Why Data Quality Should Be Your Top Priority

Operating your business on unreliable data is like building a house on a weak foundation. According to research commissioned by Gartner, around 40% of company goals fail because of inaccurate information.

Relying on inaccurate or outdated information can lead to confusion and slow down your team, translating to lost opportunities and increased cost. It can also lead to misguided strategic decisions, compliance risks and damaged client trust. In essence, poor quality data undermines performance at every level.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need an entire IT department to manage your data effectively. With the right IT partner and a few simple steps, you can keep everything clean and running smoothly.

What Constitutes “Good Quality” Data?

If your data ticks these boxes, that’s a good sign:

It’s Accurate

Your data reflects what is going on in the real world. This means it should be free of errors such as spelling mistakes, inaccurate invoices, or old contact information.

It’s Complete

All the pieces are there. No half-filled forms or missing phone numbers. Incomplete data often leads to guesswork, which slows everyone down and leads to mistakes.

It’s Current

Outdated data can be worse than no data at all. Relying on last year’s sales trends to guide this month’s decisions can quickly lead to problems.

It’s Consistent

If a property is listed under different names across systems, it creates confusion. Ensure terminology is standardised across the board. Clean data looks the same, wherever it lives.

It’s Unique

Duplicates skew results. You don’t want “John Smith” entered five times with five different emails. One record per person. Simple.

It’s Useful

Your data should be just detailed enough to help you, no more, no less. Too much unnecessary information makes it harder to spot what really matters.

7 Simple Ways to Keep Your Business Data Clean

Decide What Info Actually Matters

Identify the key data that keeps your business running smoothly, like customer contacts, order details, or payment terms. Then, create simple guidelines your team can easily follow. When everyone uses the same format, it keeps things organised without making it complicated.

Show Your Team the Right Way to Do It

Most data errors occur when people aren’t sure what’s expected of them. Rather than overwhelming your team with lengthy manuals, provide a simple, clear guide. How should names be formatted? What’s the correct way to enter addresses? A brief, straightforward session without jargon can make a big difference in maintaining consistency.

Tidy Things Up Often

Don’t wait too long to clean up your data. A quick monthly review helps you spot duplicates, fix mistakes and update old info before it creates bigger issues.

 Use Smart Tools to Prevent Errors

Some mistakes can be caught the moment they happen. You just need the right tools:

• Use form validations, so emails, dates and numbers follow the right format.
• Make certain fields required, like phone numbers or email addresses.
• If your CRM allows it, set up automatic checks for common errors.

Give Your Team a Way to Flag Issues

Your staff are often the first to notice when something’s off. If names are getting mixed up or records are incomplete, they should feel comfortable pointing it out. Create a simple way for them to flag these problems and help fix them before they grow.

Keep Your Documentation Updated

Things change fast with new systems, tools and team members. That’s why it helps to keep a simple note on where your data comes from, who handles it and how it should be used.

 Watch a Few Key Metrics

You don’t need to track everything. Just keep an eye on a few key things:

• Are there a lot of duplicates showing up?
• Are important fields being left blank?
• How accurate is your customer info?

Quick checks once a month will help you stay ahead of any issues.

How to Improve Your Data Quality

You need to treat data quality as a strategic priority. This means implementing consistent data governance practices, regularly auditing and cleansing your data and fostering a culture where accuracy and accountability are ingrained in your teams.

By investing in the right tools and training, you can ensure your data is reliable and actionable, leading to better decision-making, stronger client relationships and a happier team.