One version of the truth.
When three systems disagree, every meeting starts with an argument about whose number is right. It does not have to.
How data gets this messy.
Nobody decided to have bad data. It accumulates.
Three systems, three answers
Every meeting starts with whose number is right.
Duplicates everywhere
The same customer, four ways.
Reports built by hand
Someone loses a day a week to a spreadsheet.
The CRM nobody trusts
Sales works around it, so it gets worse.
Tribal knowledge
The real data lives in one person’s head.
AI, blocked
Every automation idea dies on messy data.
Three moves, in order.
Audit
Where data lives, where it disagrees, and what is worth keeping.
Clean and connect
Dedupe, standardize, and integrate the systems you already own.
Make it stay clean
Ownership, governance, and dashboards people actually use.
Common questions.
Should we replace our CRM?
Usually no. The tool is rarely the problem. Clean data, clear ownership, and integration usually rescue the system you already pay for.
How long does a cleanup take?
It depends on how many systems disagree, but the first pass is typically measured in weeks. We sequence it so reporting improves early, not at the end.
Will the data just get messy again?
Not if ownership and governance are part of the work. Someone owns each field, entry rules are enforced by the system, and dashboards make drift visible.
Do we need this before trying AI?
Mostly yes. AI is only as good as what it reads. The good news: the first automation projects and the cleanup can often start together.
End the argument
about the numbers.
A 30-minute conversation, no pitch. Based in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, working with owners across Iowa.