Are You a Data Delinquent?

Jenna Trott

5 min read | AUGUST 03, 2023

Wait – what’s a “Data Delinquent?”

A data delinquent is someone who neglects their data duties. They live life on the digital edge, throwing caution to the wind when it comes to organizing, securing, or backing up their data. A “Data Delinquent” loves to test the limits, pushing their storage devices to the brink, and challenging the laws of data gravity until it all comes crashing down, leaving them in digital chaos.

Data Delinquent

[da ta / de lin-quent]
noun
A “Data Delinquent” refers to an individual or entity that neglects or fails to fulfill its responsibilities and obligations related to the proper management, organization, security, and maintenance of data assets. This neglect may manifest in various ways, such as failing to adhere to data governance policies, disregarding data best practices, and neglecting data quality control measures.

Data is the lifeblood of any successful business. It serves as the sturdy foundation upon which critical decisions are made, allowing teams to uncover valuable insights, track performance, and plan for the future. With the right data at their disposal, companies can identify emerging trends, understand customer behavior, optimize processes, and ultimately achieve their strategic goals.

However, despite its importance, many businesses face challenges in managing their data effectively. The volume of data generated and collected in today’s digital world quickly becomes overwhelming with 80% of companies reporting that they are collecting too much data, resulting in information on hand that they can’t use effectively. This overload of information can lead to data silos, duplication, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies, making it difficult to extract meaningful insights and hindering the decision-making process.

Salesforce, the world’s leading Customer Relationship Management platform, is a powerful tool for managing and utilizing data in organizations. To harness the full potential of Salesforce and ensure optimal data handling, businesses must be aware of common pitfalls and avoid them at all costs. Here are five essential practices to prevent you from becoming a “Data Delinquent”:

Data Hoarding

Ah, the clutter of unnecessary and outdated data! It’s like the dust bunnies hiding in the corners of your database, silently sabotaging your accurate insights and forecasting endeavors. Being selective about the information you retain is crucial for maintaining a well-organized database yet, in a recent study, 30% of businesses surveyed lack recent and relevant data.

Recommendation: Learn strategies for assessing and improving data quality in Salesforce with the Data Quality Trailhead.

Incomplete Data

Insufficient information input can act as a major roadblock to organizational growth. Imagine trying to build a skyscraper without a solid foundation – it’s only a matter of time before it crumbles. In the same way, incomplete or outdated data can hinder your business from making informed decisions and taking advantage of growth opportunities.

To thrive and expand, businesses need accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date data. The most effective approach is to ensure the completeness of your data before proceeding with the import process. Addressing missing values at the source application is the ideal solution, where you can designate them as required fields, guaranteeing their inclusion. However, if modifying the source application is not feasible, leveraging CRM Analytics presents a viable option for filling in the gaps in your data.

Recommendation: Explore Predict Missing Values Transformation: Fill In Missing Values.

Data Silos

Data silos – the kingdom of isolation! Data silos occur when information is stored in isolated systems or within specific departments without effective integration across the organization. This lack of integration creates barriers that impede collaboration and hinder the smooth flow of data between different teams. Each department may have its own databases and tools, leading to redundancies, inconsistencies, and duplications. As a result, employees might struggle to access the data they need, leading to time-consuming and error-prone manual data transfers.

Recommendation: Explore Data Silos and How to Fix Them for Good

Duplicates

Duplicates are like the twins from The Shining, you can’t tell them apart and they bring nothing but trouble! When you neglect the upkeep of your data, it can lead to undetected duplicate records — resulting in costly errors. To tackle this challenge, Salesforce offers robust deduplication features, such as Matching Rules and Duplicate Rules, designed to maintain data cleanliness and prevent the occurrence of critical mistakes. Once the Matching Rules have effectively identified potential duplicates, Salesforce’s Duplicate Rules add a layer of protection, ensuring data integrity and consistency.

Recommendation: Learn how to manage duplicate records with Salesforce’s Duplicate Management Trailhead.