From data strategy to action: how to avoid getting stuck in planning

In 2019, Nienke Halma joined Digital Power as a Data Analyst. Seven years later, she has progressed to the management team. As Head of Operations, she connects strategy with day-to-day operations, turning the ambitious goals of the data and AI consultancy into tangible results.

Want to move faster with a strategic view on your data? Every quarter, Elias zooms in on the market developments that impact your data-driven organisation.

Only two per cent of Dutch organisations have a mature data strategy, according to HPE research. The other 98 per cent? They are building their AI ambitions on quicksand. Because without a data strategy, AI does not become a smart assistant, but one that leaks sensitive business information, increases the risk of GDPR fines, and makes your organisation dependent on tech giants who do not share your interests.

What problem are you actually trying to solve? It sounds simple, but it’s exactly the question many organisations skip – and why their data projects fail. Hotel chain citizenM experienced this first-hand: their app seemed to be failing, until the data told a very different story. We supported citizenM in arriving at these insights.

AI is moving into operations, data needs to be faster and more reliable, and the EU AI Act is turning governance into a boardroom topic. Five trends are putting data strategy under pressure in 2026. “Those who fail to make choices will lose ground to competitors who do focus.”

If you wish to hire external data expertise, there are several options. Should you choose to partner with a data consulting agency like Digital Power or hire a freelancer? Discover the benefits of working with an agency in this article.

Team managers often prefer hiring permanent employees. However, skilled data and AI professionals are scarce and difficult to attract and retain. By working with an experienced data & AI partner, organisations can move faster in becoming data-driven, without being dependent on individual employees. In this article, we outline the key benefits of collaborating with a data partner.

The question is simple, but the answer is complex. We can't give you an exact rate on our website, but we'd be happy to explain the factors that come into play.

Want to move faster with a strategic view on your data? Every quarter, Elias zooms in on the market developments that impact your data-driven organisation.

Data & AI consultancy Digital Power and AI governance platform Deeploy are joining forces. Their shared mission: helping organisations apply data and AI not only at scale, but also in a responsible and compliant way. That’s more than enough reason to sit down with Joachim van Biemen (Digital Power) and Ellen Mik (Deeploy) to discuss what this collaboration involves.

Digital Power has joined the 2025 edition of the customer-experience event Conversion Hotel as a Community Partner. The data consultancy firm will play an active role in the programme by organising several unconference sessions and taking part in panel discussions.

Many organisations feel that they need to do ‘something with data’. But how do you ensure that it really works for your organisation?

Want to move faster with a strategic view on your data? In the up to data: Macro Matters, Elias zooms in on the market developments that impact your data-driven organisation.

Does your organisation collect lots of data, but the step from insight to action often stalls? You’re not alone. Most companies struggle at every organisational level, from the boardroom to the frontline, to actually turn data into effective decisions. Data-driven decision-making offers the solution: a framework that brings together data, people, and technology so you can decide faster and better.

In this webinar, you will learn what data maturity means and how to gain insight into the extent to which your organisation handles data. You will discover how to determine where you currently stand, which factors play a role in this, and which next steps you can take to get more value out of data.

Are you losing control of your data? It’s time to take the reins. Effective data governance is the key to better decision-making, sustainable growth and a supportive business strategy.

Due to recent geopolitical developments, such as heightened concerns about privacy and legislation, many organisations are reassessing their dependence on US-based software solutions. At the same time, the call for greater control over data and reduced reliance on external parties is growing louder.

Are your IT department and the business working at cross purposes? Your organisation isn’t the only one. Many organisations struggle with business–IT alignment: bringing business objectives and technological initiatives into line.

Do you have access to more and more data, but find that better decisions are failing to materialise? You are not the only one. We see in many organisations that the growing amount of data actually leads to confusion and indecision. This data paradox - more data, but not automatically more insight - is a major challenge for anyone who wants to work in a truly data-driven way.

At energy company Ennatuurlijk, the belief grew that intuition was no longer enough to set the course. The energy market was changing rapidly, the organization was growing, and the amount of information was increasing every day. IT Manager Eric Vanderfeesten went looking for a data partner who could not only provide strategic advice on data-driven work, but could also strengthen his data team operationally. In this interview, he shares his vision, experience and results from working with Digital Power.

