Two Tips for Data Conversion
I've written a lot about data conversion over the years (click here for a list) but when I'm asked by my clients for advice on their data conversion, two tips always rise to the top:
- Convert the absolute minimum amount of data possible. Look at all the data you have and ask yourself "If we don't convert this, but still have access to it in spreadsheets, what's the worst that can happen?" Cut, cut, cut. Click here for a great (extreme) example of converting the absolute bare minimum of data.
- Clean data over time, consistently. I call this "weeding the garden." (Click here to read more.) Simply put, if you're not consistently cleaning your data (i.e., weeding), your system will eventually be overrun by bad data, rendering it near useless. You don't just plant a garden and walk away; you nurture it. The same is true for your database.
If you apply just these two tips can help you get your data to where you want it to be: serving the association's mission.
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
Don’t forget, your staff have day jobs…
Don’t forget, your staff have day jobs… The vast majority of my work is finite […]
Beware the automated “How did we do?” trap!
Beware the automated “How did we do?” trap! One of the downsides of technology is […]
Hindsight is 20/20
Hindsight is 20/20 I’m currently working with a client that is moving from their legacy […]
Cheaper now; costlier later.
Cheaper now; costlier later. Most of my clients are very cost-conscious, understandably. After all, who […]
The unified shopping cart: Dreams vs. reality
The unified shopping cart: Dreams vs. reality One of the more common requests I hear […]
Don’t forget to celebrate!
Don’t forget to celebrate! Truth be told, I’m not a big celebrator. (Maybe it’s because […]
Three thoughts on duplicate records
Three thoughts on duplicate records Duplicate records are a reality in any database of any size, […]
Please don’t do this…
Please don’t do this… I’ve noticed a trend among online retailers that I want to […]
AI is perpetually patient
AI is perpetually patient My friend and colleague Noel Shatananda of fusionSpan was providing me some […]
User adoption is (almost) all that matters…
User adoption is (almost) all that matters… I was speaking with an association recently about their […]