From Raw Data to Actionable Insights
For Jourdan, “doing data differently” is about streamlining the entire data journey — from source systems to data lakes, to transformation and analytics, and finally, action.
“It’s not enough to build AI models in isolation,”
he said.
“You need to deliver insights where your business users can actually use them — not just in a dashboard, but inside the tools they use every day.”
This approach eliminates the common disconnect between AI teams and business units, where insights often arrive too late to be relevant.
Why AI Projects Fail
Citing research that shows 80% of AI projects fail, Jourdan noted that many data science teams operate in silos.
“By the time they deliver a model, the business problem has moved on. That’s why AI has to be embedded directly in the hands of business users,”
he said.
The key is empowerment — enabling teams across the organisation to access insights, build their own solutions, and act fast, with confidence.
Agentic AI: From Insight to Action
Jourdan highlighted the next frontier in analytics: Agentic AI.
Unlike traditional AI models that provide recommendations, agentic systems can act — triggering workflows or updating records automatically.
“Imagine your AI identifies a sales opportunity, and instantly updates Salesforce or sends a message in Teams. That’s the power of agentic AI — moving from information to action,”
he explained.
To support this shift, Qlik has introduced tools that make data preparation for AI faster and more intuitive, reducing the 80% of data science effort spent on transformation.
The Foundation: Trust and Governance
While speed and automation are crucial, Jourdan stressed that data quality remains the bedrock of any successful AI programme.
“You can’t automate insight if your data isn’t trustworthy. Governance isn’t a blocker — it’s the enabler,”
he said.
Qlik’s platform-first approach ensures that governance, security, and traceability are baked in — allowing businesses to scale AI responsibly.
The Takeaway
Jourdan’s message echoed the broader theme of the AI Reality Tour: execution matters.
To succeed with AI, organisations must:
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Simplify the path from data to decision
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Empower business users with accessible AI tools
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Invest in governed, high-quality data
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Embrace agentic AI to turn insights into action
As Jourdan concluded,
“The real transformation happens when AI stops being a project and starts becoming part of how you work every day.”
