Social networking, eCommerce, mobile technology, and the Internet of Things all create huge amounts of what the industry calls Big Data. A business able to find actionable information out of these masses of data enjoys a distinct advantage over its competition. This has led to the popularity of a relatively new role in IT – the Data Scientist.

Data scientists boast expert-level ability in a wide range of technical and business skills. Finding these talented technology professionals takes effort, considering they are very much in-demand throughout the business world. Here are some strategies on how to build a data science team at your organization.

Automation Leads to the Citizen Data Scientist

As the practice of data science continues to mature, automation appears to be an agent of change. The tech industry analyst group, Gartner predicts 40 percent of the tasks related to data science will become automated by the end of the decade. This is expected to usher in an era of “citizen data scientists.”

“Most organizations don’t have enough data scientists consistently available throughout the business, but they do have plenty of skilled information analysts that could become citizen data scientists. When equipped with the proper tools, analysts can perform greater in-depth analysis and create models that leverage predictive or prescriptive analytics,” the Gartner study concluded.

Improving the Data Science Role at Your Organization

Even with automation making data science a more accessible process at a business, companies still need to invest in data scientist talent. Creating a team made up of a few experienced data scientists is the wisest approach. Leveraging smart networks using machine learning as well as state-of-the-art data management systems helps to free up their time for more meaningful analytical work.

Find data scientists with the communication skills to be able to explain the algorithms and AI routines used in their analysis. This is vital as more marketing personnel and business analysts begin to use data science tools. The free sharing of this knowledge is a must for an organization to truly benefit from its investment in data science technology.

Big Data isn’t going away. Understanding the relevant business information contained within that data is a must for an enterprise to be competitive. Use these insights to ensure your new data science role adds value to your organization.

When you need additional advice on building a valuable technology team at your office, talk to the experts at MindFinders. As one of the leading IT staffing agencies in Washington DC, we offer the great candidates able to contribute to your success. Schedule some time with us at your earliest convenience.

Written by Tim Booker, President and CEO of MindFinders, with over 20 years of industry experience.