7 Reasons Poor Data Quality Is Like Your Crazy Ex

Hindsight is always 20/20. Looking back on an unhealthy relationship, you can clearly see all the reasons it wasn’t right for you. And yet, it’s not always easy to recognize when you’re in the midst of it. Now that you know how much better off you are without them, it’s time to make sure you’re not in a similarly toxic relationship with your sustainability data. Here are some signs to help you check.

7 signs you’re in a bad relationship with poor data quality:

You can’t trust them

Remember the days of going through your ex’s phone to make sure they were telling you the truth? There were always holes in their story, certain things that didn’t make sense. Poor data quality is just as unreliable, leading to costly errors in tracking and reporting. Imagine if you knew they were always being transparent with you. Imagine if, instead of hunting through hundreds of paper or online records of bills, you could get a reliable picture of your utility consumption all in one place. That’s what I call an upgrade.

They take too long to get ready

No matter what they say about the “perfect hair” they’ve achieved, it never makes the hours they spend in the bathroom getting ready worth the wait. Let’s not even mention the number of times they’ve probably made you miss a restaurant reservation. Waiting for utility bills to come each month isn’t worth it either, especially when you can access a feed of data that updates with every new bill as soon as it’s available from the provider.

They’re constantly high maintenance

When you realize you are spending more time calming their temper tantrums and appeasing their insecurities than simply being happy, it’s probably time for a change. Likewise, spending hours of time manually entering your energy, water, waste, and carbon data into tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio ManagerⓇ should be a thing of the past. You deserve to get more value from your data than you give.

 

Learn how to automate data entry into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

 

They never want to talk about the future

After several times of changing the subject when you wanted to talk about where your relationship was going, you knew they didn’t really see a future with you. But you know what can have a bright future with you? A platform that gives you accurate data. With accurate, complete data, you can make confident predictions around future consumption and quantifiably prove ROI on your projects.

They don’t take responsibility for their actions

When your partner is constantly letting you down or messing up — and worse, they’re blaming everyone but themselves — that’s a red flag. You deserve a partner who’s reliable, honest, and owns up to their mistakes. The good news is: An effective data management system will thoroughly audit your data for mistakes and make sure you have the tools you need to fix them.

Dating them seems better than nothing

It’s natural to think that being in a mediocre relationship is better than being alone or bored, but that’s far from the truth. Freeing yourself from a bad relationship with poor data quality gives you the chance to find something better. While the easy option is to stick to what you’re used to, resisting change will inevitably leave you behind the best that you can achieve.

There are better fish in the sea

If you still need a nudge to help you move on from your ex, look no further. You’ve got matchmakers at your service. Automated data is the perfect fit for you, and we think you’re ready. With the added visibility that comes from comprehensive sustainability data, you’ll never go back to the days before you saw the light.

Does this sound more like your current situation than a past life? Don’t hold yourself back from happiness — dump poor data quality today.

You might also like:

• Video: What’s On A Bill?
• Show Me the Money: ROI of Better Data Management
• Webinar with UL EHS Sustainability: How to Simplify Your Data

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