Data is one of the most valuable resources in the world, and large corporations are investing in tools to capture and process it. To make the most of this resource, it's important to understand the steps of the data management process. Here are 10 steps you can implement in your data management process to ensure high data availability and disaster recovery. First, define a data architecture.
This model will define all the databases and data tools you want to use as an organization. Without this plan, you won't know where to store the data or what data is related. It's better to act strategically and proactively than ad hoc and reactive when it comes to data. Data management includes all the processes for collecting, organizing, protecting, storing and sharing data.
If your company already has some tools and processes in place, assess how well they work together. Are there gaps or places of overlap? Do these activities align with your company's objectives? Is your data being used in the most effective way possible? If you answered these questions with doubts or uncertainty, you could benefit from an enterprise data management strategy. When it comes to customers, prospects, employees, offers, competitors and finances, it's important to take data management seriously. Prioritize processes, tools, governance and more based on your business objectives.
If your company works with internal software applications, you may need a team of engineers with an ad hoc solution to integrate your data. Make sure everyone understands any new tools they need to use as part of their data management process. Data management works symbiotically with process management, ensuring that teams take actions based on the cleanest and most up-to-date data available. To improve data quality, start by defining your critical data elements - the data that are critical to the operation of your business - and focus on three or five key use cases for your company's data.
A data warehouse allows you to connect customer acquisition costs with customer retention data. When deciding on a platform for your company's needs, make sure your team has a good understanding of the type of data you have, how you want to host it and what your ultimate goals are. Establish governance standards as standard operating procedures for data management. Finally, a successful data management team needs several people who are experts in different elements of the entire chain from start to finish.
