4 min read
How to assess the potential value of your data
Understand the questions behind a proposal, without a made-up price estimate.
Begin with a buyer task
A potential buyer needs records for a defined purpose. It might want to evaluate support responses, study specialist planning, or improve task handling. Data has to fit that purpose before a price discussion is useful.
Describe the work your records show. A specific explanation is more useful than saying your company has a large amount of data.
Assess six practical factors
Relevance asks whether the records match the task. Completeness asks whether the request, actions, and result are present. Quality asks whether the content is accurate and consistent.
Permissions determine whether the proposed use is allowed. Volume describes the number of usable examples. Demand reflects whether a buyer needs this type of data now.
Separate preparation costs from payment
Selection, extraction, privacy review, formatting, and quality checks all take work. A proposal should state who does that work and who pays for it.
Payment may depend on approval, delivery, or later use under the agreement. There is no universal arrangement, and the assessment does not guarantee earnings.
Ask for a defined proposal
Compare proposals by scope and permitted use, not just a headline figure. Ask about exclusivity, onward transfer, retention, model training, termination, and the payment trigger.
Keep a record of what was agreed. An attractive figure is not enough if the permitted use or payment condition is unclear.
Put it into an inventory.
Describe the records your team holds. You can start without a raw export.
See if your data qualifies