#Automated Data Validation

[rajaniesh]

Mastering Microsoft Purview Workflow: Revolutionize Your Data Governance

Dive into the world of Microsoft Purview Workflow, a key to mastering data governance. Learn how it automates data integrity, compliance, and collaboration, revolutionizing your organization's data management practices for unparalleled efficiency and sec

[gqattech]

ETL and Data Testing Services: Why Data Quality Is the Backbone of Business Success | GQAT Tech

Data drives decision-making in the digital age. Businesses use data to build strategies, attain insights, and measure performance to plan for growth opportunities. However, data-driven decision-making only exists when the data is clean, complete, accurate, and trustworthy. This is where ETL and Data Testing Services are useful.

GQAT Tech provides ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and Data Testing Services so your data pipelines can run smoothly. Whether you are migrating legacy data, developing on a data warehouse, or merging with other data, GQAT Tech services help ensure your data is an asset and not a liability.

What is ETL and Why Is It Important?

ETL (extract, transform, load) is a process for data warehousing and data integration, which consists of: 

Extracting data from different sources

Transforming the data to the right format or structure

Loading the transformed data into a central system, such as a data warehouse. 

Although ETL can simplify data processing, it can also create risks in that data can be lost, misformatted, corrupted, or misapplied transformation rules. This is why ETL testing is very important. 

The purpose of ETL testing is to ensure that the data is:

Correctly extracted from the source systems

Accurately transformed according to business logic

Correctly loaded into the destination systems.

Why Choose GQAT Tech for ETL and Data Testing?

At GQAT Tech combine our exceptional technical expertise and premier technology and custom-built frameworks to ensure your data is accurate and certified with correctness.

1.  End-to-End Data Validation

We will validate your data across the entire ETL process – extract, transform, and load- to confirm the source and target systems are 100% consistent.

2. Custom-Built Testing Frameworks

Every company has a custom data workflow.  We build testing frameworks fit for your proprietary data environments, business rules, and compliance requirements.

3. Automation + Accuracy

We automate to the highest extent using tools like QuerySurge, Talend, Informatica, SQL scripts, etc. This helps a) reduce the amount of testing effort, b) avoid human error.

4. Compliance Testing

Data Privacy and compliance are obligatory today.  We help you comply with regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, etc.

5. Industry Knowledge

GQAT has years of experience with clients in Finance, Healthcare, Telecom, eCommerce, and Retail, which we apply to every data testing assignment.

Types of ETL and Data Testing Services We Offer

Data Transformation Testing

We ensure your business rules are implemented accurately as part of the transformation process. Don't risk incorrect aggregations, mislabels, or logical errors in your final reports.

Data Migration Testing

We ensure that, regardless of moving to the cloud or the legacy to modern migration, all the data is transitioned completely, accurately, and securely.

BI Report Testing

We validate that both dashboards and business reports reflect the correct numbers by comparing visual data to actual backend data.

Metadata Testing

We validate schema, column names, formats, data types, and other metadata to ensure compatibility of source and target systems.

Key Benefits of GQAT Tech’s ETL Testing Services

1. Increase Data Security and Accuracy

We guarantee that valid and necessary data will only be transmitted to your system; we can reduce data leakage and security exposures.

2. Better Business Intelligence

Good data means quality outputs; dashboards and business intelligence you can trust, allowing you to make real-time choices with certainty.

3. Reduction of Time and Cost

We also lessen the impact of manual mistakes, compress timelines, and assist in lower rework costs by automating data testing.

4. Better Customer Satisfaction

Good data to make decisions off of leads to good customer experiences, better insights, and improved services.

5. Regulatory Compliance

By implementing structured testing, you can ensure compliance with data privacy laws and standards in order to avoid fines, penalties, and audits.

Why GQAT Tech?

With more than a decade of experience, we are passionate about delivering world-class ETL & Data Testing Services. Our purpose is to help you operate from clean, reliable data to exercise and action with confidence to allow you to scale, innovate, and compete more effectively.

Visit Us: https://gqattech.com Contact Us: info@gqattech.com

[datameticasols]

Datametica achieved significant runtime reduction by migrating Oracle Exadata workloads to Databricks through a strategic cloud migration and data warehouse migration approach. Leveraging Oracle data migration tools and automated SQL conversion, they replatformed efficiently, optimizing performance with Delta Iceberg and phased deployment. Powered by Pelican, their AI-powered automated data validation tool, the process ensured data integrity. This seamless shift was part of a broader Google Cloud migration strategy to modernize analytics at scale.

