Data quality error embarrasses US

Discover how a data quality error embarrasses the US on Data Quality Matters. The South African government demands an apology after Tokyo Sexwale, an ANC stalwart, was detained at JF Kennedy Airport due to outdated data. Learn why poor data quality can impact customer experience and reputation in a corporate environment.


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The South African government has demanded an unconditional apology after ANC stalwart and struggle veteran, Tokyo Sexwale, was detained at JF Kennedy Airport.

Sexwale’s name appeared on a terror list created during the apartheid era when ANC members were banned from entering the US. The ban was lifted after the ending of apartheid, nearly twenty years ago, but the list had apparently not been cleaned,

Realistically, the US will not suffer any real damage to its reputation from this oversight.

Poor quality data impacts on the customer experience

However, in a corporate environment, outdated or inaccurate data can have a severe impact on customer experience and, subsequently on the organisation’s reputation.

Problems could range from a legitimate client being refused service due to a faulty payment record, to the inappropriate disclosure of personal information due to a financial summary being posted to the wrong address.

Media such as Facebook and Twitter have made it much easier for individuals to express their unhappiness, and make poor service visible. They may not get news coverage, like Sexwale, but they have the ability to get the story out.

Gain valuable insights into how data quality influences crucial business decisions, shaping strategies and outcomes with insights from How Does Data Quality Impact Business Decisions?, highlighting the pivotal role of reliable data in driving informed decision-making processes.

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How is poor-quality data impacting your business?

Response to “Data quality error embarrasses US”

  1. So You Think You Can Handle Big Data? | Liliendahl on Data Quality

    […] good reminder of that is reported by Gary Allemann in the post Data quality error embarrasses US. The post tells the story and learning from a recent incident, where a former South African […]

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