We live in a data-driven world! Every day, companies generate hordes of data, and how they manage their data determines whether they sink or swim in a tumultuous competitive marketplace. In today’s business ecosystem, where cloud computing and other complex data stores are in vogue, data must remain accessible across all systems and platforms. If you are unable to retrieve and use your data in a timely manner, it can quickly mean the end of your business. Therefore, special attention should be paid to data conversion services as a business process.
Data can be created in different formats and stored in different ways. It can be a numeric field in an Excel spreadsheet or an image file in your CRM program. Very often it is necessary to move this data to a new system or repository to make it more accessible. These transfers require the conversion of data from one form to another.
Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? But data conversion can be tricky if you don’t know exactly what form of data you are converting from and to. For example, some software can be programmed to automatically omit or modify numbers that start with a 0. Ignoring these nuances can result in glaring inaccuracies in the converted data.
Strategies for accurate Data Conversion Services
So how can you avoid such accidents and ensure that the quality of your data is not compromised by the conversion process? Here are various considerations that you should focus on to ensure precise data conversion services.
1. Plan carefully before you start
As with most other business processes, data conversion must be well planned before it is addressed. If the conversion project is not well planned, it risks (i) going over budget, (ii) getting bogged down in complexity halfway through, (iii) data operations become inefficient] So, before you begin, analyze every aspect of the project – frequency, duration, policies, budget, etc. – in order to ensure that it is a success. The more thorough you are in this process, the more likely you are to successfully implement the plan.
2. Identify critical data
Some of your data fields may be more critical to the quality of your data conversion project than others. These data may be more prone to errors and require special attention. Identifying these critical aspects at the outset will help you overcome the complexities associated with cross-referencing.
3. Set a standard and adhere to it
Clearly defined data quality standards can help you ensure consistent quality throughout the conversion process. It is important that you constantly test the process at each step to detect errors before conversion.
4. Clean up your data
Data profiling and data cleansing is an indispensable part of the conversion process if you want the data conversion to be accurate. Establishing appropriate data cleansing procedures will make it easier to meet the data quality standards you set.
5. Choosing the right partner
Outsourcing all or part of the conversion process to professional agencies can increase the level of expertise in your conversion process. When choosing a data conversion partner, make sure that communication with the agency is easy and that they have all the necessary resources and expertise to meet your needs.
Let’s Wrap Up
Clearly, getting accurate and result-oriented data conversion services, while difficult, is an achievable goal if you are meticulous in your planning and implementation. If you want to have professional assistance with your simple as well as complex data conversion projects, contact us today. We have highly experienced and trained data conversion service experts who can competently and accurately manage data conversion projects of any size and complexity.