New technologies drive data quality, enable big data benefits

In a previous post, we discussed the impact that big data is having on the federal government. We also touched on how data analytics and the rapidly increasing amount of data available to government entities are enabling them to become more proactive and better serve constituents.

However, there was one small caveat. None of the benefits that the union of big data and analytics are bringing to government agencies can be realized if the data isn’t accurate.

The inaccuracies in government data are really an end result of staggering volume. Government agencies are finding themselves in a race to digitize the mountains of existing records and files that they are required to keep. They’re doing this to make them easier to access, share, search and analyze.

However, the flow of data into the agency isn’t going to just stop to enable them to digitize and store their existing records and files. In fact, with the proliferation of mobile devices and a vastly widening ecosystem of endpoints, data is probably entering the agencies faster than it ever has in the past.

That means that agencies are racing to digitize the records that they’ve been stockpiling for decades and the records that are flying in the door at a record pace.

To handle all of these document and record management needs, agencies often employ large numbers of people who take the documents and records in question, analyze them and manually enter their information into online systems. It’s not a bad system, but it has some flaws.

First, there is the issue of efficiency. Analyzing a document and keying the data it contains into a computer requires a significant level of effort that is time consuming and costly. Second, “human element” issues can arise with data quality. Sloppy handwriting and simple typos can make it difficult for these individuals to ensure that the data is 100 percent accurate.

With quality such an important factor in the government’s ability to benefit from its data through analysis and information sharing, this system needs to be improved.

Luckily, there are new technologies that are replacing this old system of document and record digitization and can help to improve government data quality. Today’s advanced document scanning capabilities can help to drastically reduce the human error that used to be associated with the process. They can also help in other areas as well.

The government is currently struggling with more than just records and document management issues. They’re also hard up against some very tight budget constraints.

Document scanning can automate the process, cutting down on the amount of time each document or record takes to digitize and decreasing the amount of work that needs to be done. This drastically increases operational efficiency and decreases the cost. This is immensely important for government agencies looking at everything to cut spending, from slashing travel budgets to implementing hiring freezes.

Today’s government agencies have mountains of data and records to manage, and more documents coming in every day. By embracing today’s new document management and digitization technologies, they can keep up with the crush of data while saving money in their already-strapped budgets.