Every day, Constellation Research analysts are swapping takes, headlines, observations and broad themes on our internal watercooler thread. It’s part entertainment and part college class. Here’s a look at Holger Mueller and Esteban Kolsky’s recent debate on data, infrastructure and strategy.
Core Disagreement
- Mueller’s Position:
- The foundation of enterprise success is data — "it starts with the data."
- Data is continuously created (e.g., web searches) and must be the priority before infrastructure or models.
- Correct and early adoption of technology can be a key differentiator, enabling growth in efficiency and effectiveness.
- AI changes the game by making it possible to process data at a scale that was previously impossible.
- Kolsky’s Position:
- Data matters, but it is not the most important focus in 2025.
- After decades of investment in data warehouses, CDPs, and models, many enterprises still cannot move from "A to H" because they lack the right infrastructure and business models.
- Technology alone is no longer a differentiator; the winners will be those who build forward-looking ecosystems and innovative business models on robust infrastructure.
- Chasing every "new tech" is a resource trap — sustainable success requires a broader, multidisciplinary strategy.
Key Points
- Data vs. Infrastructure
- Mueller: Data is the car; without it, you can’t drive anywhere.
- Kolsky: Infrastructure is the freeway; without it, even the fastest car (best data) is useless.
- Tech as Differentiator
- Mueller: Early, correct adoption of tech is a differentiator, and with AI accelerating tech’s capabilities, it is more important than ever.
- Kolsky: Early adoption provides a temporary edge but leads to technical debt; tech is an enabler, not the differentiator.
- Enterprise Strategy
- Kolsky: Enterprises need to think beyond narrow tech or data focus — similar to how industry analysts must avoid siloed perspectives.
- Mueller: Agrees on interconnectedness but emphasizes continuous cycles of evaluate → pilot → adopt → scale.
- Sustainability of Early Adoption
- Kolsky: Constantly “skating on the edge” isn’t sustainable.
- Mueller: The key is avoiding the “efficiency trap” and practicing enterprise acceleration.
Common Ground
- Both agree technology is an enabler and everything is interconnected (data, infrastructure, business models).
- Both recognize AI’s impact on data processing and enterprise capabilities.
- Both stress the need for continuous improvement — but differ on whether the starting point should be data or infrastructure.
Recap
- Mueller: Data = car → you need the car first to travel.
- Kolsky: Infrastructure = freeway → without roads, the best car is useless.
- Disagreement lies in which comes first and where the main strategic focus should be.
