Build Your Business on Solid Data — Not a Weak Foundation

Nobody builds a house on a shaky foundation, so why run your business on unreliable data? Bad data costs U.S. companies over $3 trillion annually, and nearly 40% of company goals fail due to inaccurate information.

For small businesses in Northeast Ohio, data is everywhere — in emails, customer profiles, inventory systems, and throughout your workflow. But relying on outdated or incorrect information can create confusion, slow down your team, and cost your business money.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a full IT department to manage your data effectively. With the right IT partner — like Sterling Computer Services — and a few smart strategies, you can keep your data clean, accurate, and actionable.

Why Good Data Matters

Running a small business is challenging enough. Bad data only makes it harder. Accurate, high-quality data allows you to:

• Make smarter business decisions

• Improve customer satisfaction

• Streamline operations

• Boost sales without wasting resources

It’s worth noting the difference between data quality and data integrity. Data integrity focuses on keeping your data secure and intact, while data quality ensures your information is accurate, complete, and useful for decision-making.

What Makes Data “High Quality”?

Your business data is on the right track if it meets these criteria:

1. Accuracy

Information reflects reality — no misspelled names, outdated invoices, or incorrect contacts.

2. Completeness

All required fields are filled in. Missing information leads to guesswork and slows your team down.

3. Currency

Outdated data is almost worse than no data. Decisions based on old trends can cause costly errors.

4. Consistency

Data should look the same across all systems. Conflicting entries create confusion.

5. Uniqueness

Duplicate records skew reporting. One customer, one record — simple.

6. Usefulness

Data should be detailed enough to inform decisions without unnecessary clutter.

The Cost of Ignoring Data Quality

Imagine launching a marketing campaign with a contact list full of outdated emails or duplicate entries. Your open rates drop, your reputation suffers, and you waste resources.

Or consider shipping orders to the wrong locations because customer information wasn’t updated. The result? Lost time, money, and trust.

Preventing these issues is far easier than fixing them later — and that’s where Sterling Computer Services can help small businesses in Northeast Ohio stay ahead.

7 Simple Steps to Keep Your Business Data Clean

1. Decide What Information Matters

Focus on key data like customer contacts, order details, or payment terms. Establish simple rules that everyone follows to keep information consistent.

2. Train Your Team Properly

Most errors happen when people aren’t sure how to enter data. Provide clear, concise guidance — no jargon required.

3. Clean Data Regularly

Monthly reviews help catch duplicates, correct mistakes, and update outdated information before problems escalate.

4. Use Smart Tools to Prevent Errors

Leverage form validations, required fields, and automatic checks in your CRM to catch mistakes in real time.

5. Enable Issue Reporting

Encourage staff to flag errors or incomplete records. Early reporting prevents larger problems down the line.

6. Keep Documentation Updated

Track where your data comes from, who manages it, and how it should be used. This ensures continuity as your team or systems change.

7. Monitor Key Metrics

Watch for duplicate entries, missing fields, and accuracy of customer information. Monthly checks keep your data reliable and actionable.

Don’t Let Bad Data Hold You Back

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.