4 crucial steps for successful data conversion

Data conversion is one of the most crucial steps after data entry, and requires precision and efficient management. A single error can result in loss of quality data, creating a stumbling block for your business. Outsourcing your data entry services to professionals is your best bet to prevent any of these setbacks from occurring. But just because you have experts doing your data conversion does not mean that you should take a step back. You can adopt the following measures to ease the conversion process and ensure you get the full benefits from your service providers.

Detailed planning

Before outsourcing your work, first determine your data conversion requirements. Create a checklist for necessities such as the kind of data that needs to be converted and if the data requires partial or full conversion. Choose the formats needed in the conversion process as well as the period for completion. It is also crucial to estimate the cost that you are willing to spend for the entire process.

Involve all stakeholders

Engagement from all relevant stakeholders is critical in any data digitisation process. Inform the management and employees about any plans regarding the conversion process. Such a step ensures that your conversion experts get all relevant data from the stakeholders. Proper communication eliminates confusion between the parties involved while ensuring that your data conversion process runs effectively.

Identify any potential risks

Data conversion often involves complex systems with potential risks to failure. With this in mind, have your outsourcing company identify any risks that are likely to develop. It will enable you to define multiple ways to mitigate any problem that arises. You can also perform a controlled rehearsal for high-risk projects to test the conversion process.

Have a back-up plan

You can never go wrong with a back-up plan. Ensure that your outsourcing company has a systems back-up in the event of any unforeseen circumstances.

These steps will not only allow you to have a smooth data conversion process but will also come in handy while outsourcing data entry services. Get in touch with us for a professional consultation on your data conversion needs and free trials.

Why your business should mine data

Data mining is an essential process that companies should consider applying as a strategy, especially in getting ahead of competitors in terms of market share and profitability. It involves an elaborate data collection process aimed at unearthing hidden information from different databases that can later be used in analytics. How then can data mining benefit your business?

Mining data is an efficient technique of identifying and monitoring consumer patterns and behaviour. Gathering relevant information is crucial in determining changes in the market and the latest trends. An analysis of such data can then be used to set favourable market prices and recommend suitable strategy changes. Therefore, data mining can help your business to conduct extensive consumer research and product analysis. With the application of appropriate mathematical algorithms, your business might be on its way to achieving data-driven outcomes for informed decision-making.

One of the aspects of data mining that makes it attractive for application in your business is its ability to minimise or eliminate errors. Applying it carefully and meticulously will ensure accurate and fast decisions that will positively influence your business operations. The impact of data mining on your business can be felt in departmental goals, market, or even in the performance of workers.

Data mining helps your business acquire vital information at reduced or lesser costs compared to traditional research methods. It is cheaper to mine data for research purposes since it does not require the tedious and prolonged engagement of respondents, as is the case in traditional research. Data mining acquires information from existing warehouses or databases, which makes it less costly, fast, and unbiased.

You can also improve your marketing strategies through data mining. Since the technique is efficient in the analysis of population segments, the insight can be used to guide your business in selecting the most appropriate means of interacting with customers. Whether print, digital, or direct advertising, determining the optimality of an adopted channel can be safely determined through data mining.

Apart from consumer targeting, data mining is also widely applied in marketing budget allocation. This is achieved by analysing past spending and the resulting impact it had on sales. Generally, data mining is an efficient and effective analytics tool that your business cannot ignore. Data mining tools will enable you to synthesise and gain insight from huge volumes of data for different applications depending on a defined target.

Outsourcing: how much is your time worth?

When we think of outsourcing, our first thought is often the cost. Should you pay someone else to do something that could be done in-house?

On the surface, outsourcing can sound wasteful. If it’s possible to do something within the business, why pay to send that task elsewhere?

If you’re considering outsourcing data entry, then it might be time to change your thinking.

– What’s the actual cost of doing a job in-house?

If you’re avoiding external data entry services, then you’ll be keeping these tasks within the business. You’ll be paying someone to do data entry, even if you’re not outsourcing. You may also be paying for their lunch breaks, time spent on admin and HR, and a whole host of other additional costs.

You start with the hiring process. You might need to pay for recruitment, there will be time spent interviewing to find the right candidate, and you’ll then need to provide ongoing training and support.

Employing someone for data entry is both time-consuming and expensive, and it’s also difficult to scale up. If you require another member of staff, you’ll go through the entire process again. You can’t just add someone new, letting them use your existing employee’s knowledge. You’ll need to advertise, interview and train all over again.

Once you have data entry staff in the right roles, you’re in charge of everything from tax payments to sickness and maternity or paternity pay. It’s a lot to keep on top of!

– Why outsource data entry services?

Instead of thinking about the cost of outsourcing data entry, think about what your time is worth. Think about the time and money that you’ll save by avoiding in-house HR administration, recruitment, lost days due to sickness and staff holidays, and the other responsibilities of hiring a new member of staff.

Think about how your existing employees could better use their existing time, instead of being required to input data. It is better to have separate people doing separate tasks than to make your existing employees set aside time for data entry.

When you outsource data entry services, you free up your time for everything else. You can save precious hours every single week, which is often well worth the money.