Joe Horgan

Advantages of a Custom-Built Intelligent Agent Over Microsoft Copilot Studio

Here at Oakland, we specialise in building custom Intelligent Agents using our bespoke Intelligent Agent framework, tailored to meet your organisation’s unique needs. A common question is, “Why should we invest in a custom-built solution when we can easily implement Microsoft Copilot Studio?”  As a Microsoft Data & AI partner, we use Microsoft products daily,…

How to Improve Your Knowledge Management Strategy with Gen AI

Generative AI and large language models (LLMs) have captured the imagination of businesses worldwide. Their immense potential to drive transformative commercial and operational gains promises to revolutionise how organisations operate. From hyper-personalised customer experiences to streamlined operations, they are brimming with potential. One key focus area is the use of AI in knowledge management. Yet,…

How to Find Generative AI Use Cases for Enterprise

AI shows no signs of losing momentum, with every type of business considering the use cases it offers. This is creating incredible advancements, boosts in productivity, and business growth. Are you yet to embrace the benefits of AI in your enterprise? Now is the time, and one of the the most effective forms of AI…

How to Write a Data Strategy

Data. It plays an integral role in the success of your business. So much so, that it’s hard to find a company nowadays that doesn’t want to be more data-driven. But how can organisations harness and leverage data in a way that helps them to meet their overall business goals? At Oakland, we pride ourselves…

How to Drive ROI with Generative AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the technical revolution that everyone is talking about. No longer the premise of the Hollywood movie but impacting every aspect of our lives. In fact, Gartner has been tracking Generative AI since 2020. It is only since the launch of ChatGPT (insert your favourite) that the possibility of using AI in…

What is the Purpose of a Company’s Data Strategy?

No matter the industry, every company has its own goldmine of data which, when managed well, can be used to drive leads, increase profits, improve efficiency and more. Harnessing the power of this data is rarely as simple as grabbing a few off-the-shelf data management tools and hoping for the best, though. This is where…

A data strategy is not a ‘strategy for data’ 

Most data strategies fail to make it from reading material to change accelerant. This means that they don’t create tangible outcomes. Worse, they fail to address gaps in understanding and expectation. Simply, they don’t achieve relevance. When this happens, data and analytics remain an isolated technical domain focused on core activities’ ‘numerical exhaust.’  Why does…

How to create a Data Strategy: Part 3 – Plan

So far in this series on data strategy creation, we’ve discussed the importance of data strategy discovery activities to establish a current state assessment and how to define the data capabilities required for your ideal future state. In this article, we’re going deeper into what’s required to build the roadmap for your data strategy.  We’re…

Beware the tech sweetie jar!

If you like shiny new gadgets, an Energy and Utilities trade show is usually a sweet shop designed with you in mind. But just because it’s tempting doesn’t mean it’s good for you. I hear so many tales of woe when I go to these shows. Things like control engineers having to look across ten…

Digital transformation in utilities: An uphill battle?

This won’t surprise you, but digital transformation is really hard. It’s even harder when you’re working in a heavily regulated industry with legacy systems, messy data, and impatient stakeholders. We can all wax lyrical about how things should be (predictive maintenance, anyone?) but getting there is a tricky journey for a large energy or utility…

How to Create a Data Strategy: Part 2 – Define

Previously in our series on creating a data strategy, we discussed the importance of discovery and establishing a current state assessment. This week, we’re exploring the next step in the data strategy journey – how to define the ideal future state for navigating your data strategy and determining the data capabilities required to get you…

How to create a Data Strategy: Part 1 – Discovery

“How do we create a data strategy?” Many organisations face this question as they seek to modernise and drive greater value from their data. It’s a complex question to address because a data strategy needs to be custom-shaped to your organisation’s specific goals, culture, technology and value proposition. Your organisation is unique, so you can’t…