When you encounter data discrepancies in your reports, it's crucial to investigate and resolve them promptly to maintain trust in your reporting system. Here's how to approach this issue:
1 - Verify data sources:
Ensure that your report is pulling data from the correct sources:
- Check data source configurations in ReadyWorks
- Confirm that any integrations or data imports are functioning correctly
- Verify that the correct version or instance of a data source is being used
- Cross-check with original data:
2 - Compare report data with the original source:
- Use a sample of records to manually verify data accuracy
- Look for any patterns in discrepancies (e.g., specific fields, date ranges, or asset types affected)
- Review data transformations:
3 - Examine any data transformations or calculations:
- Check the logic of calculated fields
- Verify that data type conversions are handled correctly
- Ensure that null or empty values are treated appropriately
- Investigate timing issues:
4 - Consider whether timing could be causing discrepancies:
- Check data refresh schedules and ensure they align with reporting needs
- Look for any time zone discrepancies in date/time fields
- Verify that report generation times align with data update times
- Examine filtering and aggregation:
5 - Review how data is being filtered and aggregated:
- Check that filters are not inadvertently excluding relevant data
- Verify that aggregations (sums, averages, etc.) are calculated correctly
- Ensure that the grain of aggregation matches report requirements
- Check for data quality issues:
6 - Look for underlying data quality problems:
- Investigate any duplicate records or missing data
- Check for inconsistent data formats or units of measurement
- Verify that data validation rules are being applied correctly
- Document and communicate:
7 - When you identify and resolve discrepancies:
- Document the issue, its cause, and the resolution
- Communicate with affected users about the discrepancy and its resolution
- Update any relevant documentation or data dictionaries
- Implement ongoing monitoring:
8 - Set up processes to catch future discrepancies early:
- Implement automated data quality checks
- Regularly sample and verify report data
- Encourage users to report any suspected inaccuracies promptly
Remember, if you're unable to resolve an issue, don't hesitate to reach out to ReadyWorks support. They can provide expert assistance and may be aware of known issues or best practices that can help resolve your problem efficiently.