The single source of truth

It's easy for everyone to get excited about the transformational opportunities that technology will bring in the coming years, most notably AI and Machine Learning which are already showing some mind-blowing capabilities. But as businesses look at how to adopt this technology, there's one aspect of AI and Machine Learning that often goes overlooked - the need for a single source of truth for your data.As you might know, AI and Machine Learning algorithms work by being fed large amounts of data and using that data to make predictions, decisions, and recommendations. But, for these algorithms to work effectively, the source data must be clean, consistent, and up-to-date. This is where the concept of a 'single data source' or 'single source of truth' comes in - or to use a better term, a Platform.A single data source refers to storing all relevant data in a single, unified location. This way, the AI and Machine Learning algorithms can access the data they need without jumping between multiple databases, environments or applications.However, in many recruitment and staffing firms, data is often stored in multiple silos - separate systems that aren't designed to work together. This creates a problem because each silo may contain different versions of the same data, or the data may be structured differently. This makes it difficult for AI and Machine Learning algorithms to use the data effectively, leading to incorrect predictions and decisions.For example, let's say you have an AI system to make recommendations for candidate engagement. The system is fed data about candidates from multiple silos - one for candidate skills and work history, one for NPS feedback, and one for conversation history. But, the data in each silo is inconsistent, so the AI system might make recommendations based on outdated or incorrect information - or even information that it doesn't read because it has no contextual relevance.A single data source is essential for AI and Machine Learning because it ensures that the data is consistent, up-to-date, accurate and understood in context. This leads to more accurate predictions and decisions, making it easier to implement and maintain the AI and Machine Learning systems over time.Whether it's in the short or medium term, there's no doubt you'll want to use AI and Machine Learning somewhere in your business, so it's impossible to strive for a single source of data. Doing so will ensure that your algorithms are fed the clean, consistent, and accurate data they need to make the best predictions and decisions.You'll do yourself a huge favour by breaking down those data silos and creating a single source of truth for your AI and Machine Learning systems!Get in touch to see how Mercury can help put your business on a platform for the future.If you want to know how your tech stack compares to a platform, click here.Written by Daniel Fox, Marketing Manager at Mercury.