Finding the right data exactly when you need it and being able to rely on that data being complete and accurate is instrumental to the success of your business. However, manually managing data takes time your team can’t spare. The best move is to invest in a data management platform that does the heavy lifting for you.
Features of Data Management Platforms
To choose the best one for your organization, you first need to understand the features of data management platforms, the benefits, and which ones cover your specific needs. Not every organization has the same goals, so pay attention to what features will help move you in the right direction.
Real-Time Insights
The best platforms give you visibility into everything as it happens. Instead of pulling reports from data that’s already a week old, you see the current state of your business the moment you need it. Some platforms even flag outdated assets and integration errors automatically, so you can fix small problems before they become big ones.
User-Friendly Interface
An intuitive UI directly influences how quickly your team adopts the platform, or whether they adopt it at all. The easier the system is to learn, the faster your team gets value from it, and the less time you spend on training and troubleshooting. If a platform requires a specialist just to run a basic query, it’s working against you.
Customizable Integrations
You need a platform that connects to all of your systems, not just the popular ones. Being able to customize which integrations are included lets you build a system molded to your needs and use cases, instead of settling for a pre-packaged bundle where half the connectors go unused and the one you need is missing.
AI-Powered Capabilities
With technology advancing rapidly in the AI era, you need a platform that can keep up. Look for the ability to talk to your data conversationally. Ask real questions in plain language and get answers back, then allow your AI to act on the insights revealed.
Security & Governance
Built-in governance is non-negotiable for companies needing to protect every aspect of their data. Compliance requirements like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC2 depend on the data you collect being protected and used correctly. When security is built into the platform architecture, protection travels with your data everywhere it goes. Bonus points if the platform allows you to manage individual permissions and monitor data usage for each user.
Cloud-Based Deployment
Cloud-based deployment makes it easier to connect to the rest of your cloud-based apps, scale as your data grows, and give your team access from anywhere. Hybrid options matter too if some of your data needs to stay on-premise. The platform you choose should meet you where you are, instead of forcing an all-or-nothing move.
In-Depth Support
A support team that helps you set up your integrations and is still there after deployment gives you the peace of mind you deserve. Even if you run into problems six months down the road, someone’s got your back.
How to Choose the Best Data Management Platform
Now that you understand the common features of data management platforms, there are some things you should keep in mind when shopping around.
- Determine your end goal and work your way back from there. If your goal is misaligned from the start, you’ll end up choosing the wrong platform for your priorities. Review specific integration needs and make sure the platform can give you everything you require.
- Ensure your security and privacy requirements are covered, whether these are internal requirements or external compliance regulations, like GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC2.
- See if there is AI functionality built in. This keeps you competitive in the current technical landscape and helps you get more out of your data with a conversational interface. Ask real questions and get context-sensitive answers that provide you the insight you need, exactly when you need it.
- Compare costs between platforms. As with adding anything new to your tech stack, you have a budget to keep in mind. What are you actually getting, and what’s included in the price? Look beyond base functionality to ongoing maintenance and support costs.
- Consider how easy it would be for your team to adopt the new platform. An intuitive interface builds trust and confidence with your team, giving you better odds that your team will actually take advantage of the new tools they’ve been given.
Data Management with eOne Solutions
The eOne iPaaS makes it easy for you to manage your data.
SmartConnect covers your customizable integrations, allowing you to move data between your ERP, CRM, and the rest of your stack with connections built around your use case. Popdock delivers real-time visibility: see your data from anywhere, any platform, and any AI client, at any time. Finally, PopdockAI brings the AI capabilities, letting you talk to your data conversationally with built-in security and governance controls.
Together, these features of data management platforms can help you turn a messy, tangled database into a well-oiled machine that you can trust to give you the right data when you need it.
Contact the team at eOne to learn more about how SmartConnect, Popdock, and PopdockAI can help you take control of your data strategy.