Data dummies

How, in 2005, can any company have a multiple sales databases that don't talk to each other, particularly when those databases are customer-facing?  Or a database for a print product that doesn't talk to the database for the web product?

Legacy systems are hard to undo, so I can respect if you're actively working on making it  happen, but I continue to be appalled that this seemingly simple efficiency and customer retention measure is not widespread.

Offenders I've encountered just in the past two weeks:

• American Home Shield (Service database doesn't talk to sales)
• The Wall Street Journal (Online database doesn't talk to print)
• Unitrin Auto Insurance (Service database doesn't talk to adjustors, or to any other rep other than the first one you talk to on the phone.)
• Whomever handles my wife's company's retirement plans.

Unfortunately, these folks aren't a minority. I certainly hope we can figure this out, starting from scratch.

Comments

[Jim Bob]

Bank of America could be added to the list.