This e-book is written for decision-makers who want to harness the power of data to take their organisation to the next level. Whether you are CEO, CDO, IT director or department head: if you are responsible for the digital future of your organisation, this book will provide the insights you are looking for.

If you’ve decided to migrate your data warehouse to a European environment, taking a structured approach is key. This blog focuses on the steps needed for a smooth and successful transition.

Due to geopolitical developments and growing concerns about data sovereignty, more and more businesses are looking to reduce their dependence on US cloud providers.

At Ennatuurlijk, we have been working with the Data & Analytics team to deliver on their data strategy. When their Product Owner unexpectedly became unavailable, we were able to step in quickly. What began as a temporary replacement grew into a partnership in which we shaped the organisation’s data-driven ways of working together.

In an era marked by international tensions, rising concerns about privacy, security, and technological sovereignty, you may find yourself re-evaluating your reliance on US technology solutions. The drive towards digital independence isn't just a political goal, but may also be a pragmatic business necessity.

Sneller vooruit dankzij een strategische blik op je data? In de eerste up to data: macro matters editie zoomt Elias in op de marktontwikkelingen die impact hebben op jouw datagedreven organisatie.

René Westerdijk has been working at Digital Power for over 10 years. During this time, he climbed from junior consultant to medior consultant, senior consultant, lead consultant and team lead. Recently, he became commercial manager and member of the MT. An interview with René about his personal growth and the commercial course he envisions at the data consultancy firm.

With the right dashboards, you quickly extract valuable insights from your data. This allows you to make better choices and add immediate value to your organisation. In an interview with Consultancy.eu, Antonie van Velzen and Iga Jarosz explain how our dashboard solution helps you get a grip on your raw data.

Wondering how data mature your organisation really is? Our free online data maturity scan gives you a clear view of your organisation’s current level of data maturity – in just 5 minutes. Below we answer the five most frequently asked questions about the scan.

Double cause for celebration this quarter at Digital Power: we have been recognised as a leader in our field by both MT/Sprout and Emerce.

“Our current focus with data is mostly operational. To truly unlock its value, we want to start using it more strategically – to make better-informed decisions with the right focus. But where do we begin? What’s the best approach, and how do we build internal support? What is our current level of data maturity, and what steps should we take to grow?” This was the question posed by an international medical device manufacturer who asked us to carry out a data maturity scan as the starting point for their journey.

To deliver Digital Power’s services in the best possible way, we don’t just need consultants, we also rely on our staff teams. That’s why Digital Power has dedicated teams for marketing, recruitment, finance, and sales. The commercial team consists of the Commercial Manager, Commercial Leads, and Business Managers. But what exactly does being part of the commercial team involve? And what’s the difference between a Business Manager and a Commercial Lead? Listen to our (Dutch) podcasts or find out in the article below.

Ennatuurlijk supplies sustainable heat and cold via heat networks to consumers and businesses. The internal Data & Analytics team is tasked with making the organisation data-driven. In doing so, they ran into a challenge: the many requests for data products within the organisation were difficult to manage and the impact remained limited. The management team therefore asked us to help them develop a data strategy, create a future-proof data landscape and drive a data-driven mindset within the organisation.

The Datahub Foundation, a pro bono initiative by data consultancy Digital Power, specialises in the effective use of data and data-driven ways of working. We spoke with Sanne Kieftenburg, Chair of the Datahub, about the power of data-driven work for non-profits and the social sector.

War Child will measure the quality of its programs using a standardised methodology: Quality of Care. War Child developed this methodology based on scientific research. Now the question is: how can this be implemented across a large number of locations with different types of programs, various partner organisations, and donors? What is War Child's data ambition concerning Quality of Care, and how can a data strategy help the organisation move forward?

Several hundred professionals active in the (big) data domain will gather again in September, during the Data Expo 2024 in Jaarbeurs Utrecht. From the consulting industry, several agencies are contributing to the data event. Digital Power is acting as Ambassador. In addition, we will also give 3 sessions.

