While it was once common for companies to rely on intuition to make important decisions, many have taken a more data-centric approach. A McKinsey & Company report found that data-driven businesses are 23 times more likely to acquire customers, six times more likely to retain them, and 19 times more likely to be profitable. It's no wonder businesses are turning to data to make faster, more informed decisions. It's important for all teams to be data-driven, including those working remotely. While it takes time for remote teams to adjust to a data-driven mindset, the payoff is huge. Here's how companies can empower remote teams to take a more data-centric approach. Set measurable goals Extensive data collection makes sense if companies don't know what they're using to measure or how it affects their decisions. Before diving into the data, it is essential to first define the objectives of the company, as well as those specific to each service. Companies should create a list of clearly defined goals, such as a revenue target, a growth indicator, etc. Communicate these goals with the remote team to ensure the entire company is on the same page. Determine how well these goals align with the data collected and how they can help shift priorities within the team. Increase responsibility. The shift to a data-centric approach requires changes to the data collected. Structure and organization of a distant team. The main idea behind a data-driven team is that all team members are responsible for analytics related to their specific department. They must develop insights and action plans based on their data. For example, a digital marketer must collect data and analyze campaign performance indicators to determine if it is working or not. Update the responsibilities of each team member. Communication is essential for remote teams to work effectively. Therefore, it is imperative to clearly define the responsibilities of each team member. Schedule a call to discuss analytics tools and their impact on each team member. This way, everyone knows what is expected of them. Taking a data-centric approach doesn't mean forcing the remote team to work during certain hours. In fact, the opposite is true. Each team member is quite responsible for pushing the team towards a digital goal. Remote team members generally have flexible work schedules, which is fine as long as they are held accountable for their role in achieving goals. Acknowledge contributions Taking a data-centric approach will lead to better understanding. If someone discovers a way to get more leads or finds a flaw in the analytics system, find ways to recognize or reward team members. For a remote team, business leaders can recognize their contributions by sending a special email or by providing an immediate bonus. It will be easier for managers to identify the key players in the team, as the numbers will show. Team leaders can then explain to the entire remote team how and why an employee has been outsourced to encourage this type of work. While it may be easier to recognize a team member in the office, doing so in a remote environment is also essential. Foster collaboration Collaboration is a core value in data-driven businesses. Creating a remote work culture that supports continuous information sharing is essential. Therefore, companies must make all relevant data accessible to all team members. Free data sharing enables teams to harness this data to make important decisions and increase individual and team performance. For example, many business decisions are made in the Slack communication tool. With the help of Statsbot, an analytics robot built into Slack, remote teams can work together and access data at any time. Between these two tools, remote teams can easily find the information they need and all team members can participate in the decision-making process. Don't forget to share the data with the team securely. pCloud, for example, provides encrypted cloud storage for all files. Team members can also send secure messages using the off-the-record (OTR) messaging protocol, a cryptographic protocol for instant messages. It can be helpful to hold virtual meetings on a consistent basis, during which remote team members can share and discuss analytical results and tested hypotheses. , and ideas. Sharing data and experiences can help other team members leverage valuable insights in their own work. Although the data is accessible, it will not be beneficial if team members do not use it to make decisions or understand it. Start by investing in the right data tools. Organizations should choose tools based on their goals and the ease with which remote teams can use them to access, share, and analyze data. Think of data systems that integrate with existing business tools like Excel or Oracle. Once the right data tools are in place, it's important to invest in training. Make sure team members understand the basics of data analysis, transformation, and visualization. They should understand the capabilities of each tool. Provide training to remote teams, such as online courses or video tutorials, so that they fully understand its use. Action at DataCompanies that turns data into actionable information, called data-driven companies, is seeing 30% growth each year. While it seems intuitive to act on data, many teams often collect and analyze data without using it to make important decisions. To truly create a data-driven remote team, companies need to develop a culture where team members act on collected data. If a particular strategy isn't working, team members should stop using their data and focus on the areas they're improving. Not using data to make informed decisions can be detrimental. Switching from a remote team to a data-centric approach won't happen overnight. Don't forget to start small and be flexible, as this change will likely result in a learning curve. Companies whose remote teams are focused on collecting, analyzing, and using data to make important decisions will have many competitive advantages.