Improve the Value of Your Information Assets in Engineering

Many companies neglect the importance of information. They don’t see information as an asset but rather a convenience that might provide some useful insight every now and then. However, companies that focus their strategies on information and data they collect always outperform their competitors.

This is especially true in the engineering sector, where each company must find a way to boost productivity and efficiency so that they can also boost their overall performance. In addition, the ever-growing market demand forces engineering companies to produce more reliable products.

But without improving the manufacturing process itself, this cannot be achieved. So how exactly do so many companies actually manage to overcome this challenge? Simply put, they value their information as an asset. In today’s business world, information holds a lot of sway.

Companies that base their strategies on relevant data can make better and more informed decisions. The information provides them with viable insights that can improve all processes company-wide and thus improve the company’s performance. 

The key is to collect, store, manage, use and even trade information properly. 

With that in mind, here are a few ways to improve the value of your information assets in engineering.  

• Improve data collection process

To properly value information and deem it worthy of an asset, companies must first improve the process they use to gather information. This is usually conducted by gathering raw data that’s a consequence of digital activity.

Data generated by mobile devices, social media and other online activities is quite large. Gathering all of it is simply impossible. However, companies in the engineering sector don’t have to focus on gathering every bit of data they can get their hands on.

 That takes a bit too much time and resources to achieve. Instead, they should focus on gathering data from sources that are the most relevant to their business. By using advanced data analytics, companies can extract valuable information from raw data.

This information can later be processed into viable insights that can benefit a company in one way or another. This is when information becomes an asset as it begins to generate value. Now, how you use that information will determine the actual value of the information asset. Here are few examples.

• Using information to improve business efficiency.
• Using information to produce new products.
• Using information to train staff.
• Using information to establish connections.
• Using information to build brand awareness and business reputation.

• The distribution of information

What a lot of companies fail to understand is that information assets have the ability to generate value over time. As mentioned before, the value of information assets can be determined by how they are used, but that’s still too subjective.

When the information is distributed accordingly across the company, it starts to generate value. In other words, the value may continue to increase for as long as the information asset is being used and for as long as the company can benefit from it.

For example, with the right data and information management strategy, your company can continue to boost the value of an information asset. That said, each department involved in the engineering process will use the data their own way unless the company policy states otherwise.

Furthermore, departments will use data to improve their own efficiency, which contributes to the companies overall efficiency. Therefore, the distribution of information plays a vital role in improving the value of an information asset.

When everyone has access to company data and information, they can continue to make more informed and more strategic decisions that will drive the business forward. 

Although you cannot measure just how exactly the information asset is affecting your company, it’s easy to determine that there are improvements after the information asset has been put to good use.

• Cost reduction

When talking about the value of an information asset, everyone focuses on potential gains in terms of profits. The very definition of value doesn’t just revolve around profitability or the bottom line. In the engineering sector, value can also mean the reduction or elimination of certain expenses or costs.

That’s also the value that contributes to profitability as you no longer have to overspend on certain processes or spend money at all. The funds you’d otherwise spend are now allocated back to the budget. You can save them or invest them further. It’s up to you entirely.

However, you cannot deny the fact that even cost reduction delivers value to your company. Information that can help you reduce or eliminate costs altogether is, indeed, valuable. Such information must be viewed as an asset.

As you may already know, maintenance and operational costs make the bulk of the expenses every engineering company has. Reducing those costs even by a small fraction is more than valuable to any company.

• Improving employee satisfaction

Companies tend to look at information assets as how valuable to a company those may be. However, information assets can also be very valuable to your employees. If your employees can leverage an information asset to do their job better and more efficiently, then that asset becomes more valuable.

Information can help employees with education, training, improving proficiency and competence, improving efficiency and performance, as well as improving satisfaction. Employees who have the right means to do their job will generally be more satisfied.

This prevents turnovers and builds employee loyalty. It’s no secret that the secret to every company’s success is their employees and how engaged they are. If you can prevent turnovers and have a more efficient workforce thanks to the information asset, then that asset is pretty much invaluable to you.

The fact of the matter is that the information asset needs to be available to everyone company-wide so that it can generate value over time. If you lock away your information assets, you won’t be able to use them, and they will have no significant value to your company.

• Enhancing business efficiency

The main mistake a lot of engineering companies make is that they try to place value on information assets as tangible assets. Since information isn’t a physical asset like a piece of equipment or machinery that you can sell on the market for a fair price, it cannot be valued as such.

The true value of information can be measured through your company’s performance after it starts using the information to improve business processes. That said, information assets, when used properly, of course, can provide companies with a competitive advantage.

Information that allows you to improve any and all business efforts generates exceptional business values, especially in the long run. If you manage to improve customer service, product quality or remain one step ahead of your competitors for a prolonged time, your information asset has done its job well.

Moreover, you have proof that this information is, indeed, valuable as it helps your company boost its efficiency. This allows you to place value on it if you decide to trade or sell that information. 

Those who are interested in the information you have will be able to see viable results instead of guessing whether or not that information is accurate enough to be considered a worthy investment.

Information is the key asset for any company. It powers the decision-making process and allows businesses to develop along the desired path. If you don’t see information as an asset to your company, you won’t get far before your information-centric competitors outrun you.