A Business’ Quality is Only as Good as Its Data’s Quality
The most interesting thing about being a “high-level” software engineer is getting to see EVERYTHING about how a business works and the likelihood of its success and the changes that will allow said business to grow and succeed. So it makes sense why data scientists are so highly valued and sought after. That being said; with experience, the skill set can be learned. For me, the skills were focused upon me.
I have worked at a huge company that makes billions and used their data and took it for granted; “It's just how it is … why would data not be this clean and organized”. Little did I know the company had spent years and millions to make sure I saw the data the way I did.
Moving to a high-level software role at a smaller business, I have seen where the beginning of the journey starts and it is a journey that will make your head hurt and make you cry out of joy when it starts to make sense after countless reviews.
Review after review at the beginning it seems like the data cleaning and analysis will just help you alone further understand the business. But the insights are such awe-inducing so much that they can't help but influence the bottom line. Down the line insights that are computed and turn into monetary gains.
Wish I could share how that has worked more on there, but I have also learned a lot about the existence of patent trolls, and I rather not be robbed by both trolls and lawyers.
My best advice to anyone starting a business; a standardized system of logging your business activity and transactions may seem corporate and toxic to start-up culture but trust me long term if profit is the goal of your venture, you will make a lot more if you were standardized on procedures from the start.
