Why ‘Quality Data’, Not Big Data Is Critical For Process Efficiencies

MoneyMarketsWhy ‘Quality Data’, Not Big Data Is Critical For Process EfficienciesByGaurav Sharma,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Gaurav Sharma is a London-based analyst who covers energy & ESG.Follow AuthorMay 16, 2026, 06:08pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Illustration: Getty CreativesgettyIn a software-led global industrial complex that’s going strong on digitalization, the mention of ‘big data’ has become routine. But process industries say it is ‘quality data’ and not randomly gathered digital data mountains that make the difference. That’s the critical differentiator for industrial artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and ultimately agile business decisions made by industries ranging from refining to fertilizer plants. At the recently concluded, OPTIMIZE 26 conference in Houston, U.S., industry experts said high-quality datasets are those defined by business relevance, rather than sheer volume which makes the phrase big data a bit cliched. Getting the balance right is becoming mission critical as machine learning and agentic AI dawn on process industries. Nuno Pacheco, senior optimization and control engineer at Repsol, and a professional deeply involved with the Spanish integrated energy company’s operations, said: “Poor quality or randomly dumped data will lead to bad insights, while perhaps smaller, strategically inputted well thought out datasets would enable more trustworthy results.Pacheco added the industry remains only too aware of this whilst working on digital solutions, and often scoffs when it hears the phrase big data. “AI models trained on rubbish, random operations-wide data will produce rubbish results. High-quality data is crucial for effective AI, not just large amounts of it.”MORE FOR YOUAdriano Alfani, CEO of Versalis, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Italian energy supermajor Eni, said...