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In most business environments, data has become the new currency of decision-making. But having access to data isn’t enough—what matters is whether it’s reliable, accurate, and live. For New Zealand businesses navigating rising costs, regulatory changes, and an uncertain global economy, the quality of decisions rests directly on the quality of the data behind them.
Why reliable data matters
Unreliable data creates blind spots. It can cause businesses to miss emerging risks, misread opportunities, and allocate resources to the wrong areas. Globally, studies suggest poor-quality data costs organisations up to 15–25% of annual revenue, and the impact is no different in New Zealand. Whether it’s forecasting revenue during a tight labour market, or managing supply chain disruption in sectors like construction and manufacturing, leaders can’t afford guesswork.
Accuracy: the foundation of trust
Accurate data builds confidence and credibility with stakeholders. For example, New Zealand businesses face ongoing scrutiny from Inland Revenue (IR) and compliance obligations around ESG reporting and tax transparency.
When reporting is inconsistent or inaccurate, businesses risk penalties, strained relationships with regulators, or even reputational damage with customers and investors. On the flip side, leaders who can trust the numbers are empowered to act swiftly and strategically.
The super power of live data
Gone are the days when month-end reports were enough. Businesses now operate in real time, and decision-making must keep pace. Live dashboards, cloud-based accounting, and integrated reporting tools give leaders visibility of what’s happening right now, not just what happened last quarter.
Take cash flow, for instance, still the number one concern for many New Zealand SMEs. Live insights into cash flow can mean the difference between seizing an opportunity or scrambling to stay solvent. The same applies to inventory-heavy businesses, where real-time stock data can help avoid over-ordering in a tightening economy.
Data as a competitive edge
Reliable, accurate, live data does more than reduce risk, it creates advantage. A retailer adjusting stock levels based on real-time consumer behaviour, or an agribusiness making live weather and yield-informed decisions, can move faster and outperform competitors. In a market where uncertainty is the only certainty, good data becomes the compass that keeps strategy aligned and agile.
How RSM helps
At RSM New Zealand, we work with clients to help deliver the right data at the right time. From advisory and assurance through to cloud-based accounting and business intelligence tools, we help leaders cut through the noise, reduce complexity, and make confident, informed decisions.
Data isn’t just numbers on a page—it’s the lens through which leaders see the future. When it’s reliable, accurate, and live, it becomes one of the most valuable assets a business can have.
Your numbers matter every day!
