“This isn’t just another webinar about data- it’s a conversation about future-proofing your business,” said Luana Clapis as she opened Expana’s latest online executive briefing: Rethinking Commodity Data in the AI Era.
Tailored for C-suite leaders, the session focused on how to unlock strategic value and competitive advantage through smarter data practices. Clapis, Chief Data Officer at Expana, was joined by Vinay Kapoor, Chief Product Officer, to explore what it takes to build an effective, future-ready data strategy.
According to Clapis, the urgency has never been greater:
“The pace of change is so fast now, the competitive cycles so tight, that companies who don’t evolve how they use data aren’t just falling behind, they’re quietly eroding their margins, missing opportunities, and losing market position.”
In the last 12 months, data has climbed the boardroom agenda. “Our market is facing some of the most disruptive forces in decades. Volatility is no longer the exception- it’s the new normal,” said Clapis.
“Commodity prices are moving faster than procurement cycles can handle. Geopolitical shocks, AI-powered competition, and climate-driven disruptions are converging. In this environment, data isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ it’s the competitive differentiator.”
But access to data alone isn’t enough.
“What matters is how you use it, how quickly you act on it, and whether your teams trust it to guide decisions. The gap between organizations who leverage data well and those who don’t, is widening fast.”
When asked why so many organizations are still struggling with market data, Clapis pointed to three critical gaps:
“Often it’s a lack of real-time market signals, overreliance on a single data source, or the use of static reports that can’t keep pace with today’s markets.”
“Too many companies are making high-stakes decisions using outdated, incomplete, or one-dimensional data. It’s not just a tech problem, it’s a leadership challenge,” she added.
Clapis then introduced the Data Maturity Curve, a framework designed to help organizations identify where they are on their data journey and what it takes to progress.
“It begins with ‘data-restricted’ companies,” she explained.
“These organizations use data in an ad hoc, reactive way. There’s usually no embedded culture of data champions, and little support for insight-driven decision-making.”
As companies recognize the value of data, they move into the ‘data-informed’ stage.
“Here, teams start using data more proactively but often in silos, like reviewing category costs before negotiations or conducting market research,” said Clapis. However, data still isn’t embedded in strategic planning or decision-making.
The next stage, ‘data-driven’, marks a turning point. “This is where businesses begin to use data proactively, not just to react to what happened, but to plan ahead,” she explained.
“Teams bring forward-looking insights into negotiations, and start using data for budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling.”
The final stage at the top of the curve is the ‘data-optimized’ stage.
“At this point, global teams are fully integrated. Data flows seamlessly across Sales, Finance, Procurement, and Product Development. ERP systems are integrated and AI is actively generating insights to drive smarter, faster decisions,” Clapis said.
Following her framework, Vinay Kapoor showcased how real-world organizations are leveraging Expana’s data platform to progress along the maturity curve and achieve measurable business outcomes.
In today’s rapidly evolving commodity markets, data is no longer just an operational tool, it’s the foundation of strategic leadership and competitive advantage. The webinar outlined how moving along the Data Maturity Curve from reactive to optimized data usage empowers organizations to make faster, smarter decisions that protect margins and unlock growth.
The question isn’t whether your business can afford to embrace data-driven transformation, it’s whether it can afford not to.
At Expana, we’ve guided thousands of organizations on this journey, providing the insights, technology, and expertise needed to harness market data effectively. If you’re ready to move beyond outdated reports and one-dimensional data, and to future-proof your business with real-time, actionable intelligence, now is the time to act.
Watch the full webinar here.
Written by Olympia Theocharous
