“Data is a precious thing, and it will last longer than the systems themselves.” This quote by Tim Berners explains the whole motto of a consultant’s career. It also explains why data management consultants are always in high demand. Businesses rely on accurate, well-structured data to make informed decisions, optimize operations, and maintain a competitive edge.
In a world where technology evolves rapidly, systems become obsolete, but well-managed data remains invaluable. Data management consultants ensure that organizations can efficiently store, access, and utilize their data, safeguarding it from loss, corruption, or inefficiency.
From compliance and security to analytics and AI-driven insights, these experts play a crucial role in transforming raw data into actionable intelligence, making them indispensable in today’s data-driven economy.
What is a data management consultant?
Well, a data management consultant’s job is very straightforward yet too complex. In short, their responsibility is to make sense of the data that a company produces.
So, if you become a data management consultant, your task will be to keep track of sales numbers, website traffic, customer ratings, etc. But the task doesn’t end there. The data you collect is only useful if you can detect patterns and trends using it.
That is why you will have to manage and structure this data in a way that the company can make decisions based on it. For example, you may use it to decide that their current CMS is ineffective or that their manufacturer is not meeting quality standards.
Types of data management consultant
Now, you should understand that data management consulting is not one job. It includes several aspects, and that is why consultants take up expert roles in particular fields.
For example, there are:
Data governance consultants
You know how important data is, right? So, someone should be there to protect it, and that’s the job of data governance consultants.
They are like security guards of a company’s data and they make the important decisions in this matter, like how a particular kind of data should be collected and stored. They are also in charge of setting data policies and making sure that they are in line with GDPR or HIPAA laws.
Data security is also one of their major concerns, and therefore, they decide which data is more important and thus requires stricter access. By the way, the job of data governance consultants still doesn’t end. They are also responsible for checking data quality.
This is a very important step, as a company won’t be able to make strategic decisions with data that is not organized, inaccurate, or the data that was not collected properly.
For example, there are:
Data governance consultants
You know how important data is, right? So someone should be there to protect it, and that’s the job of data governance consultants.
They are like security guards of a company’s data and they make the important decisions in this matter, like how a particular kind of data should be collected and stored. They are also in charge of setting data policies and making sure that they are in line with GDPR or HIPAA laws.
Data security is also one of their major concerns, and therefore, they decide which data is more important and thus requires stricter access. By the way, the job of data governance consultants still doesn’t end. They are also responsible for checking data quality.
This is a very important step, as a company won’t be able to make strategic decisions with data that is not organized, inaccurate, or the data that was not collected properly.
Data analytics consultants
They are the real gems of the industry. I told you earlier that data management consultants work hard to make sense of raw data for a company, and that’s exactly the job of data analytics consultants.
They collect all sorts of data and study them to understand certain trends and behaviors of markets and customers. For example, they have to understand why people buy certain products more in particular months or why sales of the company drop during a quarter.
This study helps consultants identify the obstacles in the processes of the company and also keeps a record of it to predict future trends. The best part is that they make it all really easy to understand by breaking everything down into charts, graphs, and dashboards so you can speedily see the big picture.
Master data management consultants
They are the ones who ensure that important data, such as customer and product information, is accurate and accessible throughout your entire organization.
Each company has different teams, like sales, marketing, finance, and operations, and all of them use data for several purposes. However, if each department has its own version of the same information, things can get really messy.
For example, the sales team may have a customer’s contact information, while marketing has a completely different set. That’s where master management data consultants are needed. They help establish a system that ensures that all key data are everywhere the same.
But their work doesn’t stop there. They also help with data governance and quality control, ensuring the data is constantly updated and modified to meet industry standards.
What does a data management consultant do?
Data and analytics management consultant are like human scanners. They come in, take a good long look at how you handle your data and figure out what all the holes are.
Once they’ve got the hang of things, they help set up a system to collect and store your data in a way that makes sense. No more digging through spreadsheets or struggling to find that one important number. They’ll create an organized system where everything is easy to access, so you’re never stuck scrambling for answers again.
But wait, there’s more to their job. Good consulting ensures your data is accurate. They will also clean up duplicates, correct mistakes, and check everything. Trust me; when big decisions are being made, you want to be working off great data, and bad data means bad decisions.
Data management consultants would also ensure that your data is kept secure and protected from hacking or misuse. They will suggest software that includes items like encryption, access control, firewalls, and other necessary tools that you will need to keep your company’s biggest assets secure.
