In this conversation with Andy MacMillan, CEO of Alteryx, they delve into the rising influence of citizen developers in business. Andy shares insights on how tools like Alteryx democratize data access, empowering non-technical teams to tackle complex problems. They discuss the shift towards cloud data platforms, emphasizing the balance between user empowerment and IT governance. The dialogue also highlights how AI technologies can revolutionize workflows, enabling organizations to innovate while maintaining control over data strategies.
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insights INSIGHT
Chasm Between Cloud and Business
A new chasm exists between cloud data platforms and empowering business users.
AI offers potential to reimagine business workflows using these data investments.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Early GM Web Development
Andy MacMillan worked on early websites for General Motors, including gm.com and Chevrolet.com.
His code for car window stickers ran for over 20 years, showing software longevity.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Enable Access to Prevent Shadow IT
Provide users governed, accessible data platforms to prevent shadow IT.
If access is hard, users will bypass systems with ungoverned tools like spreadsheets.
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This week on The Data Stack Show, Brooks and John chat with Andy MacMillan, CEO of Alteryx. Andy discusses the evolving landscape of data and AI, focusing on empowering business users to solve complex problems. He explores the concept of "citizen developers" and how tools like Alteryx can bridge the gap between IT and business teams by democratizing data access. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of creating controlled environments where business users can leverage cloud data platforms and AI technologies to reimagine workflows, without bypassing governance. Key takeaways include the need for organizations to enable innovation through accessible data tools, the potential of AI-driven agents to transform business processes, the critical role of employees who understand their business functions in driving technological transformation, and so much more.
Highlights from this week’s conversation include:
Andy’s Background and Journey in Data (0:54)
Early Web Development at General Motors (2:23)
AI Challenges in the Enterprise (9:03)
What is Alteryx and Its Value Proposition (11:25)
The Importance of Empowering Business Users (16:10)
Bridging the Gap Between Data Platforms and Business Users (20:04)
Evolution from Desktop to Data Cloud (25:28)
Access and Governance in the Cloud Era (27:57)
The Return of Local Data Work and AI Governance (31:24)
AI Data Clearinghouse and Governance (34:11)
AI-Enabled Workflows and Business Impact (38:13)
The Future: Agents, Data Platforms, and Business Logic (41:05)
How to Get Started with Alteryx or Learn More (46:54)
Product Management Lessons for Leadership and Parting Thoughts (47:56)
The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.
RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com.
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