How does the Bad Data affect your Big Data?

Bad data breads throughout the entire systems of any organization. It is overpowering ever more automated marketing and CRM systems. The impacts can range from a transaction loss to an over-all catastrophic overload for an enterprise. The bigger the data, the more the impact of bad data. Seemingly innocuous oversights can lead to vast levels of bad data. The commonest reasons for the inadvertent creation of bad data may include;

• Absent Data: Fields that are left blank when they require data
• Inappropriate data: Wrong data entered into a field that is not appropriate.
• Duplicate data: Repeat/duplicate information that doubles requirements of the database.
• Non-conforming data: Information that does not follow the correct format required for the particular field e.g. date, initials, etc.
• Poor data input: Inaccuracy is the biggest cause of bad data. Make fields as simple and succinct as possible

The Basics

The main question that has to be asked that will help to control many of these issues is the need for the data in the first place. By focusing closely on the key elements of required data and the succinct way to avoid duplication ultimately will lead to a clearer, more efficient approach to big data management. However, the absolute number of data packets is irrelevant. Instead, the effectiveness of the individual packet to deliver concise, efficient and relevant data is key to maintaining control over the system as a whole. Attention to the simple, small details helps eliminate the amplification and migration of bad data into your big data