Ever wonder why so many data projects crash and burn before they even take off? The scary truth is that 60-85% of them fail before delivering any real value.
At assimil8, we’ve seen it all—projects that never got off the ground, initiatives that collapsed under their own weight, and businesses that wanted to be ‘data-driven’ but had no idea what that really meant.
The good news? You don’t have to make the same mistakes. Here are some of the biggest pitfalls we’ve seen—and what you can do to dodge them.
1. Leadership Loves the Idea… But Not the Reality
💬 “We need to be a data-driven company!”
Sound familiar? Leaders love the concept of data-driven decision-making, but when it comes to real commitment, things get tricky. No budget. No accountability. No clear ownership.
🚩 The warning signs:
🔹 No one in leadership is actually responsible for making the project work.
🔹 The project gets approved… but funding and resources don’t follow.
🔹 There’s no urgency—or worse, no clear business case.
✅ How to avoid it:
💡 Get buy-in from the start. Make sure leadership understands why this project matters and what success looks like. Assign clear ownership and align it with business priorities, not just IT ambitions.
2. Chasing the Latest Tech Instead of Solving Problems
💬 “We need the latest AI-powered data lake with real-time analytics!”
We get it—new tech is exciting. But jumping on every shiny new tool without a real strategy is a recipe for wasted time and money. We’ve seen companies spend months trialling different solutions without ever moving forward.
🚩 The warning signs:
🔹 You keep switching platforms instead of finishing what you started.
🔹 More time is spent evaluating tools than actually using them.
🔹 The project never leaves the proof-of-concept stage.
✅ How to avoid it:
💡 Focus on the outcome, not the tool. Start with the problem you’re solving, then pick tech that fits—not the other way around.
3. Relying on Just One or Two ‘Data Heroes’
💬 “Chris runs all our reporting. Without him, we’d be lost.”
If only one or two people in your company understand your data, you’re one resignation away from disaster. We’ve seen businesses grind to a halt because a key employee left—taking all their knowledge with them.
🚩 The warning signs:
🔹 Data projects are dependent on a single person or small team.
🔹 Documentation is nonexistent or outdated.
🔹 New hires struggle to pick up where the last person left off.
✅ How to avoid it:
💡 Build a collaborative approach to data. Ensure knowledge is shared, processes are documented, and data tools are accessible across teams—not locked away in one person’s head.
4. Ignoring Data Quality Until It’s Too Late
💬 “Just get the dashboards live—we’ll clean up the data later.”
Spoiler: ‘Later’ never comes. Bad data leads to bad decisions, and before you know it, leadership is questioning why reports don’t match reality.
🚩 The warning signs:
🔹 Dashboards look great—but the numbers don’t add up.
🔹 Teams distrust the data and create their own spreadsheets instead.
🔹 Your CFO asks why revenue figures don’t match finance reports (uh-oh).
✅ How to avoid it:
💡 Start with clean data. Use tools like Bundle to ensure your data is accurate and consistent before building dashboards. If you cut corners here, you’ll pay for it later.
Want Your Data Project to Succeed? Here’s How.
Data projects don’t fail because of bad technology—they fail because of poor planning, lack of ownership, and avoidable missteps.
At assimil8, we’ve helped companies navigate these challenges for over 20 years. If you’re about to start a data project (or you’re stuck in the middle of one), let’s chat.
👉 Need advice on where to start? Contact us today for a free consultation.
