According to Retail TouchPoints , many retailers struggle with data that is 'nearly usable'—information that appears correct at a glance but contains errors, gaps, or inconsistencies that undermine its reliability. This condition forces businesses to spend extra time and money on manual verification, reconciliation, and cleanup, eating into margins that are already razor-thin in the sector.
The root causes include fragmented systems, inconsistent data entry practices, and a lack of standardized formats across suppliers and channels. When inventory counts, pricing, or product descriptions are off by even a small margin, the ripple effects can lead to stockouts, overstocking, inaccurate demand forecasts, and poor customer experiences. The article emphasizes that these hidden costs often go unmeasured because they are embedded in daily operations.
To address the issue, the report recommends investing in data governance frameworks, automated validation tools, and integration platforms that enforce consistency from point of origin. Retailers that treat data quality as a strategic priority rather than an IT concern are better positioned to scale operations and leverage advanced analytics. The piece serves as a reminder that in the age of big data, 'good enough' data is often not good enough.