Top challenges in data consolidation solved by form automation

The challenge of fragmented data management is a pressing issue for many businesses today. In a survey,  a report by Experian highlighted that 95% of respondents indicated that poor data quality undermines business performance, ultimately leading to lost business opportunities. As a result, organizations are increasingly prioritizing investments in advanced software and tools to enable efficient and centralized data consolidation.

‍

But what exactly is data consolidation?

‍

In simpler terms, it means gathering, organizing, and storing data in one place for making informed and analytical decisions. Earlier, businesses used spreadsheets or invested in manual data entry to keep a record. However, with time, new technologies and software like form automation are replacing the traditional methods with faster and more efficient operations. 

‍

But before we learn how form automation saves the day, it is imperative to understand the challenges of data consolidation. 

‍

Top challenges in data consolidation ‍

‍

While the most common one is ensuring data quality, there are several others that need proper attention. These are:
‍

• Data silos: As the name suggests, this challenge often rises up when data is stored in disparate systems and can lead to inconsistencies. Suppose you are a SaaS company aiming to store and analyze customer data to identify potential opportunities. However, your sales data is stored in one CRM system, while customer feedback is recorded in a separate platform. This lack of integration creates data silos, leading to variations and making it difficult to derive meaningful insights or make informed decisions.
  ‍
• Human error in manual processes: For a long time, data consolidation meant manual data entry and transfer from one software to another. This was not only time-consuming but also prone to errors. Humans may inadvertently introduce errors such as misspellings or duplicate entries, compromising the accuracy and reliability of consolidated data.
  ‍
• ‍Time-consuming processes: As mentioned before, manual data consolidation translates into hours of repetitive work and delayed analysis. Consolidating sales data from multiple stores across the region can take days, requiring significant time, money, and resources to manage a slow and error-prone process. Beyond the inefficiency, this delay hinders timely decision-making, potentially impacting the company's ability to respond to market trends and drive business growth.
  ‍
• Lack of real-time insights: Delays in accessing real-time insights can quietly hamper the growth of any business. And without proper data consolidation, this challenge becomes even more pronounced. Manual data consolidation is not only time-consuming but also diminishes the relevance of the data by the time it’s ready for analysis. This lag often results in outdated insights, leading to business strategies that fail to address current market realities.
  ‍
• ‍Integration issues: Finally, integration challenges also arise when outdated systems fail to merge with modern tools, creating inefficiencies. For instance, legacy software often blocks seamless data flow, delaying insights and complicating operations.

‍How form automation solves these challenges

‍

To better understand how form automation can streamline data consolidation and tackle the challenges mentioned above, we can take the example of HR departments.

‍

A typical hiring process involves collecting resumes, sorting applications, scheduling interviews, and storing candidate data to make final hiring decisions. Each of these steps can be significantly streamlined and simplified with form automation, as we’ve outlined below:
 

• Automated data collection: To begin with, form automation allows users to enter data in a consistent format that is stored in one place. For HR professionals, this means a standardized online application form that collects resumes and details directly from candidates, eliminating manual errors and ensuring consistency in data formats. 
  ‍
• ‍Real-time data updates: Automated forms sync the data in the central databases simultaneously. For instance, HR does not need to manually enter every candidate’s details in spreadsheets. Rather, the automated forms will instantly add any data that a candidate enters into HR software, ready to be reviewed anytime. This ensures that HR teams have access to accurate, up-to-date candidate information at all times, enabling faster decision-making and a more efficient progression of candidates through the hiring process.
  ‍
• ‍Seamless integration with other tools: Data often originates from multiple departments, making integration a challenge. Automated forms address this by seamlessly integrating with various CRMs, ERPs, and analytics platforms, ensuring smooth data flow and centralized management. Candidate data collected through the form can be seamlessly integrated into an ATS, with details automatically transferred to the system. Additionally, interview schedules can be synced with calendar software, ensuring a smooth flow of information between platforms. This reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, and enhances overall efficiency in the hiring process.
  ‍
• ‍Custom validation and error checking: One of the key challenges automated forms address in data consolidation is improving data quality by minimizing errors. These forms incorporate custom validation rules, ensuring submissions are accurate and complete before being accepted. For instance, form builders like Tiny Forms can flag an incomplete phone number, make it mandatory to fill details like name, or check that email addresses follow the right format. This simple step ensures that users only enter accurate data and thereby reduces error correction.
  ‍
• ‍Time efficiency: The word “automation” inherently signifies the elimination of manual effort, allowing workflows to become faster and more efficient. For HR professionals, this means no longer spending hours collecting candidate data and manually entering it into spreadsheets. Instead, the data is automatically captured and transferred directly into their CRM. Additionally, with form automation, interview slots can be automatically offered to candidates based on availability, along with reminders, freeing up time for high-level and strategic tasks.

‍

In times when data is power, businesses can’t take the risk of poor data consolidation. Moreover, data consolidation is not just about convenience and efficiency. It is a strategic step that businesses can take to embrace the fast-paced market and show up with real-time data for better decision making.  

‍

If you’re ready to streamline your data consolidation with automated forms, speak to our experts.