “Providing the right information at the right time is a critical success factor for compliance, risk management and competitive strength. Organisations need a proactive information governance strategy to derive better business insights for improved decision making, collaboration, productivity and customer service. Such insights are the best way for CIOs to prove the value of information management to the board and to secure ongoing investment and support.”
Overall, the research results show organisations are embracing information management and support HP’s view that information management is directly linked to better business outcomes.
The top benefits of better information management identified by organisations include2:
- improved collaboration and less duplication, seen by 84 percent of respondents
- improved customer service, seen by 83 percent of respondents
- better segmentation of data for business use seen by 81 percent of respondents
Brunel University in west London is a good example of an organisation that is managing information much more effectively by putting the right policies, processes and technology in place. In 2007 Brunel University found its information management systems were struggling to cope with the increase in information generated across the university. Concerned that this would affect its ability to respond to enquiries accurately and meet compliance standards, Brunel chose to implement the HP Integrated Archive Platform.
”Our information management goals were to find a platform that could cope with our rising data volumes and give us reliability of search and storage as well as much quicker turnaround of official search requests,” said Iain Liddell, policy development manager, Brunel University. “By using the HP Integrated Archive Platform we have been able to analyse our business and academic research quickly, reduce the time needed to search and track important data such as email correspondence and increase the accuracy of the information we gather in response to enquiries or disputes.”
Key UK Research Findings:
• In the UK the main benefits seen within businesses from better information management include:
- Improved customer service or experience (seen by 75 percent of respondents who identified it as a potential benefit)
- Sustained/increased competitive edge (seen by 69 percent of respondents who identified it as a potential benefit)
- Improved collaboration between departments and less duplication of work (seen by 67 percent of respondents who identified it as a potential benefit)
• UK companies estimate that 29.4 percent of their data is in unstructured form.
• As with the European findings, the top challenge for better information management in the UK is getting employees to use the right applications to their full potential, cited by 53 percent of all UK companies surveyed
• On average UK company employees use only 20.7 percent of the information management tools and technologies available to them effectively
• 36 percent of UK companies find duplication of existing data a key challenge, while 29 percent find securing board level investment for new tools and applications an issue, a figure far lower than the EMEA average
1”HP Information Explosion Study,” conducted by Coleman Parkes Research, August 2008.
2Only those respondents which identified a particular area as being of potential benefit in an earlier question were asked whether they had witnessed that specific benefit in their company. Base numbers of respondents for benefits ‘seen in the company’ therefore vary.
About the survey
Coleman Parkes Research conducted 1,020 structured telephone interviews with CIOs and Business Unit Heads in large organisations (counted as +$1 billion turnover or +250 employees) in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Norway and Sweden. Fieldwork was carefully controlled to ensure the required coverage within country and vertical sector. All fieldwork was undertaken in late July and August 2008. Average interview length was approximately 12 to15 minutes. All interviews were carried out by fully trained interviewers working to IQCS guidelines and the entire project was conducted in strict accordance with the MRS Code of Conduct.
About HP
HP, the world’s largest technology company, provides printing and personal computing products and IT services, software and solutions that simplify the technology experience for consumers and businesses. HP completed its acquisition of EDS on Aug. 26, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.
Note to editors: More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds, is available at http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/.
Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected results; and other risks that are described in HP’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2008 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
© 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Editorial contacts:
Susie Mueller
susie.mueller@hp.com
+44 (0)77 1749 8570
Maddy Press
Burson-Marsteller for HP
maddy.press@bm.com
+44 20 7300 6205
HP Media Hotline
+1 866 266 7272
pr@hp.com
www.hp.com/go/newsroom
Hewlett-Packard Europe
150 Route du Nant D’Avril
1217 Meyrin, Switzerland
www.hp.com