Data Readiness: The Underappreciated Sidekick of AI

By Koby Phillips, VP of Cloud Practice, Telarus

Ah, artificial intelligence. Not so long ago, the phrase alone conjured images of robot butlers and that scene in The Terminator where the machines take over (don’t worry, were not there—yet). But here’s the thing: AI isn’t magic. It’s not some all-knowing oracle that will immediately solve your clients’ problems. Instead, it’s more like that super-smart kid in school who could only ace tests if you gave them the right notes to study. And those notes? That’s data—but not just any data. Data readiness.

AI is only as good as the data it’s fed. Without the right data, AI is like a chef trying to make a Michelin-starred meal with a bag of stale chips and expired canned goods. No matter how shiny or expensive the tool is, it won’t deliver if it is fed bad data.

Let’s dive in and explore why understanding data readiness is the secret sauce you need to capitalize on the AI selling trend as a technology advisor.

Data Readiness: The Real Magic Behind AI

Think of data readiness as the Alfred to AI’s Batman–the Christian Bale Batman not the George Clooney Batman. While everyone’s busy fawning over Batman’s gadgets (AI), they forget that Alfred (data readiness) is the one doing all the unglamorous prep work to make those gadgets useful.

Here’s a Koby Phillips-style breakdown of how to think about data readiness:

1. Data Hygiene (aka Cleaning Up the Mess): Imagine if you walked into a library and all the books were scattered on the floor, mislabeled, and covered in sticky notes that said, “IDK what this is, but good luck!” That’s what dirty data looks like. Data readiness starts with organizing, deduplicating, and ensuring data is accurate. Think of it as giving your data a nice bubble bath.

2. Data Accessibility (aka Stop Hoarding Your Data Like a Dragon): Your clients might have all the data in the world, but if it’s locked away in 27 different systems that don’t talk to each other, it’s useless. Data readiness means making data accessible, so it’s not sitting in some digital dungeon waiting to be rescued. Because let’s face it—AI can’t read minds…yet.

3. Data Quality (aka No Garbage Allowed): AI is like that one friend who repeats everything you say, word-for-word. If you give them garbage information, guess what they’re going to spit back? Garbage predictions. Data readiness ensures that the data going into the AI tool is high-quality, relevant, and useful. No “junk in, junk out” situations here.

4. Data Context (aka Explaining the Why): Sure, your client’s data might say, “Sales are down 20% this month,” but without context, AI won’t know if that’s because of a competitor’s big promotion or an asteroid is coming Armageddon style and Bruce Willis hasn’t made the ultimate sacrifice to get things back on track yet. Data readiness means ensuring data is contextualized so AI can make sense of it. Basically, it’s like giving your data a backstory—Netflix drama style.

Why Technology Advisors Should Care About Data Readiness

Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, this all sounds great, but how does it help me close deals?” Excellent question! Here’s why understanding data readiness is critical for riding the AI wave:

1. You’ll Position Yourself as an Expert (and Who Doesn’t Love That?): While everyone else is out there screaming about AI tools, you’ll be the advisor who knows how to make AI actually work. Explaining data readiness to clients will position you as a knowledgeable, trustworthy partner—not just another hype machine.

2. Bigger Deals, Bigger Wins: Helping your clients with data readiness often leads to larger, more complex projects. From cloud migrations to data integration solutions, you’re opening the door to a world of revenue opportunities.

3. Happy Clients = Repeat Business: When you set your clients up with AI tools that actually deliver results (thanks to data readiness), they’ll keep coming back to you for more. You’re not just selling a product—you’re solving real problems.

How to Open Up the Data Readiness Conversation

Here’s how you can explain data readiness to clients in a way that even their most tech-averse employees will understand:

• Analogy 1: “AI without data readiness is like an arrow without a bowstring—powerful, but totally unmanageable. Let’s make sure your data is clean and ready before we unleash the power of AI.”
• Analogy 2: “Think of AI as a Ferrari. Data readiness is the gas that makes it go. Without it, you’re just sitting in a fancy car making engine noises.”
• Analogy 3: “Data readiness is like prepping ingredients for a recipe. AI is the chef. If you hand it moldy onions and mystery meat, don’t be surprised when the dish is inedible.”

Final Thoughts: Embrace the AI Hype, But Start with Data Readiness

AI is already proving itself as a powerful tool for efficiency, cost savings, and innovation. But without data readiness, it’s just a buzzword. As a Telarus technology advisor, you have the unique opportunity to educate your clients, build trust, and help them get real results—not just empty promises. So, the next time someone asks if they should “get AI,” remind them that before they buy the fancy tool, they need to comb the data straight.

I hope you feel more aligned and confident to capture the AI hype with your newfound data readiness wisdom. And if you need help, you know Telarus is always here. We’ve got the tools, resources, and so many more movie references to make when you need us.

Ready to learn more? Download my free eBook: Data Readiness: The Real Magic Behind AI.