Data is present in every business and it comes in various forms. Nowadays, many businesses may not be able to operate efficiently if they are not provided with certain information. For example, a doctor or dentist need to have your previous medical or dental record on file for the next time you schedule an appointment. Similarly, an ecommerce company needs to collect data, such as your search history and preferences, if they are to provide you with relevant, targeted advertisements.
However, the introduction of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) on May 25th 2018 aims to clamp down on those companies who misuse the sensitive and personal information of their users. Its aim is to give more control to users over their personal data and penalises any business who mistreats (such as sells data to a third-party) this data.
Having said this; data cleansing has become extremely important for businesses all over Ireland and the EU. It is the action of:
- Removing duplicate data
- Amending incorrect data
- Amending incomplete data
- Removing irrelevant & unnecessary data.
Importance of Data Cleansing
Having up-to-date, correct & complete data has a number of advantages for both big and small companies:
Improves the Decision-Making Process
Customer data should be the focal point for all major business decisions. In today’s modernised society, it is not sufficient to base decisions solely on opinions. Although data may be clean and accurate when first received, errors can creep in at any time. Yet many companies fail to prioritise data quality management. Accurate and quality consumer data are essential in the decision-making process and it can contribute to the success of the business in the long-term.
Increases Productivity
As data cleansing may be a rigorous, time-consuming task, many businesses decide to outsource the task. Having an accurate and up-to-date database also means that employees are making the best use of their work hours. They don’t have to run around looking for the correct information if it is already updated on the database and can be accessed at the touch of a button.
It also means staff won’t waste valuable time and effort into reaching out to customers with out-of-date information.
Reduces Costs & Increases Revenue
Finally, partaking in the act of regular data cleansing means lower costs and increased revenue for business. When user data is up-to-date they are more likely to respond to emails and marketing communications as you’ll understand your audience better and, therefore, be able to target them better. For example, an accurate email marketing database means less bounce backs.
It also means reduced costs as money is not wasted reaching out to users with incomplete or out-of-date data. How many wasted letters/materials do you receive each day addressed to previous tenants? And, speaking of reducing costs, if you get caught misusing sensitive data, you could be charged a hefty fine if you don’t take into account the new regulations set out by GDPR.
There is no doubt that data is one of the most important aspects in targeting and communicating with your customers, but accurate and up-to-date data is even more important for a variety of reasons.
If you’re still unsure about what data cleansing is or need some help updating databases, then why not outsource this task. There are a range of companies who can help you save both time and money in the process, while also ensuring that employees are at their most productive.
What Are Virtual Phone Numbers?
The internet makes everything simpler, and that includes your business line too. Virtual phone numbers are a convenient way to have calls forwarded to your phone through an internet service. That means you can register a number in another country, then have it routed through to your phone. No more long-distance fees to worry about!
A virtual phone number works through the internet. Once you register a number to a geographic locale, you can set it to forward to any other phone number. This could be a mobile phone, regular landline, or even a VOIP. With an internet connection, you can also use a virtual phone number through a tablet or computer if necessary.
Types of Virtual Numbers
There are many reasons someone might need a virtual phone number. Perhaps you travel out of the country a lot. In that case, you can avoid high mobile bills by using a virtual number. Or maybe you’re a small business and you need to avoid high international calling rates or want to tailor your number to a new region.
If this is the case then there are two main types of virtual phone numbers available to you. What type you need depends on why you need it.
Geographic
A geographic number has an identifiable location. That means you can tailor it to fit the locale you are catering to. So, if you’re a small business, you can use virtual numbers to tailor your localised ads across different regions. This makes tracking the rewards of your advertising efforts much simpler.
Non-Geographic
A non-geographic number is just what it sounds like: a number that is not identifiable by a region. These are numbers that begin with 1800, 1850, 1890, and so on. The purpose of these numbers is to give your small business a large company feel. Some companies even have call answering services you can purchase along with the virtual number.
Why Use Virtual Phone Numbers
There are so many ways a virtual phone number can come in handy. It frees up your employees by allowing you to forward hotline calls directly to their mobile. This means they can work offsite, and that’s what makes it so easy to set up virtual office spaces. It’s also possible to set it up so that the virtual number will forward to different phone numbers at different times of the day.
So, basically, you can set up an entire employee call schedule. Simply set your forwarding numbers according to the work schedule and your employees will automatically begin receiving forwarded calls during their respective shifts.
The bottom line is that a virtual phone number can save you money and time. It streamlines the process of opening communication between you and your customers across wide regions. It’s an excellent and cost-effective way to set up your customer service department. This allows you to set up a virtual office space and serve a wider community, all without having to set up a physical location.
So, if you want to expand your reach and grow your business while saving money, then it’s time to try out a virtual phone number.