Introduction
Overview
Telenet group is the largest provider of cable broadband services in Belgium and a leading telecommunications and entertainment company. Operating primarily in Flanders and Brussels, Telenet provides a comprehensive suite of digital services to both residential and business customers.
The problem
When Telenet group implemented Collibra, they took a significant step toward organizing their data. But like many organizations, they soon realized that unlocking the full potential of a data governance tool requires more than technology, it demands a strategic, business-aligned approach. They shifted from a broad, tool-centric strategy to a focused, pragmatic approach: data product governance.
From Broad Governance to Focused Value
As their data estate grew, Telenet group recognized an opportunity to evolve their strategy. During a company-wide reorganization, they faced a critical challenge: ensuring their governance efforts delivered continuous value without becoming a bureaucratic barrier.
Some of the key challenges included:
- Governing everything: Trying to govern every dataset diluted the focus and made it difficult to deliver tangible business impact.
- Perception of bureaucracy: Governance was historically perceived by stakeholders as a slow, compliance-heavy exercise rather than a business enabler.
- Connecting data to goals: They needed a way to directly link their governance efforts and advanced AI capabilities to their core mission of delivering exceptional customer experiences.
How we solved it
A Pragmatic, Product-Oriented Approach
Inspired by Data Mesh principles, the team adopted a data product governance model. This approach treated data as a product, with defined ownership, quality standards, and documentation.
Business Alignment
Tying data products, like "TV Usage," directly to customer experience initiatives such as personalized recommendations.
Rebranding the conversation
Framing governance as "data product management" made it much more relatable and actionable for business stakeholders.
Starting small
Piloting the framework with one or two high-impact use cases to prove value before scaling.
Integrating roles
Rather than creating new bureaucratic layers, they embedded governance responsibilities seamlessly into existing roles, such as product owners and managers.
The results
Governance as a Catalyst for Growth
At Telenet group, governance successfully evolved from a back-office compliance function into a strategic advantage. By simplifying governance to amplify its impact, they achieved:
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Continuous Value
Governance efforts now directly support revenue-generating activities and operational efficiency.
Enabled Innovation
Ensured the data quality and reliability needed to power advanced AI and automation initiatives.
Simplified Processes
Grouping data logically prioritized what mattered, reducing friction and allowing teams to focus on what they do best.
Key Learnings
Governance isn’t about control, it’s about empowering teams with trusted data to make better decisions, faster.
Focus on What Matters Most
Identify and audit your most critical data products. Instead of trying to govern everything, ensure you set up governance correctly for the specific data products that extract the most value and directly support your key business priorities.
Adopt a Pragmatic Approach
Focus on one or two high-value use cases first to secure quick wins, build momentum, and overcome skepticism. Alongside this, integrate governance responsibilities seamlessly into existing roles rather than creating new, complex bureaucratic layers. This ensures accountability without over-complicating daily operations.
Leverage Tools Strategically
Define clear roles for your technology stack to avoid overlap and maximize efficiency. Use Confluence for rich, long-form documentation and context, and position Collibra as the central hub for critical metadata like ownership, lineage, privacy tags, and governance scores, with direct links to the more detailed documentation on Confluence.
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