XS, Inc. is an industry leader in software as a service technology, providing scalable and comprehensive data management and e-commerce tools to market-driven organizations. One of its clients is an organization that serves customers in the agriculture industry. This client asked XS to help it implement a data management program to standardize and match data so it could better manage its extensive database of farmers.
Even though data management technology and the agriculture industry may seem worlds apart, this organization found itself juggling large amounts of data and realized it needed a better system. While the amount of data was unwieldy, it had the potential to deliver valuable insight – if only it were more effectively managed.
XS was brought in to implement a solution, and it quickly identified two goals. The first was to standardize and correct data that the organization had stored on its growers, since misspelled or inconsistent names impeded its ability to understand who comprised the database. The second need was to create a single view of all the farmers. By matching and consolidating data, the organization could maintain accurate records of growers, making it easier to manage relationships and plan marketing campaigns.
Charged with the task of helping its client standardize, match and consolidate data, XS implemented DataFlux MDM and data governance technology. “We knew DataFlux had good products, and we liked its placement in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Data Quality Tools,” says XS Director of Technology Darren Patterson. “[DataFlux] gave us the tools we needed, so it was the right choice for us.”
Since its first goal was to consolidate and correct data, XS already considers the program a success. The client has cleaned nearly one million records since implementation – which is an important step toward achieving a single view of all the farmers in its database.
DataFlux MDM and data governance technology has enabled the client to better manage its vast database of growers, matching data from many disparate origins. With numerous data sources, activities and global relationships, achieving a single version of the truth has provided much-needed insight to boost understanding of growers.
“We’re definitely getting value from the technology,” Patterson says. “In fact, [our client] wants to implement a more extensive system soon; they are considering expanding the scope even more.”