Data Readiness Checklist

Why this matters: Most businesses are sitting on valuable data but can't use it effectively. This checklist will reveal exactly where your data gaps are—and what to fix first.

How to use this: Work through each section honestly. Check the boxes that apply to your current situation. Add up your points at the end.

✓ Trusted by Siemens Energy & £10M+ Revenue Businesses

1 Data Sources & Connectivity

□ We have a complete inventory of all our data sources (1 point) - CRM, accounting, spreadsheets, industry tools, etc.
□ Our key systems can be connected/integrated automatically (1 point) - APIs, connectors, or export capabilities exist
□ Data flows between systems without manual intervention (2 points) - Automated syncing, not manual exports/imports
□ We have access credentials and permissions for all data sources (1 point) - No blocked access or "lost password" situations

Section Total: ___ / 5 points

2 Data Quality & Accuracy

□ Our team trusts the numbers in our reports (2 points) - No "wait, that can't be right" moments
□ We have processes to validate data accuracy regularly (1 point) - Spot checks, audits, or automated validation
□ Duplicate records are minimal (less than 5%) (1 point) - Customer, product, or transaction duplicates
□ Missing or incomplete data is rare (less than 10%) (1 point) - Critical fields are consistently populated

Section Total: ___ / 5 points

3 Reporting & Analysis

□ Creating reports takes less than 2 hours per report (2 points) - Not days or weeks of manual work
□ Reports are automated and refresh without manual work (2 points) - Dashboard refreshes automatically, not rebuilt monthly
□ Key stakeholders can access reports anytime they need (1 point) - Self-service access, not email requests
□ Our reports show real-time or near-real-time data (2 points) - Updated daily or hourly, not monthly
□ We have clear KPIs defined for each department (1 point) - Everyone knows what to measure and why

Section Total: ___ / 8 points

4 Decision-Making & Insights

□ We make strategic decisions based on data, not gut feeling (2 points) - Data informs major business decisions
□ We can answer business questions within minutes, not days (2 points) - "How's this month tracking?" has instant answer
□ We've identified trends or insights that improved performance (1 point) - Data has led to revenue gains or cost savings
□ Data blind spots are rare—we see the full picture (2 points) - No major gaps in visibility

Section Total: ___ / 7 points

📊 Your Data Readiness Score

Add up your points from all four sections: Total = ___ / 25 points

0-8 points 🔴 CRITICAL	You're flying blind. Data chaos is costing you thousands in wasted time, missed opportunities, and bad decisions. Priority: Get a data health check immediately.
9-14 points 🟠 AT RISK	Data exists but isn't working for you. You're spending too much time on manual work and don't have the visibility you need. Priority: Quick wins to prove ROI fast.
15-19 points 🟡 ON TRACK	Good foundation, but room for optimization. You have basics covered but not maximizing your data. Priority: Streamline and automate for better insights.
20-25 points 🟢 EXCELLENT	Data-driven excellence. Rare for SMEs! You're using data effectively. Priority: Advanced analytics like forecasting and AI/ML to stay ahead.

Scored Below 20? Let's Fix It.

Book a FREE 30-minute Data Health Check and we'll show you exactly:

✓ Where you're losing time & money
✓ Which quick wins to prioritize first
✓ What a transformation looks like for your business

BOOK FREE HEALTH CHECK →

No obligation. No sales pitch. Just honest, expert advice.