July 2015
Data Validation: You Get Out What You Put In
As with many things in life, what you put into your CRM is what you’ll get out of it – if low quality data is finding its way into your CRM then you can expect to be disappointed with the output. The best way to prevent this – and to make sure things run smoothly – is to use data validation. Not sure what that is? The Lunar crew are here to help!
What is Data Validation?
It’s all in the name – data validation is a system of processes put in place to ensure that all the information inputted into your CRM is current, correct and truthful. Without such ‘clean’ data to run on, a CRM can become vulnerable to errors and gaps in information, all of which trickles back to your team, and finally your service offering, making life that much more complicated and difficult.
Always Seek Validation
It goes without saying then, that data validation is an important part of maintaining your CRM. At Lunar, we’re not fans of poor data, so we ensure that every piece of information that enters our CRM solution is validated in some way, shape or form. For example, every input field features a validation requirement of some kind, from the customer’s email address to their date of birth. The Lunar team are really picky about only allowing valid data into CRMs, so we’ve recently introduced some new validation processes, such as landline/mobile numbers, addresses and bank accounts.
Why Else Should I Be Using Data Validation?
Apart from making murky the waters of your CRM with invalid data, there are many more reasons to check the information out. For one, it’s a security measure to ensure that your customers’ data is never at risk from fraud, and that everything they tell your team matches up to what they originally registered with. As for clients that use your service, you’ve got to present them with accurate information and reports to maintain the trust between both parties, or risk losing out on further work. When you take a closer look, it all comes down to a lot more than just a time-saving exercise.
OK, I Need Data Validation! Where Do I Start?
First things first, check that your current CRM supports data validation features, or has them built in. If not, you should probably consider a bespoke option, built around your business’ needs instead (and this is definitely one of those needs!). If you’re a Lunar customer, give the team a call or drop us an email and we’ll be happy to talk you through the new data validation features! After all, what you put in is what you get out.
Interested in learning more about data validation features in our bespoke CRM tool? Get in touch and we’ll be happy to chat with you about it!