Integration work ‘connected to data quality’

Data quality processes have an important role to play in the success of integration work.

This is the view of IT Business Edge columnist Loraine Lawson, who said many people do not commonly associate the two areas.

She pointed out that this can have negative implications when the time comes for integration projects to take place.

"Too often … integration focuses on the technical aspects of connecting two data sets and not on the more strategic value of ensuring you’ve also matched and integrated the business context of that data," Ms Lawson explained.

Her comments follow a recent report from Experian QAS and Computer Business Review which stated data quality should have a central role to play in how organisations manage their operations.

It pointed out that many companies have recognised this and taken steps to ensure data quality initiatives are viewed as an ongoing practice rather than a one-off project.