The DataLead

by Datalore

Hi there,

Let's raise a virtual kombucha toast to José, who just secured the go-ahead for his proposed data science platform migration. But as we all know, after every victory comes a new challenge.

So, what's next for José? Setting up a robust PoC and designing an effective adoption strategy.

Recently, José carved out some time from his schedule to tune into a webinar on Empowering Analysts in Financial Services to Move Away From Excel. Even though José's team doesn't use Excel much, he was interested in understanding how the department-wide adoption of new tools could work.

Watch the recording

The guests were speakers representing varied perspectives. One speaker discussed user-focused PoC structures, and another shared insights on leading the cross-departmental adoption of the JetBrains Datalore platform.

José had his notepad ready – here are his takeaways:

Find PoC Champions

Identify a group of team members to start with the new platform. These “evangelists” will test the platform, provide valuable feedback, and share real-life examples to inspire the larger team, much like the speaker did when demonstrating how an eight-hour task was automated and became a two-minute process with Datalore.

Address Stakeholder Concerns in PoC

Identify principal issues for stakeholders. Demonstrate the new platform's measurable impact on these issues during PoC to reassure them about the benefits of the transition.

Spiral Adoption

Approach the rollout in a phased manner, transitioning team by team. This ensures early feedback, allows for on-the-go adjustments to be made, and eases the whole department’s transition to the new platform.

Robust Enterprise Data Catalog

Completed in Q1 2024.

Internal Marketing

Plan a session with the HR department to strategize the best way to conduct training and workshops. Promoting the platform through these sessions and emphasizing early successes can create a supportive atmosphere for wider adoption amongst the team.

High-Touch IT Support

Comprehensive and dedicated support, both in-house and from the vendor, is crucial for the project's success. Secure a DevOps resource for a week of PoC and negotiate an SLA with the vendor for six-month adoption support.

Continuous Platform Improvement

The good news is that the vendor offers about six product releases per year, and the release updates are automated.

Coming away from the webinar, José feels more confident. The session confirmed that he has paved a solid path so far and helped clarify the actions he still needs to take. First up, he plans to write an email to his team to see who can help spearhead the PoC.

However, he's aware that there might be elements he's still overlooking. What do you think? Is José missing something? Let us know by replying to this email.

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