Skills needed for data management consulting
If you want to work as a data management consultant, you’ll have to stock up on several skills over the years, as your job won’t be the same monotonous one. But here are some basic skills that you must have:
Project management
Project management is one of the most important aspects of data management consulting, as it keeps the company running smoothly. I have talked to real-life project managers, and they say that they’re always juggling multiple stakeholders with different goals and expectations in different timelines at the same time.
That’s how important their task is.
Therefore, your project management skills should be on point. But it’s a bit difficult to be a pro at it as it requires practice and access to resources that may sometimes come with a hefty price tag. But that won’t be an issue anymore.
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Here are four other reasons why you should check it out:
- It has 10 detailed modules that cover every aspect of consulting
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- It provides interview experience via role-play
Analytics
Most people think it is all about reading numbers. But it’s a lot more than that. Numbers will be useless if an analyst cannot predict a trend or recognize a sales pattern from it. So, an analyst’s job is much more difficult than you imagine.
Thus, to become a good data management consultant, you should become a good analyst first. For that, there are some technical skills that you should acquire, like SQL, Tableau, Python, etc. You will have to use them to assess why the company is facing hiccups in the sales of a particular product or manage other issues.
You’ll also need to have a good understanding of different sectors like sales, finance, marketing, manufacturing, etc. Having these insights will be helpful as you might have to work with different departments, sometimes personalizing a marketing campaign or projecting a sales trend.
So, as a data and analytics management consultant, your task will be to guide your company in the right direction through market changes and customer “mood swings.”
Problem-solving
Companies work because their problems are solved by database management consultants. Be it missing data, slow data processing systems, or customers who are constantly dissatisfied with a particular product, all these problems will need to be fixed by you ASAP.
So, your curiosity will be your best friend if you want to be a good problem solver. You should be constantly asking questions like “Why is this happening?” or “What’s behind this mess-up?” These will help you figure out the root cause of the problem and how to ‘actually’ fix it.
Not every problem will have a straightforward solution. Sometimes, you’ll need to come up with a new way to get things working. Maybe you’ll need to rewrite a few old processes or use a unique tool that does exactly what’s needed. So, you should learn flexibility, too.
The better you get at problem-solving, the more trust your clients will have in you, and you will develop expertise in your field.
Data Warehousing
If you like organizing stuff or have OCD (lol, sorry), you can use that skill in data warehousing. Data management strategy consultants are in charge of not only analyzing data but also organizing them so they’re ready for use whenever needed.
To be really efficient at this, you should know about the right tools. For example, if you have to provide quick insights to clients about delivery speed or scalability issues, you can use Amazon Redshift or Google BigQuery.
If it’s about storage issues or cost control, then you can use a tool called Snowflake. Once you have figured out the right tool, you’re halfway there.
As a data management consultant, this is one of the most important skills you can acquire. It’ll not make your work life easier but will also save the company a lot of time and resources. So the next time you see a mess, fix it and practice your skills!
Customer relationship management (CRM)
Okay, here’s a not-so-shocking fact: If someone runs a direct-to-customer business, their customer relationship should be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. And I am not talking about only timely delivery, a business should know how to take care of its customers, and as usual, this job also goes to a data management consultant.
So, if you are planning to manage that part, you should have excellent communication skills. Apart from that, you should also be able to find out the best CRM platforms like Zoho CRM, HubSpot or Salesforce that fulfill all the business needs, and trust me, once that’s sorted, working will feel like a breeze.
As a customer relationship manager, you should also be able to read into future trends and changes in customer behavior by looking at feedback and data collected via surveys. If a company can maintain good customer relationship management, it won’t ever have to worry about sales or promotion.
Moreover, CRM is one of the fastest-growing careers in the data management consultant field. So, if you can develop your skills, you’ll be able to make it big without a doubt!
Salary of a data management consultant
The average salary of a data management consultant ranges from USD 37,106 to USD 116,375 annually. However entry-level consultants at big companies like Bain & Company earn up to USD 120,000, whereas senior consultants get up to USD 230,000 yearly.
Big data consultants earn even more. Their average salary ranges from USD 54,000 to USD 140,000 per year.
Data management consultant as a career choice
Looking at the current scenario, data management consulting is one of the most rewarding careers. It’s well-paying, and you get to learn a lot as well. But you’ll also need to work on your technical as well as soft skills to secure a good job.
Once your basics are sorted, work on gaining experience and climb that corporate ladder.
All the best!