[jonah-miles-smith]

Why Software Testing is Critical in Healthcare Applications

In an era where digital transformation is redefining every industry, the healthcare industry stands at the forefront of technological innovation. From electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine to advanced medical devices and healthcare data analytics, software plays a pivotal role in delivering safe, effective, and timely medical care. However, the complexity and sensitivity of healthcare systems make them highly vulnerable to software glitches, which can result in life-threatening consequences. That’s why software testing is not just important—it’s absolutely critical in the development and deployment of healthcare applications.

The High Stakes of Healthcare Software

Unlike other industries, mistakes in healthcare software aren’t just inconvenient—they can be catastrophic. An undetected bug in a medical device or healthcare analytics platform could lead to incorrect diagnoses, delayed treatments, or even patient fatalities. This is especially crucial for medical device testing, where devices such as infusion pumps, pacemakers, and diagnostic imaging systems rely heavily on embedded software.

Every software release in healthcare must meet stringent regulatory standards, such as those from the FDA (U.S.), EMA (Europe), or ISO 13485. Testing isn’t just about functionality; it also ensures compliance, performance, security, and most importantly, patient safety.

Ensuring Accuracy with Software Testing

Accuracy is the cornerstone of any healthcare application. Whether it's processing patient data, generating diagnostic reports, or delivering remote consultations, even the smallest miscalculation or error can cascade into larger issues.

Through rigorous software testing, developers can identify and rectify issues at every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Functional testing ensures that features work as intended; integration testing verifies that systems interact seamlessly; and regression testing ensures that updates or patches don’t introduce new issues. These practices are essential for safeguarding the reliability and accuracy of healthcare systems.

Medical Device Testing: A Specialized Discipline

Medical device testing goes beyond traditional software validation. It involves a comprehensive examination of how hardware and software work together under various real-world conditions. Regulatory authorities often require validation protocols to demonstrate that a device performs reliably across all intended uses.

Key aspects of medical device testing include:

Verification and validation (V&V) of embedded software

Simulations and stress tests to evaluate performance under peak usage

Risk analysis and usability testing, to identify and mitigate potential failures

Interoperability testing with other devices and hospital systems

In short, medical device software must go through exhaustive testing before hitting the market, ensuring safety and efficacy for patients.

The Role of Testing in Healthcare Data Analytics

The advent of healthcare data analytics and healthcare analytics tools has revolutionized how medical decisions are made. These tools analyze vast amounts of structured and unstructured data to uncover insights that aid diagnosis, treatment, and operational efficiency. However such powerful tools are only as good as the accuracy and integrity of the software behind them.

Without rigorous software testing, healthcare analytics platforms could produce skewed results, leading to poor clinical decisions. Testing ensures:

Data integrity and accuracy: Verifying that data is correctly imported, processed, and reported

Security and privacy: Especially critical in protecting sensitive patient data (e.g., under HIPAA regulations)

Performance and scalability: Ensuring that platforms can handle large volumes of data without degradation

Predictive accuracy: Validating that machine learning algorithms or AI models function as intended

Addressing Security and Compliance Challenges

With cyberattacks on the rise, especially targeting the healthcare industry, robust security testing has become indispensable. A single breach can compromise thousands of patient records, leading to financial losses and irreparable reputational damage.

Software testing helps address these concerns by:

Identifying and fixing vulnerabilities through penetration testing and code reviews

Ensuring encryption and access controls are properly implemented

Confirming compliance with healthcare regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and HITECH

Agile and Automated Testing for Faster Delivery

The healthcare industry is under pressure to innovate rapidly, especially in times of global health crises. To balance speed with safety, many organizations are adopting agile methodologies and test automation.

Automated testing enables continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), allowing healthcare providers to roll out updates quickly without compromising quality. It also frees up manual testers to focus on exploratory and high-risk testing areas, such as user interfaces or clinical workflows.

