After documenting the business use cases, it is time to evaluate the current state of customer data and document the findings.

Document the current state of customer data

Perform a comprehensive audit of your existing data sources, systems, and processes. Identify the types of data you collect, where it resides, and how it is currently managed. Assess the data’s quality, completeness, and consistency to determine any data gaps or issues that need to be addressed during the implementation.

Follow these steps to analyze the current state of customer data:

  • Identify Data Sources: Determine the various sources of customer data within your company. These may include transactional systems, CRM databases, marketing automation tools, website analytics, social media platforms, customer surveys, and more.
  • Assess Data Quality: Evaluate the quality and accuracy of the customer data available. Look for issues such as duplicate records, incomplete data, inconsistencies, and data entry errors.
  • Data Integration: Assess the level of data integration within your organization.
  • Compliance and Security: Evaluate your company’s compliance with relevant data privacy regulations, such as GDPR or CCPA. Assess the security measures in place to protect customer data from unauthorized access and breaches.
  • Analyze Data Analytics Capabilities: Evaluate your company’s data analytics capabilities. Assess whether you have the necessary tools, technologies, and skilled personnel to analyze customer data effectively.
  • Data Governance and Documentation: Assess the governance and documentation practices surrounding customer data in your company.

Evaluate data readiness

In addition, assess the readiness of your data for integration into the CDP. Consider factors such as data quality, data formats, data governance, and data security. Identify any data cleansing or transformation requirements to ensure that the data integrated into the CDP is accurate, reliable, and compliant with data privacy regulations.

Assess system integration requirements

Determine the integration points between the CDP and your existing systems, such as CRM, marketing automation, e-commerce platforms, or analytics tools. Identify the data flows, APIs, and connectors needed to establish seamless data exchange between systems. Evaluate the compatibility and readiness of these systems for integration with the CDP.

Evaluate technical infrastructure

Assess your organization’s technical infrastructure, including hardware, software, network capabilities, and scalability requirements. Determine if any upgrades or enhancements are needed to support the CDP implementation effectively.