While in the past most businesses around the world didn’t care about how they stored important information, such as transaction information and customer queries, today businesses are required to prove that they can correctly identify every incidence in which collected data is used. For example, if its customers’ contact details are stored in three different systems, a business needs to be able to report that this data has been used in not one but three different systems. As under today’s laws, customers still have a right to the ownership of their data and can request for their data to be deleted at any given point in time.
One business expert who is guiding businesses to manage their data better is Josh Melick. An entrepreneur and engineer who specializes in creating innovative systems to help businesses better manage their processes. Processes that can help businesses avoid getting into legal trouble.
Identifying Business Data
Melick has revealed that a percentage of businesses fail to properly track the information which they collect. Particularly information that still belongs to their customers. Worse yet, Melick has detailed how many businesses operate over five different business systems and don’t have records of which systems each piece of data is transferred to. Which can make trying to match data, across multiple platforms a tedious, time-consuming process. Especially if a business’s digital systems don’t offer enough export options, to make exporting data between systems a breeze.
To address these common mistakes, Melick advises businesses to reduce the number of systems that they operate and to opt to operate business systems which offer a wide variety of export options. He also advises businesses to take things one step further and to try and link as many of their systems as possible. One of the easiest ways for a business to link their systems is to choose a master or primary system, which all of their secondary systems can be linked to. So that their primary system or master system serves as an information hub and has records of all of the origins of all the data which they collate, store and use.
As many businesses don’t know how to go about creating a trackable network of data, Melick recommends that most businesses pay for software solutions that can automate the process for them. As there are numerous programs that are readily available which can help businesses better manage and store their data. Some examples of which include MuleSoft, Zapier, SnowFlake and Motiv.
One reason why businesses should make these changes as soon as possible as the regulations which govern the ownership of data in the world of business has recently changed and businesses need to be more responsible with the data which they manage. As much of it still belongs to their customers and their customers may ask them to delete their data or a business may have their data audited to prove that they are complying with new data management regulations.
Leave a Reply