customer data integration
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customer data integration



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DEFINITION - Customer data integration (CDI) is the process of consolidating and managing customer information from all available sources, including contact details, customer valuation data, and information gathered through interactions such as direct marketing. Properly conducted, CDI ensures that all relevant departments in the company have constant access to the most current and complete view of customer information available. As such, CDI is an essential element of customer relationship management (CRM).

Although many companies have been gathering customer data for a good number of years, it hasn't always been managed very effectively. As a result, companies may maintain outdated, redundant, and inconsistent customer data. According to a Forrester Research report, although 92% of companies surveyed believe having an integrated view of customer data is either "critical" or "very important," only 2% have actually managed to achieve that goal.

Getting started with customer data integration
To explore how CDI is used in the enterprise, here are some additional resources:
Building a customer data integration business case: Project specifications: Building a CDI business case requires some basic knowledge of the project's scope and specifications. This expert discusses general expectations for CDI implementation times and costs.
Customer data integration tool's fuzzy search helps clear up call center confusion: Redundant customer data was costing Corporate Express time and money. Learn how Fuzzy search capabilities helped solve the problem in this CDI case study.
MDM-CDI project implementation guidelines: This book chapter excerpt explores the practical aspects of implementing MDM-CDI solutions as complex, multidisciplinary, enterprise-wide projects or programs. Read it online or download a free .pdf.

LAST UPDATED: 23 Sep 2008

Read more about customer data integration:
- Michael Lowenstein's SearchCRM.com article is called "CDI: The dance every marketer must learn."


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