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Data Talks, Episode 12: The Impact of Hierarchies

When it comes to hierarchies, use-case comes first

Host: George L'Heureux, Principal Consultant, Data Strategy
Guest: Peter Voutsinas, Data Advisor

Hierarches, also known as corporate family trees, are key elements of a company’s master data efforts. But hierarchies can be complex. Therefore, many data integrators recommend simplifying, creating a “one-size-fits-all” type of use case. This strategy can help speed the implementation: to get data ingested and create a baseline platform.

However, this approach soon becomes limiting. Companies need to take the next step: that is, to understand and embrace the complexity of hierarchies to get the full picture of customers or prospects. Simplification may result in missing out on the very insights that could be valuable for the use case you’re trying to solve for and the outcomes you’re trying to achieve.

Every department – credit and risk, sales and marketing, supply and compliance – has different needs and use cases for hierarchies. Creating a one-size-fits-all approach that accommodates all their views is a mighty task and not easily achieved.

In this installment of Data Talks, host George L’Heureux is joined by Dun & Bradstreet Data Advisor Peter Voutsinas. A 30-year veteran of our company, today Voutsinas consults and advises our customers on how to effectively use Dun & Bradstreet data.