The one hour data cleanup sprint that makes AI useful

The problem

Messy data slows every pilot. Duplicates, vague labels, and missing fields turn smart tools into guesswork.

Scope the sprint

Pick one dataset. Example. Contacts from the last twelve months. Define the fields that matter. Owner, title, segment, status, last touch.

Run the hour

Minute 0 to 10. Agree on field definitions.
Minute 10 to 30. De-duplicate and standardize names.
Minute 30 to 50. Fill must have fields. Mark unknowns clearly.
Minute 50 to 60. Save a clean snapshot. Write a two line summary.

Lock in the gains

Create a micro SOP. Where the data lives. How to add records. What to check each Friday. Assign a data steward.

Measure the lift

Time the same AI task before and after. Note accuracy and rework rate. Share the chart. Clean beats complex.

Next step

Book a weekly cleanup sprint. One hour. Same time. Data gets better. AI gets better.