Most consulting firms tout an entrepreneurial culture as one of their key differentiators – but Digital Power actually looks to deliver on that promise. Sarah Busson tells Consultancy.org how she has been supported in developing a new offering from scratch alongside her daily work as a consultant.

In our webinar, we would like to inspire you about the possibilities of developing a data strategy in an accessible way. How can you approach this process? Using our data strategy model, Eiske will present concrete examples and let you take a first step towards a solid strategy for your organisation.

An insurance company approached us to assist in shaping their data strategy. Their aim was to achieve their goals and provide a seamless customer experience across all touchpoints.

Consultancy.nl interviewed Team Lead Mieke Kleppe about our new data solution UX Research.

Consultancy.nl interviewed our Operational Manager Robin, and Team Leads Andana, Max, and René about our operational structure. Following years of rapid growth, we re-tuned our organisational structure to accommodate our expansion.

In this webinar, we discuss the maturity model that we apply to quantify the maturity of different dimensions of data governance. Additionally, we provide concrete steps and implementation tips to start providing added value through data management.

In this episode of New Business Radio's Let's Talk Business, our CEO René de Boer and Teamlead Data Analytics Nienke Halma talk about our vision and approach.

Digital Power has launched a new data strategy proposition to help its clients define and realise their goals for datadriven working. “Few organisations know how to convert the insights from their data into results. What they lack is a good data strategy,” says Charlotte Vonkeman, who is responsible for the new proposition.

Researchers from the Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship and NLgroeit have released the 2023 edition of their annual list of fast-growing companies in the Netherlands. Twelve consultancy firms are featured in the Top 250 Growth Companies. Digital Power has been included in this list for the second time!

A data-literate organisation is aware of what data is, its opportunities and risks, and how to collect, store, analyse, and present data in a way that aligns with its organisational values. To assist social organisations in becoming more data-savvy, we offer a range of workshops.

Download our e-book about data strategy and learn how to maintain control and truly extract value from your data.

Nowadays, almost every organisation is aware of the need to work data driven. They understand the importance, but few have managed to succesfully implement a data strategy. In this interview series we talk about the definition of data strategy, use cases, opportunities and tips from data strategy experts.

Having grown into a 140+ strong team in the Netherlands, Digital Power has set its sights on international expansion. Consultancy.eu sat down with our Amsterdam-based director Erik van der Kooij and London-based leader Ian Gardiner to discuss the firm’s foray into the British and German markets and how it helps the firm build its profile and talent base.

At Digital Power, we are aware of the opportunities that data offers us and we do not shy away from our societal responsibility. That is why we established a foundation in 2021: the Digital Power Datahub. Through our foundation, we contribute to a data-literate world where data knowledge is accessible to everyone. Discover how the Datahub empowers children with data literacy and what you can do to contribute.

Putting development at the center of your company. Can you do that? Our CEO René de Boer was interviewed by Wilfred Prins for his podcast 'Leiders van Nu' (Leaders of Now). How do you build a culture that fosters connection? And what is the downside of making development a central focus in your company? René provides tips and shares his vision on leadership and entrepreneurship.

At Digital Power, we are aware of the opportunities that data offers us and we do not shy away from our societal responsibility. That's why we established a foundation in 2021 called the Digital Power Datahub. With our foundation, we contribute to a data-savvy world where data knowledge is accessible to everyone. What does that look like in practice?

Nowadays, almost every organisation is aware of the need to work data driven. They understand the importance, but few have managed to succesfully implement a data strategy. In this interview series we talk about the definition of data strategy, use cases, opportunities and tips from data strategy experts.

In this video, Stefan is happy to explain more about our data academy!

In this video, Jonathan is happy to explain more about our data projects!

At Digital Power, we are aware of the opportunities that data presents and we don't shy away from our societal responsibility. That's why we established the Digital Power Datahub in 2021. Through our foundation, we contribute to building a data-aware world. Why is this so important?

Nowadays, almost every organisation is aware of the need to work data driven. They understand the importance, but few have managed to succesfully implement a data strategy. In this interview series we talk about the definition of data strategy, use cases, opportunities and tips from data strategy experts.

