Thought Leadership

What is a Data Product and Why You Should Care

December 15, 2022
10 Min Read

This past weekend while watching England vs France during the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, my mind drifted towards my writing backlog. During the half-time, I casually switched to a Bloomberg recording (yes, I do record financial news) which discussed the popularity of ChatGPT. 

I confess that I was a skeptic when the initial adulation over ChatGPT AI chatbot began a few weeks ago. Then my instinct as a continuous learner, combined with the Bloomberg coverage, led me to sign up for an account during the second half of the game. 

At Acceldata, we pioneered the creation of Data Observability and our vision is to help enterprise data teams to build and operate great data products.  One of my long overdue assignments from my team was to write about “data products”. Then it hit me that I should use ChatGPT as an aid. Well, I got a lot more than what I hoped for :-).

What’s interesting in trying out this innovative, new tool is that it’s using massive amounts of dynamic data to essentially source the “right” answer, and in my prompts, it validated Acceldata’s data products definition. In other words, our view aligns with the data products definition that is most understood across the most credible content on the internet. And achieving this is done through an actual data product, which makes it all the more poignant. 

Listed below are the questions I posed to ChatGPT about data products and the exact responses. I am a believer.

What is a data product?

A data product is a product that is based on data, often used for predictive or analytical purposes. It can take many forms, such as a software application or a website that provides data-driven insights to its users. Data products are designed to help organizations make better decisions and improve their operations by leveraging the power of data.

Is "data product" different from "data as a product"?

Yes, "data product" and "data as a product" are slightly different concepts. A "data product" is a product that is based on data, whereas "data as a product" refers to the practice of selling data as a standalone product. For example, a company that sells consumer data to other businesses for market research purposes is selling data as a product. By contrast, a data product might be a tool that helps businesses analyze and understand that data.

What is the difference between "data products" and "data apps"?

The terms "data products" and "data apps" are often used interchangeably, but they can refer to slightly different things. In general, a "data product" is a product that is based on data, and can take many forms, such as a software application, website, or platform. A "data app" is a specific type of data product that is delivered as a mobile or web-based application.

One key difference between data products and data apps is that data apps are typically designed to be accessed and used on-the-go, often via a smartphone or other mobile device. They are typically focused on providing users with quick, easy access to data and insights, and are often designed to be used in real-time. By contrast, data products can take many different forms and may not be specifically designed for mobile use.

Overall, the key difference between data products and data apps is the way they are delivered and accessed by users. Both are based on data and can provide valuable insights and information to organizations and individuals, but data apps are typically focused on providing mobile-based access to that data.

What are examples of data products?

Some examples of data products include:

  • A software application that helps businesses visualize and analyze their sales data
  • A website that provides real-time traffic information to help commuters plan their routes
  • An online platform that connects customers with service providers, using data to match customers with the best service provider for their needs
  • A mobile app that tracks users' fitness and health data and provides personalized workout and nutrition recommendations
  • A machine learning model that predicts the likelihood of a customer churning based on their past behavior and other data points.

Why do you need data products?

Data products can be incredibly valuable for organizations that want to make better use of their data. Some specific reasons why data products may be needed include:

  • To quickly and accurately collect and analyze large amounts of data, allowing for more informed decision making.
  • To automate repetitive or time-consuming tasks, freeing up time and resources for other activities.
  • To provide real-time insights and updates, allowing for more timely responses to changing situations.
  • To improve efficiency and productivity by providing easy access to data and analysis tools.
  • To facilitate collaboration and information sharing within organizations, enabling teams to work together more effectively.

Overall, data products can help organizations extract maximum value from their data and use it to drive business success.

How do you build data products?

There are several steps involved in building a data product, including:

  1. Identifying a problem or opportunity that can be addressed using data
  2. Gathering and cleaning the necessary data
  3. Developing a model or algorithm to process the data
  4. Testing and refining the model to ensure it is accurate and effective
  5. Building a user-friendly interface for accessing and interacting with the data product
  6. Deploying the data product and making it available to users

Building a data product typically involves a combination of data science, engineering, and design skills. It is a collaborative process that involves working closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and requirements, and developing a solution that meets those needs.

How do you manage data products?

There are several key steps involved in managing data products, including:

  1. Identifying and prioritizing the key objectives and goals for the data product
  2. Developing a plan for how the data product will be used and managed over time
  3. Gathering and cleaning the necessary data to support the data product
  4. Developing and testing the models and algorithms that will be used to process the data
  5. Building and maintaining the technical infrastructure and user interfaces for the data product
  6. Monitoring the performance and effectiveness of the data product, and making regular updates and improvements as needed

Managing a data product involves a combination of technical and strategic skills. It is important to maintain a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the data product, and to regularly monitor its performance and effectiveness to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the users. In addition, it is important to maintain the data and technical infrastructure of the data product to ensure that it remains reliable and secure.

How do you operate data products?

Operating a data product typically involves several key steps, including:

  1. Setting up and configuring the necessary technical infrastructure and user interfaces for the data product
  2. Gathering and cleaning the data that will be used by the data product
  3. Developing and testing the models and algorithms that will be used to process the data
  4. Deploying the data product and making it available to users
  5. Providing support and training to users, as needed
  6. Monitoring the performance and effectiveness of the data product, and making regular updates and improvements as needed

Operating a data product involves a combination of technical and operational skills. It is important to ensure that the data product is set up and configured correctly, and that the necessary data is available and up-to-date. In addition, it is important to provide support and training to users, and to monitor the performance of the data product to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the users.

What technologies are needed to build data products?

Building data products typically involves a range of technologies, including:

  • Data storage and management technologies, such as databases and data warehouses, to store and manage the data used by the data product
  • Data processing and analysis technologies, such as machine learning and natural language processing, to process and analyze the data
  • Data visualization and reporting tools, such as dashboards and graphs, to present the data and insights in a user-friendly way
  • User interface and design technologies, such as web development and user experience (UX) design, to create an intuitive and user-friendly interface for the data product
  • Project management and collaboration tools, such as agile development methodologies and collaboration platforms, to coordinate and manage the development process.

Overall, building data products typically involves a combination of specialized data technologies and more general-purpose development and design tools. The specific technologies used will depend on the specific needs and requirements of the data product.

What are the foundations of data products?

The foundations of data products are the data, algorithms, and infrastructure that are used to create and deliver the product. Without access to the right data and the ability to process and analyze that data, a data product would not be able to provide useful insights and information to its users.

In addition to data and algorithms, data products also rely on a strong technical infrastructure to support their operation. This might include data storage and management systems, user interfaces and design tools, and other technologies that are needed to build, deploy, and operate the data product.

Overall, the foundations of data products are the data, algorithms, and infrastructure that enable them to provide valuable insights and information to their users. Without these key components, a data product would not be able to function effectively.

Summary: ChatGPT has exceeded my expectations in formulating an accurate data products definition and answering related questions.

Thanks to OpenAI. https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ 

Photo by Ash Edmonds on Unsplash

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