Monday, October 11, 2010

Simple Low Cost Data Quality Improvement

Online data acquisition and applicable integrated tools

Freelance Technologies has data quality solutions that will ensure effective implementation of your specific requirements to give you the necessary information to make a good business decision. Here are some simple, low cost ways to improve data entry data quality:

Take a minimalist approach

Keep it simple, do you really need all that data? Make sure you are not asking users to put so many entries they will get tired of filling out your form. Think about it from their point of view.

Paring down your data entry forms to the bare essentials and you will create far more contented workers and customers who will actually make it to the “send” button!

Design helpful forms

You have, no doubt, seen the particularly helpful phrase: "Error in form, please correct.” How do you respond? It may depend on the incentive to complete the form. With business forms, if we feel helpless, then we walk away.

If a form fails to validate your information then it should be designed in such a way that it guides you through the correction process. Also, adding basic support and assistance will increase the odds they will use it. How many web forms do you see that don't provide a feedback or help option easily visible next to a data entry form?

Do you have a visible call support number, email or Wiki page where your data entry workers can get help or advice? These are just two simple ways to improve the user experience and quality of inbound data to your business.

Avoid mistakes at point of entry

Incorrect or undeliverable addresses mean costs go up, sales go down. Typing errors prevent merchandise from reaching the customer and cause additional research costs. Postage discounts can be reduced or cancelled by the USPS if mass mailings include a large number of incorrect addresses.

Data entry errors caused by unclear or unavailable input make it more difficult or assign data incorrectly especially for international applications with different address structures. These have to be manually corrected with a high investment of time and operating costs.

Deliberate incorrect entries (joke addresses) start dispatch processes which cost money and have to be reversed with great effort.

Duplicates cause unnecessary additional costs where customer satisfaction and customer retention are also affected. Up selling and cross-selling potentials cannot be used cost-effectively.

Prevention is better than cure!

Data cleansing downstream from the point of entry is costly, repetitive, time-consuming and error-prone. It can increase service lead-times and add unnecessary complexity to your information chains.

Maintaining high data quality is critical to business success. Yet unreliable, outdated, or just plain inaccurate data costs U.S. businesses more than 600 billion dollars annually. FTI specializes in data quality software that can turn business data management from a liability into an asset with standardized, validated and duplicate-free data. For more information about data quality software, contact FTI at 888-970-9944 or via email at fti@freelancetech.com

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