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How to Advocate for the Value of Informatics Within An Organization

How to Advocate for the Value of Informatics Within An Organization

In today's data-driven world, organizations are increasingly recognizing the transformative power of informatics. This article delves into the crucial role of informatics in various aspects of business, from healthcare to digital marketing. Drawing on insights from industry experts, it explores how leveraging data analytics and informatics can lead to improved decision-making, cost savings, and operational efficiency.

  • Data-Driven Decisions Transform Company Culture
  • Translating Informatics into Business Value
  • Embedding Informatics in EHR Implementation
  • Analytics Prevent Hospitalizations and Save Costs
  • SEO Success Through Data Analytics
  • Co-Managed IT Boosts Operational Efficiency

Data-Driven Decisions Transform Company Culture

When I first introduced the idea of weaving informatics into Zapiy's core decision-making, it wasn't met with immediate enthusiasm. We were a lean startup, bootstrapped and moving fast, and some team members saw data analysis as a "nice to have" rather than a necessity. At the time, most decisions were based on gut instinct, quick polls, or anecdotal feedback from a few vocal customers. It worked — until it didn't.

I remember a particular product release where we thought we were building exactly what our users wanted. Post-launch metrics told a different story: adoption lagged, engagement dipped, and churn increased. That's when I gathered the team and walked them through a simple but powerful narrative — the difference between guessing and knowing. I showed how a few well-designed data dashboards could have flagged the mismatch weeks earlier, saving us development time and lost goodwill.

Rather than overwhelm them with jargon, I framed informatics as a compass in uncharted territory. I shared examples from other industries — how logistics companies optimize routes or how healthcare teams predict patient needs — and drew parallels to our challenges. I also committed to small wins first: tracking specific funnel drop-offs, running A/B tests, and sharing visual, easy-to-digest reports during standups.

Within months, the culture shifted. Team discussions started with "What does the data say?" instead of "I feel like..." Informatics stopped being a back-office tool and became the language we all spoke. Advocating for it wasn't about convincing people to love spreadsheets; it was about showing them how data could reduce blind spots, de-risk decisions, and help us build with precision.

In the end, it wasn't the technology that won them over — it was the results. Once we saw decisions leading to measurable improvements, there was no going back.

Max Shak
Max ShakFounder/CEO, Zapiy

Translating Informatics into Business Value

At one point in my organization, we faced skepticism about investing in informatics tools and data-driven workflows. Some stakeholders viewed these as costly add-ons rather than essential assets. To advocate for informatics, I focused on demonstrating clear business impact rather than just technical benefits.

I prepared a presentation that translated informatics capabilities into real-world outcomes: faster decision-making, improved customer insights, and measurable cost savings. Using specific case studies from our operations, I showed how leveraging data analytics reduced project turnaround time by 20% and increased client retention rates by 15%.

To communicate its importance, I framed informatics as a strategic enabler—not just a support function. I highlighted that in today's competitive market, companies that harness data effectively outperform their peers consistently.

By speaking in terms aligned with leadership priorities—ROI, customer satisfaction, and growth—I shifted the conversation from abstract technology to tangible business value. This approach gained buy-in, leading to budget approval for enhanced informatics tools and training.

The key lesson was to bridge the gap between technical jargon and business goals—making informatics relatable and indispensable for organizational success.

Embedding Informatics in EHR Implementation

In a previous role, I noticed that leadership undervalued informatics, viewing it as a back-office function rather than a strategic asset. When our organization was considering a new EHR system, I advocated for a robust informatics team to be involved from the outset.

To communicate its importance, I focused on tangible outcomes. I presented case studies showing how informatics improved clinical workflows, reduced errors, and supported regulatory compliance. I quantified potential cost savings and efficiency gains from better data integration and analytics. I arranged briefings where frontline staff shared how informatics tools made their jobs easier and improved patient care.

I also highlighted risks of excluding informatics, such as poor data migration, workflow disruptions, and lost opportunities for data-driven decision-making. I tailored my message to each audience: for executives, I emphasized ROI and competitive advantage; for clinicians, I focused on usability and patient safety.

Ultimately, leadership agreed to embed informatics experts in the EHR project. This led to smoother implementation, higher user satisfaction, and measurable improvements in data quality. The experience reinforced the value of clear, outcome-focused communication and aligning informatics with organizational goals.

Analytics Prevent Hospitalizations and Save Costs

During a review of our clinic's budget, there was a proposal to scale back investment in our informatics platform in order to redirect funds to more visible patient-facing upgrades. Many viewed the data systems as an administrative cost rather than a driver of clinical outcomes. I knew that if the cuts went through, we would lose the ability to track early warning signs in chronic disease trends and measure the real impact of our care programs.

I prepared a concise presentation that walked through a real case in which our analytics flagged an unusual spike in blood pressure readings among a group of patients on a specific medication. That insight led to an immediate protocol review and prevented at least three hospitalizations in a single quarter, saving over $25,000 in emergency care costs. By showing how data directly translated into better health outcomes and financial savings, the leadership team understood that informatics was not just a background tool but a central part of delivering high-quality, proactive care.

SEO Success Through Data Analytics

Oh man, I reckon this hits close to home! Back in '19, I had to convince a stubborn client that data analytics wasn't just "tech mumbo jumbo" but the backbone of killer SEO strategies. I showed them how informatics—tracking user behavior, search patterns, conversion funnels—directly translated to a 340% traffic boost within four months. Like when I tripled a bakery's local visibility by analyzing search data and optimizing their Google Business Profile accordingly. Our agency blends human insight with AI-assisted analytics to help businesses rank higher, get found faster, and convert that search traffic into real growth. It's that solid informatics foundation that fuels sustainable SEO success, y'all!

Co-Managed IT Boosts Operational Efficiency

When our company needed to improve our technology infrastructure, I had to make a strong case to leadership about the value of partnering with an external IT provider. I presented concrete data showing how co-managed IT would allow us to maintain control while significantly increasing our operational efficiency. During several executive meetings, I highlighted specific examples of how this approach would reduce downtime, provide access to specialized expertise, and ultimately save both time and financial resources. The proposal faced initial resistance from stakeholders concerned about outsourcing any IT functions, but by focusing on the business growth opportunities it would create, I was able to gain consensus. This strategic shift allowed our internal teams to focus more on innovation while ensuring our technology foundation remained robust and secure.

Evan McCarthy
Evan McCarthyPresident and CEO, SportingSmiles

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How to Advocate for the Value of Informatics Within An Organization - Informatics Magazine