How does all the data you collect effectively contribute to achieving the organisational goals? Few organisations actually succeed in converting insights from their data into results. As a data consultancy firm, we regularly talk to organisations that are overwhelmed by the vast array of tools and the large amount of data, and can no longer see the wood for the trees. Does this sound familiar? The development and implementation of a well-thought-out data strategy will help you regain control.

In this video, Merel is happy to explain more about our data consultants!

Nowadays, almost every organisation is aware of the need to work data driven. They understand the importance, but few have managed to succesfully implement a data strategy. In this interview series we talk about the definition of data strategy, use cases, opportunities and tips from data strategy experts.

Would you like to get value from your data, but don't know where to start? In this article you will read how to get started, step by step, to extract insights from your data that will help you seize opportunities and tap into your organisation's growth potential.

The Datahub: what exactly is it, which projects do we carry out and what do we want to achieve with it? Marloes interviewed Marieke, chair of the Datahub, about this in the podcast 'From data to action'! Listen to the podcast or read the article below.

The DataHub celebrates its first anniversary this week. Through the foundation, Digital Power is committed to promoting data literacy within society. How has the first year gone? Consultancy.nl interviewed Marieke about it.

Considering to contact us? We can imagine that you'd like to know what is coming next. You can read about our sales process in this article.

Good data professionals are hard to find. Our customers notice this, but so do we. Read how we still provide our clients with the right data expertise.

On February 10, 2022, the Digital Power Datahub and the Partos Digital Lab together kicked off the Data Awareness series with the Intro to Data Awareness. This series of 6 training courses develops the Datahub especially for the members of Partos; non-profits in the development cooperation industry. The aim of the series is to make development cooperation specialists data-wise, so that they can make and measure more impact.

In July 2016, CEO René de Boer started the adventure with Digital Power. At the time, the team consisted of 18 talented employees who worked for a handful of clients. Data-driven work became a theme in more and more organisations. René found exactly what he was looking for at Digital Power: a combination of a future-oriented (growth) market and an organisation where he could really make a difference as an entrepreneur. He explains how, in five years, Digital Power grew into a team of over 120 professionals with a broad client portfolio.

Not only working for an organization but also helping to build that organisation: at Digital Power, it is possible. Over the past five years, our organisation has grown from about 20 employees to more than 100 colleagues. Together we ensure that we become more and more professional. And do you, as an employee, think that something could be done better? Then you can address and/or tackle it yourself. Find out how.

We can no longer ignore it: our society runs on and is about data. From small to large amounts of data, data about our purchasing behaviour, our health, our WhatsApp messages and our political preferences: data is used to make our lives easier, more fun and more predictable. Sounds good, right?

We set up our own foundation, through which we work for social impact on a pro bono basis. Consultancy.co.uk wrote an article about it.

Digital Power has grown rapidly in recent years and the end seems far from in sight: "In the next three to four years, we will double in size," says René. The rapid advance is accompanied by further professionalisation, including of the organisational structure. This is why the data specialist has now appointed a management team to properly facilitate its growth ambition. Consultancy.nl interviewed René de Boer about this.

Since its foundation, Digital Power has been going fast. The Amsterdam-based agency is growing like crazy and has a long list of well-known names among its clients. However, one thing remains the same: data may be the specialism, but in the end it is all about the people. "From an unknown player we have grown into the data partner of many companies, but our team still feels like a family", says Business Manager Erik van der Kooij.

At the 'MKB Data Science Top 50', 50 agencies competed for the title 'the fastest-growing SME data science agency in our country'. Even before the event, we heard that we were in the top 3! During the Den Bosch Data Week, Marieke got to pitch our organisation.

On 24 January 2020, the Office Warming & Data Drinks took place. We invited our guests to have a nice drink at our brand new office to toast the new year together. It was a very successful party!

Digital Power is growing fast: our team quadrupled between 2016 and 2020. We have transformed from a small, unknown player into a mature data partner for many Dutch companies. Our team feels like a family where every member would grant each other the world if they could. But why is that, and more importantly, how do we maintain this as we continue to grow?

The Digital Power Customer Day 2019 was a successful day with our relations! With the theme 'don't participate, but do', a great programme of different types of sessions was put together. We look back on the day with pleasure and are already looking forward to next year's Customer Day!