Ovation Data Sounds the Alarm in New White Paper - Data Neglect Threatens Lifesciences Sector

LONDON – 2 June 2025. Ovation Data, a leader in data management and digital transformation, warns that neglecting data risks losing valuable insights forever and offers practical advice to address this in its plain-speaking white paper launched today. The paper, titled From Forgotten Archives to Business Value: The Case for Clean, Structured Data in a World of Digital Clutter, makes a compelling case for why organisations across industries must prioritise data readiness to stay competitive and efficient. It also highlights the societal risks of failing to act.

According to Gregory Servos, Executive Chairman of Ovation Data, failing to preserve and organise data poses a significant threat to progress. He explains, "As society increasingly relies on AI and machine learning to drive innovation, the importance of clean, structured, accessible data has never been greater. Yet, without prioritising data preservation, we risk a loss as profound as the destruction of the Library of Alexandria; valuable knowledge will be lost forever, setting back progress for generations. It’s unacceptable that 80% of historical data still sits on shelves, unused and forgotten, while powerful technologies struggle to deliver their potential. We must act now to ensure society can fully benefit from this immense resource."

The pressure to optimise data is mounting as organisations face challenges related to AI readiness, regulatory compliance, and operational agility. Despite this, many companies still struggle with fragmented, unstructured, and poorly documented data, limiting strategic decision-making and efficiency.

Servos adds, “Organisations that are serious about staying competitive must rethink their approach to data. Simply collecting and storing information isn’t enough - companies need clean, structured data that is ready for analysis and integration. Our white paper demonstrates how structured data can transform business operations, reduce risk, and foster innovation.”

Drawing on five decades of expertise in data-intensive industries such as energy, heritage, and life sciences, Ovation Data's white paper presents real-world examples of companies transforming data chaos into clarity, creating a valuable strategic asset that boosts efficiency and evidence-based decision-making.

• Energy and geoscience: Operators often face regulatory fines or repeat costly surveys because crucial data remains inaccessible, locked in outdated formats. Improving data retrieval and structuring practices can reduce costs, minimise risks, and turn legacy data into a strategic asset.
• Heritage:  Collections digitised for long-term preservation are often unstructured and undescribed, making artefacts difficult to search and access. Adding clean, descriptive metadata creates a valuable, discoverable resource for research and education, fostering global connections and insights. 
• Lifesciences and biotech: Researchers often spend up to 80% of their time cleaning and organising data rather than analysing it. Optimising data resources can mitigate the risk of loss of research data, save time, reduce duplication of effort, lower research costs, and accelerate the development of diagnostics and treatments. 

The white paper is essential reading for business leaders seeking to make data readiness a strategic priority. It demonstrates why clean, structured data is not just a technical upgrade but a fundamental step towards building resilient, data-driven organisations for their lifetime and beyond. Implementing these practices helps companies unlock insights faster, reduce risk, and lay the groundwork for AI and digital transformation.

The white paper, "From Forgotten Archives to Business Value: The Case for Clean, Structured Data in a World of Digital Clutter," can be downloaded [here].

ENDS

About Ovation Data 

Ovation Data is a global leader in data digitisation, preservation, and digital transformation. With more than 45 years of experience, we help organisations unlock the full value of their data. From paper archives to legacy media formats, we transform complex, fragmented, and aging data into secure, accessible, and usable digital assets. Our scalable solutions support everything from AI-readiness to regulatory compliance, enabling smarter decisions, accelerated innovation, and long-term data resilience. Whether you’re safeguarding irreplaceable history or preparing for the future, Ovation Data delivers trusted, end-to-end data stewardship.