Data collection is a crucial process in multiple industries. Data is increasingly valuable and can be used to guide decisions and boost efficiencies. The following tips will help improve your data collection.
1. Define your data objectives
Your data collection should be closely aligned with your strategic aims and objectives. You should be clear about the type of data you want and what you want to use it for.
2. Validate your data
Validating your data means checking that the data you are collecting meets the requirements you have outlined and that there are no inconsistencies or invalid responses. This process helps to ensure accuracy and to identify any tweaks you may need to make.
3. Keep it simple
Keeping your data requests simple will encourage more people to hand over their data. This might be by making forms easier, giving dropdown choices, or asking multiple-choice questions rather than open-ended ones.
4. Consider automation
If you are currently managing your data collection manually, consider automation. Not only will this free up your time to focus on strategy and value-added activities, but it also overcomes a number of issues with manual data collection – notably duplication, accuracy, and consistency.
If you feel like your organisation would benefit from expert help when it comes to data, a specialist data collection company such as https://shepper.com can offer a range of services, as well as valuable advice.
5. Utilise existing datasets
As well as collecting data, you can improve your business by utilising existing publicly available datasets and integrating these with your own. This can help to create a more detailed picture of your existing, and potential, customers.
6. Don’t forget search engine data
Search engine data is incredibly useful, yet many companies do not collect it. It can be used to complement other data or to confirm or contradict hypotheses. So, it is worth considering using an API or a similar tool to ensure that this is part of your master data.