Conclusion

In the healthcare industry, where software reliability can mean the difference between life and death, software testing is not optional—it is essential. Whether it’s medical device testing, EHR systems, or healthcare data analytics, comprehensive testing safeguards patient safety, ensures compliance, and builds trust in digital health technologies. As the landscape of healthcare continues to evolve, driven by data and digital platforms, organizations must prioritize robust testing strategies to deliver effective, secure, and high-quality solutions. The cost of overlooking testing is far greater than the investment required to do it right.

[gunjanjoshi018]

Sneak Peak into ServiceNow’s Robotic Automation

What exactly is a Robotic Process Automation?

Robotic Process Automation involves taking advantage of software robots to automate sequential and rule-based tasks or processes, thereby enhancing productivity and decreasing dependence on manual work.

“ ServiceNow RPA can automate a wide range of tasks across various departments and functions, including data entry, form filling, report generation, data extraction, and more. This flexibility allows organizations to automate processes tailored to their specific needs. “

What does ServiceNow RPA signify?

ServiceNow’s Robotic Process Automation (RPA) empowers organizations to automate continuous tasks that require manual interference with the help of software Robots. In the new era, ServiceNow RPA means that the robotic automation capabilities are smoothly integrated within the ServiceNow platform. These bots are capable of achieving a wide array of tasks such as data entry, extraction, form filling, and more, directly within the ServiceNow environment. The main objective of ServiceNow RPA is to boost operational efficiency, minimize errors, and liberate employees to concentrate on strategic and value-added activities.

Elements of ServiceNow RPA:

ServiceNow RPA typically offers a development environment that requires No-Code/Low-Code Development.

Workflow Automation automates tasks and workflows including the interactions with various software systems, applications, and databases.

ServiceNow RPA employs bots to replicate human actions such as clicking, typing, and data copying to execute tasks.

ServiceNow RPA ensures the protection of sensitive data and compliance with regulatory standards in automation processes.

It often includes pre-built integrations with third-party applications, databases, web services, etc.

Different kinds of RPA robots

Attended Robot refers to software robots or bots that work alongside human employees to assist with specific tasks. Unlike unattended robots, which operate autonomously without human intervention, attended robots require human oversight and collaboration. These robots typically interact with users in real-time, either on their desktops or within specific applications, to provide support, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance productivity.

An unattended Robot is a software robot/bot that operates single-handedly without human intervention. Unlike attended robots, which work alongside humans and require human oversight, unattended robots are designed to execute tasks independently. They typically operate on servers or virtual machines and can perform repetitive and rule-based tasks without the need for human interaction.

ServiceNow’s development into Robotic Process Automation

Acknowledging the increasing significance of automation in contemporary enterprises, ServiceNow has integrated RPA into its platform. This expansion enables organizations to uphold their automation activities by integrating software bots into their workflows. With this addition, ServiceNow has broadened its suite of offerings to encompass RPA, thereby providing a unified solution for process automation.

ServiceNow RPA significance

ServiceNow RPA holds significance for several reasons:

Enhanced Efficiency: By automating repetitive and rule-based tasks, ServiceNow RPA streamlines workflows and increases operational efficiency. This allows employees to focus on more strategic and value-added activities.

Reduced Errors: Automation minimizes the likelihood of human error, leading to improved accuracy and reliability in task execution.

Cost Savings: With tasks automated through RPA, organizations can reduce labor costs associated with manual processes, leading to significant cost savings in the long run.

Integration: ServiceNow RPA seamlessly integrates with other ServiceNow applications, providing a unified platform for process automation across the organization.

“ ServiceNow RPA offers a comprehensive solution for organizations looking to streamline their operations, increase efficiency, and drive digital transformation through automation. ”

What are the processes for automating ServiceNow RPA?

​​When considering processes to automate with ServiceNow RPA, focus on tasks that are repetitive, rule-based, and prone to human error. A few to keep in mind are:

Report Generation

Data Entry and Retrieval

Data Validation

Notification and Alerts

File Management

User Onboarding and Offboarding

Invoice Processing

Service Desk Operations

Inventory Management

Data Migration

[icedq-toranainc]

Data Testing Automation Tool - iceDQ

Discover the best data testing automation tools for assuring data validity and reliability. Uplift your testing strategy with cutting-edge data validation tools. Gain a deeper understanding of the data testing concept and achieve data quality with our innovative solutions. Read more here - https://bit.ly/4aYWcat

[dreamingmoonlight]

Heart of the Memverse, