Just as every woodworker would tell you certain tools make all the difference, so too would data analysts. Picking the right tool for the job ensures you get the answers you’re looking for in a timely manner. At this point, however, you may not even know which questions you should be asking. Read on to learn what data management tools are, as well as the seven best data management tools for your business.

Data Management Tools Explained

Before we talk about the best of the best, it’s important to have a solid understanding of what data management tools can do for you. “Data management tool” is a broad term that can relate to anything in the data space, from storage to synchronization to migration to analysis. In short, data management tools make working with data easier.

Key Features

What does a good data management tool look like? First, it should be secure. You’re handling sensitive data, whether it’s internal information or data you’ve gathered from your clients. Either way, you don’t want it escaping your bubble. The data management tools you choose to work with must provide rigorous levels of security and privacy.

In addition, a data management tool should afford you some flexibility. You may be a small-to-medium-scale business right now, but what about five years from now? If you eventually end up with an additional 100 terabytes of data, you want to pick tools that can handle those larger numbers.

You should also seek out tools that facilitate global work. You never know when employees will travel for a conference and need to log in for data analytics. Your tools must allow access to your information no matter where you are.

Finally, data management tools should be intuitive. Any great tool will require a little time to learn, but it shouldn’t take your employees away from their regular jobs for weeks at a time to understand a new system—the best tools make learning a simple and efficient process.

Different Types of Data Management Tools

There are four main categories of data management tools. These categories include master data management tools, cloud data management tools, data visualization and analytics tools, and ETL and data integration tools.

Master data management is all about visualizing sets of information across your whole organization, while cloud data management is built to help you manage your data in the cloud and connect to various data sources.

Meanwhile, data visualization and analytics tools help you explore large sets of data and gain insights that can guide you to success. Finally, ETL and data integration tools are made to load data to a certain database and aid in the transformation of data.

Consider the following data management tools:

1. dataZap

dataZap can help you with everything from data migration to reconciliation. Data transformation is a touchy process that requires a sure hand. dataZap guides you through the migration process like no other tool and allows you to stay nimble with your data.

Since it’s a single platform that handles all your reconciliation tools, integrations, data ingestions, setup migrations, and archival, your team doesn’t have to spend hours learning different programs. On top of that, dataZap comes with a data quality engine so you don’t need to worry about working with clean and correct data—you’ll already have it.

2. dataZen

dataZen is an all-in-one data management solution that covers master data management, quality, and governance. When you want to ensure you’re working with high-quality data, dataZen can put your mind at ease. With agility and customizability, you can rest assured knowing you have the governance and business discipline you need.

All of this comes with little to no programming needed—the tools at your disposal should work for you, not fight you at every step. If you want to de-duplicate and consolidate data, choose dataZen for the most easygoing experience.

3. dataZense

Data analytics has never been simpler than with dataZense. It’s no secret that the toughest part of the job is interpreting and analyzing data, so dataZense gives you insights through easy-to-use—and understand—dashboards. There are over 3,000 prebuilt dashboards that will help you analyze and visualize your data, along with metadata crawlers that work using machine learning.

4. Tableau

With fast and easy connections to multiple data sources, Tableau makes a good case for being your go-to choice for visualization. Tableau boasts quick access to visualizations for your teams and clients, as well as a dashboard that’s intuitive to set up. As if that wasn’t enough, Tableau also makes it easy to explore your data and find what you need in a timely manner.

5. HubSpot

HubSpot’s main focus is on inbound marketing, but it has several features that extend beyond this goal. With analytics and reporting, it’s smooth sailing whenever you want to organize or visualize your marketing data.

6. Oracle Data Management Suite

Thanks to its years of impeccable service, Oracle is one of those data management companies everyone knows about. When you need a powerful platform that brings governance, visibility, and standardization under one roof, Oracle data management is the way to go.

Duplicate data isn’t a factor you need to worry about when you use Oracle data management, so consolidate your data and bring everything into one comprehensive place.

7. Microsoft Data Management Suite

Microsoft is a big name in big data, and for good reason. The Microsoft data management suite is a comprehensive set of tools that can drastically increase efficiency while reducing costs. With seamless data integration and migration, synchronizing your apps with other systems is a quick and easy matter.

When you’re looking to migrate data from legacy applications or manage data across domains, Microsoft data management makes everything simple and streamlined. Risks are always a factor when migrating, but Microsoft’s tools reduce risks and save over 40 percent of the time spent on a normal migration.

Now that you know the seven best data management tools for your business, choose the ones that work best for you. This simple change to your workflow can make a world of difference for your company.