Scotland is now on a trajectory where it could be a world leader in data.

It’s a country with a storied history in technology, maths, and innovation, as well as an incredible foundation of heavy industry, supported by an ecosystem of people that are savvy thanks to years of being a huge player in the energy sector.

What’s going to accommodate Scotland’s move to being an aspirational figurehead in data is how much we embrace the fourth industrial revolution, and companies like Forth Point are here to help ease that transition.

Edinburgh-based data science and engineering firm Forth Point’s CRO, Will Boyle, believes that pragmatism is required: “We’re drowning in data but lacking insight,” as he puts it.

In his opinion, there are two factors limiting the industry from achieving its full potential from data. Firstly, it’s that challenges are not being solved with a value-first approach. Secondly – and with the pandemic catalysing the shift into a digital world – is an over-reliance on technology.

Will says: “Technology alone is rarely the answer, but is more often than not, one part of the puzzle – if you buy an Apple Watch but never go out and run, you’re not getting the most out of that technology.

“Knowing what you’re trying to achieve with even the most basic of tech is always going to be better than someone who has the best tech but doesn’t have a clear goal.”

A value-led approach

For businesses to bounce back better from the pandemic, there has to be more awareness around how data informs action.

Right now, there’s a propensity for businesses to adopt data in a somewhat backwards approach – they start with the data and come to organisations like Forth Point and ask, ‘what can you do with it?’ Which is the wrong question.

The beginning of a data project is, ironically, not about the data at all but starts with defining what value is in your business. As Will says: “Sometimes it’s pounds or pence, sometimes it’s emissions – it can even be not doing something. Quite a lot of the time, we start by answering questions in the boardroom and go from there.”

Will goes on to give an example in the energy industry: “In one instance, a client asked what we could do with eight years of process machinery data. The answer is a lot. The real question should be what would drive the most value for our business and then understand if the data can support driving this outcome.” If you can prove the validity of those statements, it provides clarity.

“Better decision making, reducing risk, improving outcomes for people – safety, mental health – all these things have value in a business.” Once you have identified the use case that will make a change to your business, finding the data to inform that change is done with the specific intention of making the whole process easier, more efficient, and ultimately more valuable.

“It may not sound ground-breaking, but there are still many people that don’t adopt this approach,” Will adds.

The fourth industrial revolution

Forth Point was established to deliver on the promise of Industry 4.0, which states that through the use of smart technologies, IoT, AI and machine learning, processes are going to become faster, more efficient and more flexible.

The fourth industrial revolution is seeing the advent of internet of things, increased connectivity, sensors, and a different way of people interacting with every aspect of their lives.

On this, Will says: “The fourth industrial revolution presents huge opportunities – the speed of technology development is absolutely brilliant to see, and increased connectivity opens up so many doors for innovation.”

He adds: “In the context of COP26 and larger dialogue about climate, there’s no better example of the potential of industry 4.0 to enact change.”

For example, sensor technology has enabled us to measure the impact of climate change in ways we haven’t been able to before, and more importantly, raised awareness by bringing the topic to the collective consciousness through smart meters, smart cars and even our smart watches.

However, the challenge remains the same (and is arguably even more difficult now), which is turning the wealth of information we can collect into something we can derive value from. As Will puts it, we must all work to avoid doing “data for data’s sake, as you can easily get bogged down in these things”.

Often, when talking about data, digital transformation and its value, people mnemonically think of things like AI and ML, advanced analytics, and cloud computing, but that’s not Will’s, or indeed, Forth Point’s, instant take.

“Don’t get me wrong, we love a cutting-edge neural network solution, but we also love a very practical piece of analysis that’s done in two weeks and delivered for huge value.”

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How industry 4.0 can help Scotland build back better

As a consultancy, Forth Point specialises in problem solving – the solutions vary in complexity through data engineering, analysis, and advanced analytics – however, the core aspect is always the same – what is going to make a change to your business?

Will says: “We’re working with a client who has never worked in the cloud before and what we’re able to do, by working with Microsoft, is spin up a cloud environment and do the analysis for them and push it back in to their business. They’ve been trying to do something – that would take us six weeks – for six months. Those kinds of efficiencies are massive.”

It’s not just big business that can be the beneficiaries of the fourth industrial revolution, it’s affecting every facet of society, and companies like Forth Point are helping to ensure that Scotland are at the forefront, as demonstrated in a few client examples from Will.

He says: “We are delighted to be working with organisations like sportscotland and Intelligence Growth Solutions, both absolutely committed to becoming even more data driven.

“Looking at how data science can help drive incremental gains in athlete performance and understanding how better to optimise growth jobs in an industry leading vertical farming company might seem like worlds apart in terms of data challenges. But this is an example whereby the value lead approach is the common factor to delivering a successful outcome.

It’s examples like this that can be extrapolated to so many businesses making it a pithy example of Will’s earlier statement that we’re drowning in data and lacking in insight.

Properly leveraging the advent of industry 4.0 and using data pragmatically in a way that’s actionable is what will help Scotland build back better, a point that Will acquiesces to, with a caveat.

“The options are there but ultimately we need to be mindful that technology is not the silver bullet. It presents the opportunity for Scottish businesses to build back better, but it’s up to businesses to make smarter decisions about how they go about doing that.”

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