CalMac – Scotland’s principal ferry operator serving the west coast and Hebridean islands – is embarking on a new data strategy with an Edinburgh technology consultancy.

The company, which is under public ownership, has appointed Storm ID to ‘develop and implement a data strategy to build a culture of data-driven innovation, explore new opportunities and improve service offerings.’

CalMac plays a crucial role in Scotland’s island communities, providing essential ferry services to over 26 destinations. It is committed to continuous improvement, recognising the power of data to drive efficiency, enhance decision-making and unlock new opportunities.

The collaboration will involve a deep dive into CalMac’s data landscape, with Storm ID:

  • Conducting an assessment of their existing data infrastructure, systems and processes.
  • Working closely with stakeholders across the organisation to understand their data needs and challenges.
  • Defining a future-state vision for the data strategy that aligns with CalMac’s strategic goals.
  • Providing best practice data governance recommendations to ensure data quality, consistency and security.

The data strategy will focus on several key areas:

  • Ensuring data is accurate, reliable and easily accessible to those who need it.
  • Empowering CalMac to further data-driven decisions at all levels of the organisation.
  • Optimising operations and resource allocation through data insights.
  • Developing a culture of data-driven innovation to explore further opportunities and improve service offerings.

Linsey Lydon, managing director, Storm ID, said: “We are excited to join CalMac on this data-driven journey. Our expertise in data strategy and delivery, combined with CalMac’s deep understanding of their operational and customer needs, will enable us to put in place further important foundations for future success. We are proud to partner with CalMac on this important initiative and look forward to helping them navigate the exciting waters of data-driven transformation.”

David Gammie, IT director, CalMac Ferries, added: “We are on a journey to fully embed a data-driven culture and to recognise data as one of our most important assets. This collaboration with Storm ID is important to accelerate our plans and ensure we build the right foundations moving forwards.”

CalMac was awarded a £3.9 billion contract to run Scotland’s west coast ferry services for the next 10 years in May. The Scottish government said the service would now be focused on a “public service model” instead of being run on a commercial basis.