Cookies help us display personalized product recommendations and ensure you have great shopping experience.

By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    sales and data analytics
    How Data Analytics Improves Lead Management and Sales Results
    9 Min Read
    data analytics and truck accident claims
    How Data Analytics Reduces Truck Accidents and Speeds Up Claims
    7 Min Read
    predictive analytics for interior designers
    Interior Designers Boost Profits with Predictive Analytics
    8 Min Read
    image fx (67)
    Improving LinkedIn Ad Strategies with Data Analytics
    9 Min Read
    big data and remote work
    Data Helps Speech-Language Pathologists Deliver Better Results
    6 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-25 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 4 Ways to Prevent Dirty Data From Spoiling Analytics
Share
Notification
Font ResizerAa
SmartData CollectiveSmartData Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Data Management > Best Practices > 4 Ways to Prevent Dirty Data From Spoiling Analytics
Best PracticesData Quality

4 Ways to Prevent Dirty Data From Spoiling Analytics

Brett Stupakevich
Brett Stupakevich
4 Min Read
SHARE

Dirty Data and Data Quality 300x199 photo (business intelligence)Change is good — except when change means you are constantly revising and checking databases, unsure of whether records are accurate, current, complete and useful.  Does the data allow you to do something?  If not, all you have are souvenirs from bygone days.

Dirty Data and Data Quality 300x199 photo (business intelligence)Change is good — except when change means you are constantly revising and checking databases, unsure of whether records are accurate, current, complete and useful.  Does the data allow you to do something?  If not, all you have are souvenirs from bygone days. Useful data can be contacts, marketing reports, sales figures, projections, analytics of past actions or predictive patterns for future decisions.  But, like lighting matches, some data records are single-use only and quickly obsolete. Finding details that can be recycled and reused is a greater challenge. 

Our recent post on ‘dirty data‘ got a lot of response and is another example of how analytics and business intelligence relies on content in proper context. So here are four actions you can take to improve the quality and usability of your data:

1. Decide who is in charge – Put a team together that has final authority for data hygiene or has authority to resolve conflicts over whose information is correct. Depending on your industry, regulatory controls and other issues, it may be necessary to have Sales, IT, Legal and other departments represented. When your team has an analytics and data use policy it may be necessary to consider client privacy issues, changes in access levels or even a ‘mediation’ system for deciding which database is used by which departments or operating groups.

More Read

How CIOs Can Build Bridges with the Board
Voltaire, Apple, and the Myth of Perfect
The Three C’s of Social Business
How Connected Cars And Insurance Are Influenced By Big Data
Big Data ROI? Not Likely in Year 1

2. Test Your Data and Programming – Savvy marketers check the bounce rates and reasons for non-delivery in testing email contacts. Look for ways to double-check your data and correlate it with other relevant information that can be useful. Set a schedule for data checking that fits your corporate need (daily, monthly and quarterly) and see how data flow and accuracy improves. Who might use that increased data and help fill in the blanks or look for the “Why” that explains the data?

3. Find An Outside Expert – Is there another company or service provider with industry averages or specific content that can help verify your information, provide context or comparison that makes your data more valuable. Linked In sends you a network update on people who have changed jobs or updated their profiles. Can your data do the same thing, reporting changes since the last report or comparing different geographic areas. Data Service Providers such as OneSource, ZoomInfo, SalesForce or Hoovers may have details that compliment your existing data records on people and companies.

4. Rinse, Lather Repeat – Your work is never done. So it may take some time to get your data to a higher level of cleanliness. Measure your progress and report your activity to get more participation. Consider ongoing programs to discard data after a specific amount of time, update a record that hasn’t been touched in, say, six months and consistently work to improve the accuracy of your data. Are your projections on-target or are they unable to provide a clear forecast?

Better data means more accurate analytics and more targeted business intelligence. Providing that valuable service — along with squeaky-clean data — could make you indispensable. And we could all use that kind of reaction.

David Wallace
Spotfire Blogging Team

Share This Article
Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn
Share

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

sales and data analytics
How Data Analytics Improves Lead Management and Sales Results
Analytics Big Data Exclusive
ai in marketing
How AI and Smart Platforms Improve Email Marketing
Artificial Intelligence Exclusive Marketing
AI Document Verification for Legal Firms: Importance & Top Tools
AI Document Verification for Legal Firms: Importance & Top Tools
Artificial Intelligence Exclusive
AI supply chain
AI Tools Are Strengthening Global Supply Chains
Artificial Intelligence Exclusive

Stay Connected

1.2kFollowersLike
33.7kFollowersFollow
222FollowersPin

You Might also Like

Data Quality, Collaboration and Baseball

5 Min Read

Self-Service BI & Adapting Line of Business (LoB) Executives

6 Min Read

Are Business Intelligence dashboards on the brink of extinction?

14 Min Read

TechAmerica and Big Data in the Public Sector

2 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

AI and chatbots
Chatbots and SEO: How Can Chatbots Improve Your SEO Ranking?
Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Exclusive
ai in ecommerce
Artificial Intelligence for eCommerce: A Closer Look
Artificial Intelligence

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-25 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Go to mobile version
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?