In an age when the number of data sources and data volumes is exploding, it’s essential to ensure that your data is analytics-ready at the beginning of the data pipeline instead of random points where business users may need to use it.

Within any analytics pipeline, the right data management processes are paramount to providing accurate and reliable information. These processes help to future-proof your pipeline against changing analytic needs and emerging technologies.

451 Research, an IT research company, validated the importance of data management in their recent report titled “Data Platforms and Analytics Market Map 2018.” The authors note that “Data management is an essential part of the analytics process, and is defined as the management of data using a number of specific tools – or a broader platform combining multiple tools – with the endgame of enabling analytics.”

This guide provides a checklist of eight essential categories to consider as you evaluate your vendor options, and flags potential pitfalls to guard against as you plan your pipeline.