This article originally appeared on Finweek.

In South Africa, just about every leadership team we know is wrestling with the big question: How can data and analytics create real value and defend us from disruption? After all, no CEO wants to be “Uber’ed” or “Takealot’ed”.

As companies’ data balloons, signs of analytics-based innovation are appearing across industries, and the application of machine learning, robotics and automation are fast becoming reality.

Even the most analogue of companies are scrambling to invest in analytics.

Their hopes are high, their investments substantial; but the results have been inconsistent at best.

In a recent Bain survey of 334 executives, more than two-thirds said their companies were investing heavily in big data.

Not surprisingly, 40% expected to see a “significantly positive” impact on returns, with another 8% predicting “transformational” results.

Read the full article at Finweek.

Joachim Breidenthal and Berry Diepeveen are partners in Bain & Company’s Johannesburg office where they are leaders in the firm’s Digital practice. Chris Brahm is a partner in Bain’s San Francisco office and leader of Bain & Company’s Advanced Analytics practice.