In a previous blog, we wrote about dirty data. When is dirty too dirty is a matter of opinion; while one person can live with the mess, the other thinks it is high time to give it a good clean sweep. But time is precious. How do you ensure that you clean your data quickly and efficiently? Clean data can easily save a company tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of euros per year. So, many companies hire students to manually go through all the data, but it can be done a lot faster.
Data as a silent killer
Annually, 30% to 40% of all the data in your database changes. Companies relocate, merge, or change their legal entity name, for example. This affects all departments. Sales tries to contact someone who is no longer working, marketing sets up campaigns based on old data, and finance sends invoices to the wrong addresses. Not only can these types of mistakes lead to inefficiencies; trust among customers and partners may also suffer. In an increasingly data-centric world, dirty data can act like a silent killer, slowly but surely damaging your business.
Quick cleanup
So, you can choose to hire students to go through all your data, but you will have to repeat this every year. It works, but a year later you're back to square one, and just before you get your new working student, you still have a dirty database. Not to mention that cleaning up and checking takes a lot of time for the person in question. Manually updating data is a time-consuming and error-prone process. The potential for human error is high, especially when dealing with large amounts of data.
It may help to look into tools that automatically clean data. There is always a solution that will work, in line with your requirements. For example, dataxess always keeps your CRM up to date. Direct+ Data Blocks automatically provides you with the latest data in a system of your choice and you can use a D-U-N-S number to maintain consistency across many different systems. These automated solutions keep your database continuously up to date, and you don't need to invest a lot of time and effort.
Benefits of clean data
Good data quality: A well-maintained and enriched database provides optimal and accurate information about your customers, suppliers and prospects. This in turn results in improved decision-making, as you can rely on the accuracy of your data. In addition, the chance of errors in your business processes is significantly reduced.
Always up to date: Always have access to accurate and complete information about every company you work with. This ensures efficiency in your business processes and enables you to respond quickly to changes in the market. You can trade with confidence at all times, knowing your data is up to date.
Consistency: A uniform and consistent dataset of your customers, suppliers and prospects across all your systems prevents confusion and miscommunication. When everyone in the company has access to the same, correct information, misunderstandings are avoided and everyone works together more efficiently.
No need for manual updates: What if a customer has moved? Our solutions ensure that these types of changes are automatically processed in your database. Manually updating customer data is a thing of the past. This not only saves time, but also money, as your employees can focus on more important tasks.
Integrations: Our data can easily be linked to the most commonly used CRM and ERP systems. This means you don't have to worry about the compatibility of your systems and can reap all the benefits of clean data, regardless of which software you use.
Cost savings: More often than not, companies end up paying twice because of duplicates in their ERP or CRM. A clean database prevents such unnecessary costs. In addition, you will save costs that would otherwise arise from incorrect invoicing or missed opportunities due to outdated data.
Conclusion
The importance of clean data cannot be overstated. Dirty data is not just a source of frustration: it can also cause significant financial damage. While manual cleaning may seem like a solution, it is but a stopgap. By investing in automated tools and systems that keep your data continuously up to date, you can protect your business from the negative effects of dirty data. The benefits are clear: improved data quality, consistency, cost savings, and above all, the assurance that you can always rely on the information that is at the core of your business operations. Clean data is not a luxury, but a necessity for any company that wants to keep operating successfully in today's data-driven world.
