NZ leaders explain why clean, connected data drives AI value.
For at least a decade, data has been referred to as the new oil because of its role in driving digital transformation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no different and its rapid expansion has led to an even greater demand for data.
Once considered a cost centre, data now forms the foundation of AI and fuels business outcomes.
At the recent Building the Foundations of AI Success roundtable, Kat Carter Markets Lead for Cognizant New Zealand, said that while AI is becoming central to enterprise systems, complexity in data environments is a major roadblock.
According to ADAPT CIO Survey Feb 2025, nearly half of organisations say their data environments can’t support advanced analytics or AI.
“AI’s potential is only as powerful as the data it is built on. As AI infuses more deeply into enterprise systems, its success will depend on overcoming the complexity of existing data environments,” Carter said.
“A lot of organisations in New Zealand tell us that data silos, unclear ownership and restrictive governance create bottlenecks that stop AI from moving beyond pilot projects. Cognizant is helping organisations with their data value mapping to prioritise investment where it delivers the greatest impact,” she continued.
Cognizant is using AI agents to match data value maps with real opportunities to make operations more efficient. For example, the company is helping a major Australian retailer to integrate data sets across stock levels, logistics, distribution centre data, and cold chain requirements, optimising inventory replenishment planning across its store network.
“When managing thin margins, good data is critical to operational efficiency” Carter said.
Chief Information Officer of UDC Finance Limited, David Johnson, said one of the biggest strengths of AI is in the software and data development space.
Fellow roundtable participant and Chief Data and Technology Officer at NZ Post, Peter Kennedy, said getting the data ready for AI is a balancing act between ensuring the right data is utilised and maintaining solid data governance.
Echoing Carter, Kennedy noted that breaking down silos of data within an organisation and integrating them with AI offers enormous potential, but again, getting the data governance right is vital.
Cognizant recommends creating a small number of lightweight, fit-for-purpose governance models so that organisations can strike the right balance between security and accessibility.
AI Enablement Lead at ANZ, Emerald Cagney, agreed that ultimately organisations need to have the right data strategies to enable AI but firstly they need to understand how AI enables their business strategies.
