Free Workshop Guide + Templates

"OK, great. But where do I start?"

You’ve explored the vendor landscape and sat through the demos. Now run the one workshop that aligns IT, OT and Operations on what actually matters — before you spend a single euro on technology.
Download the Moderation Guide
The problem

In almost every company we talk to, IT, OT and Operations have wildly different perceptions of where they stand. IT clusters around Stage 2 or 3 on our Data Journey Model. Operations hovers near Stage 0 or 1.

Without surfacing those gaps, every subsequent decision rests on assumptions. And assumptions are where data initiatives go to die.
The vendors in our DataOps database will help you with the technical side. But they will not define your goals. That’s your job.
Our framework

Three steps. That's it.

Before you evaluate a single vendor or spin up a single broker — align on what you’re trying to achieve. The best way we’ve found? Run a Data Maturity Assessment Workshop using our five-stage Data Journey Model.

The Data Journey Model
0
Dark Ages
Data exists but is trapped
1
Watch
Visible, not understandable
2
Diagnose
Context makes data reusable
3
Predict
Models become viable
4
Optimise
Guided decisions at scale
Most organisations sit between Stage 0 and 2. That’s not a problem — it’s reality. Where you are determines what to do next.

What happens in the workshop

Current State
Where does everyone think we are? Surface the perception gaps between IT, OT and Operations.
What’s Working
Which systems and tools are already delivering value? You’ll be surprised what’s hidden in pockets nobody knows about.
Blockers
What’s genuinely holding you back? Missing tech, skills gaps, silos, budget, data quality — get them visible.
Future State
Where do you want to be in 2–3 years? Not a technology wishlist — outcomes that would change how you work.

Then you prioritise using four criteria

⚡
High Enablement
Will this unlock more use cases quickly?
🎯
High Value
Does it solve a genuine pain point?
📊
High Impact
Will people notice when this works?
👁
High Visibility
Visible wins secure your next budget.

Start small, think big — and thinking big is not optional. Starting small without a vision means you’ll solve one problem and create three new ones. You need both.
What “starting small” looks like depends on several factors:

Your current capability
Assessed via the Data Journey Model. If you’re at Stage 0, your first step is getting data out of those SCADA systems. Don’t try predictive maintenance when you can’t reliably access your historian.
Your OT complexity
OT-heavy companies (process industry) need better integration of existing SCADA/MES landscapes. OT-light and IIoT-first companies have more flexibility — an MQTT broker can be a great fit. Context is everything.
Build versus buy
Some organisations want full control with internal platform teams. Others prefer managed solutions. Neither is wrong — but be honest about what your team can sustain.
Your production process type
Asset-heavy environments benefit from asset-first modelling. Process-driven environments need process-first modelling. This shapes your data architecture more than most people realise.
One principle applies: design like you’ll be solving five problems tomorrow, even if you’re only solving one today. Use structured data models. Document your integration points. Choose tools that allow modular upgrades.

Here’s what nobody talks about at the beginning: the plateau always comes. You’ve built momentum, use cases are multiplying, early wins bought you credibility. And then things start to slow down. Subtly.

Early warning signs
Adding new data sources becomes more and more difficult.
Users complain about speed. Dashboards load slowly. Queries time out.
Your team spends more time maintaining than innovating.
Key person dependencies are increasing, not decreasing.
Workarounds are multiplying across the organisation.

These signs accumulate gradually. That’s what makes them dangerous — you rationalise each one individually while missing the pattern collectively.

Technology evolves. Requirements change. What worked brilliantly at 10 sites might not at 50. Recognising the plateau early and evolving before you stall is what separates sustained transformation from one-hit wonders.

★ Battle-tested

We packaged Step 1 into a ready-to-use guide

This is exactly how we run Data Maturity Assessment Workshops with companies across manufacturing, process industry and critical infrastructure. We’ve facilitated dozens of these sessions. The format works. The questions are sharp. The output is actionable.

But we can’t be in every meeting room at the same time. So we did the next best thing: we wrote down everything — the facilitation steps, the Data Journey Model, the templates, the moderator tips — and made it available for you to run it yourself.

It’s free because we believe this is foundational work that every company should do before spending a single euro on tooling. Define the goal first. The technology can wait.

Get the free Moderation Guide

Free Download For Our Blog Subscribers

Data Maturity Assessment Workshop Guide

Everything you need to run the workshop with your team. Step-by-step facilitation instructions, the Data Journey Model, and ready-to-use whiteboard templates.

Moderation Guide (PDF)
Whiteboard Templates (PDF)
Miro Board Template
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Go deeper

Related resources

Framework

Data Platform Capability Map

The full reference architecture for industrial data platforms.

DATABASE

DataOps Vendor Database

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capabilities.

VIDEO

Capability Map Explained

David walks through the Capability Map on Industry40.tv.

One honest note: the exact method you use matters less than ensuring the right people are in the room and willing to engage honestly. You can’t workshop your way out of IT and OT stuck in silos. But if the group genuinely wants to collaborate and improve, a grassroots initiative can gain traction quickly.