In the modern business world, billions of pieces of data are created and stored on a daily basis. In order to organize and prioritize all that information, a strong data solution (or strategy) is needed. No matter the industry, this ultimately leads to a faster, seamless workflow. Let’s take a look at how to use data throughout your business, driving information strategies in order to increase productivity and help your team meet its goals.

Data Strategies for Daily Tasks

The most important starting point for using data is creating a common strategy for its organization and application. Ideally, proper data usage will work on a three-part tier: informing the proper department team members, leading to an improved approach to decision-making; improving workflow operations; and finally, refining workflow for increased productivity and profit.

All accurate data solutions should have an organizational strategy. For example, balance sheet reconciliation should be a routine responsibility, guaranteeing that all of a company’s information is current and accurate. In general, business that instill advanced data analytics into their workflow are faster in project turnaround than their competition and the best way to meet that goal is through the solid internal control of the raw data. From this key directive, business owners can access needed statistics, view the success rate of a current marketing plan, and use the consolidated data as the best practice in recognizing a target potential client base.

Perfecting Daily Operations

Regardless of the industry, when it comes to utilizing data, the bottom line remains the same: gaining insight from the information for the highest rate of efficiency. For example, marketing strategies for law firms can be created through the combined efforts of properly consolidated data. Information on location-based demographics for new clients (the target audience), case studies (account reconciliation and history), and the success rate of prior law firm marketing plans (content marketing, blog posts, outreach through social media platforms, and landing page keyword usage for search engine optimization) are all data-driven insights. Through successful data integration and utilization, an entire forward-thinking approach to a law firm marketing strategy can be created, allowing the law firm marketer access to the needed metrics to give the company the necessary visibility to make their credibility and success rate known to the correct prospective clients. In addition, a finalized future marketing budget can be pruned from the numerous outreach efforts in place, with a full working knowledge of the most law practice’s more successful strategies versus any failed endeavors.

Creating Data-Driven Solutions and Profit

In the U.S., many new business entities and technologies use data to both drive consumer or client awareness and, internally, aid in the progressive evolution of the product itself. Most commonly, safety regulations are largely based on the research and analysis of raw data. In recent years, research and funding into autonomous vehicles, or “driverless cars,” provide a prime example of similar data integration. With numerous companies developing their own version of an automobile that doesn’t require a human driver, car performance and design is only one element of the decision-making process; raw data solutions are the most effective way to address important safety measures, ethics, and the potential for human error in the machine’s “fail safe” protocols. Any discrepancy in the design could mean life or death to pedestrians, as well as massive liability to the automaker.

In the same scenario, raw data solutions that funnel both the state-of-the-art technology safety protocols are a great way to demonstrate the credibility of the design firm, ultimately attracting future consumers and current investors alike. Multi-media demonstrations of those data-gathering solutions in effect (such as video marketing based on test-drives and controlled car accident situations staged in a simulated public road practice area) can draw additional funding to make the revolutionary product a real-life marketable product. Additionally, such dry runs can accurately calculate driverless car accident statistics for product enhancement.

When it comes to data integration, these is no end to pragmatic and creative uses. With proper consolidation and visionary marketing, research data can create a better product, take on competition, and even save lives. Regardless of the industry, knowing how to collection and utilize data can be the deciding factor in any company’s longevity and success.