How can BI cloud and SaaS users develop and enhance their data literacy and skills?

1 Why data literacy matters

Data literacy is not only a technical skill, but also a critical competency for the digital age. Data literate users can ask the right questions, find the relevant data, interpret the results, and communicate the insights to others. Data literacy can also help users to be more confident, curious, and creative with data, and to avoid common pitfalls such as bias, errors, and misinformation. Data literacy can therefore increase the value and impact of BI solutions, and enable users to make data-driven decisions that support their goals and objectives.

2 How to assess your data literacy level

Before you can improve your data literacy, you need to know where you stand. There are different ways to assess your data literacy level, such as online quizzes, self-evaluation surveys, or feedback from peers and mentors. You can also use a data literacy framework, such as the one developed by Qlik, which defines four levels of data literacy: novice, functional, proficient, and expert. Each level has specific characteristics and competencies that you can use to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and to set your learning goals.

3 How to learn and practice data literacy skills

Once you have your data literacy goals, you need to find the best ways to learn and practice the skills you need. There are many resources and opportunities available for BI cloud and SaaS users, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, blogs, books, and communities. You can also use your own BI solution as a learning platform, by exploring the features, functions, and data sources that it offers, and by applying the concepts and techniques that you learn to your own projects and scenarios. The key is to be consistent, curious, and collaborative in your learning journey.

5 How to foster a data literacy culture

Data literacy is not only an individual skill, but also a collective capability. To maximize the benefits of data literacy, you need to foster a data literacy culture within your organization or team. A data literacy culture is one where data is valued, trusted, and used as a strategic asset, and where data literate users are supported, encouraged, and empowered. You can foster a data literacy culture by promoting data awareness, education, communication, collaboration, and innovation among your colleagues and stakeholders. You can also use your BI solution as a tool to share, showcase, and celebrate your data insights and stories.