The right data infrastructure is central to any digital platform, as is using a digital platform to coordinate data in a way that creates new data relationships for new, better processes. By driving the development of data strategy and platforms and partnering with the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Chief Digital Officer (CDO), CSCOs can deliver a truly comprehensive and integrated solution that meets the needs of the entire enterprise.
External partnerships also offer a competitive advantage, but for a platform-based ecosystem to work, you need to favor lightweight, cloud-based architectures over legacy systems or ERP systems. This flexible foundation allows for continuously evolving non-core functions, such as planning, warehousing, transportation, manufacturing, sourcing and more.
These platforms can "plug and play" offering access to best-in-market solutions, and as organizations increasingly harvest data intelligence via algorithms and analytics, a modern digital platform is capable of hosting these algorithms, making them part of the overall business logic.
