Back in 2017, we were commissioned by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPER) to deliver open data training services to public sector organisations across Ireland.
Since then, we’ve trained over 2,270 staff across 213 organisations and delivered almost 700 hours of invaluable data training to staff.
Aside from now being a legal requirement across Ireland and the EU, opening up your data comes with a lot of benefits to any business dealing with data. Over the years, we’ve been learning first-hand the positive impact our training has had on organisations.
What past attendees think about our Open Data Training Program
Here’s a snapshot of what just some of our attendees thought about UrbanTide’s open data training program:
“Highly informative material, presented in a very clear and direct manner.” Richard Timmons, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
“It's a wonderful initiative, the content is relevant and easy to follow.” Staff Member, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage
“Well presented and run course. [Our] understanding of Open Data is now there, it's down to the practical implementation now.” Fiona Drennan, Department of Transport
“Demystified the concept of Open Data and how it can be implemented.” David O'Leary, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
“Very good course, have taken away a lot of food for thought today regarding open data and have a better understanding of the directive” Anonymous Attendee
5 benefits of Open Data for businesses
Here are just a few reasons why training your staff in Open Data can benefit any business:
1. Improved decision-making
Open data can provide valuable insights into customer behaviour, market trends, and industry developments. By providing staff with open data training, businesses can improve their ability to use and analyze that data effectively, leading to more informed decision-making.
We work with a number of local council clients who successfully use open data to inform strategy and target spending in the right places.
2. Enhanced innovation
Open data can stimulate innovation by allowing businesses to identify new opportunities and create new products and services.
The work that Energy Savings Catapult is doing in the field of energy system transformation is a great example of this - they’re using our uSmart data platform to market-test and launch new energy technologies that will help transform the UK’s energy systems. Training staff on how to use and analyze open data can help foster a culture of innovation within the organisation.
3. Cost savings
By sharing and freely using open data, we create a system where businesses can gain access to a wealth of information that can otherwise be costly. If your staff are well trained in open data analysis, this can support the organisation to make more efficient use of resources and reduce costs.
4. Competitive advantage
Open data training can help to equip staff with the skills and knowledge needed to leverage open data for strategic advantage. By using open data effectively, businesses can gain a competitive advantage by making better-informed decisions and identifying new opportunities that their competitors may not be aware of.
5. Improved collaboration
Open data can facilitate collaboration between businesses, government agencies, and other organisations. By training staff on how to use and share open data, businesses can foster collaboration and build partnerships that can lead to new business opportunities.
Our uZero solution is a great example of this collaboration in action. By integrating cross-sector data from a variety of sources, local authorities and their delivery partners are able to deploy personalised energy support to fuel-poor households as well as identify priority households.
Find out how to unlock the benefits of open data or sign up to UrbanTide's open data training here.
