Mapping Is Everything

If you dealt with data projects in the past you probably heard some of those quotes “wait, but how did you calculate Gross Profit?” “Did you take into consideration the offline expanse?” “the product wrote differently in different systems but I want to aggregate it together” 

It's no secret that data is the backbone of modern businesses. But when different departments, systems, and processes are all working independently, it can be hard to get everyone on the same page. That’s where mapping comes in! Mapping allows organizations to create a single language among all players and unify siloed data from disparate sources. By creating a common language between different groups—such as operations, finance, marketing, sales — it becomes easier for teams to understand each other and work together more efficiently. At its core, mapping is about connecting information so that it can be used effectively across an organization. When done strategically and with precision accuracy, this process makes it easier for teams to access valuable insights.By mapping data from different systems, organizations can unify siloed information and leverage it across the company. 

Onboarding new data products can be a tricky process, especially when companies claim they have “no touch onboarding” or “no code implementation” solutions. While these claims may sound promising, in reality there is often some degree of manual mapping required to make them work effectively. This means dedicating time and resources to understanding how each system works and making sure the connections are made properly. 

When mapping data, it's important to make sure the connections are accurate and consistent across all systems. This ensures all teams within an organization are speaking the same “language” when interpreting analytics results or taking action on customer feedback. 

In addition, mapping allows organizations to keep track of changes over time so that they can better understand how their business evolves over time. 

A data map is a visual representation of the relationships between different data sources. It can be used for creating or updating maps that describe how information flows through an organization. 

For example, …

The effort put into mapping pays off in spades though – with cleanly mapped data comes an easier way for teams to communicate, collaborate and make decisions. Overall, mapping data is a critical part of any successful organization – without it, communication would be hampered and siloed information wouldn’t have an opportunity to reach its full potential. If you’re looking to get the most out of your data, mapping is the way to go!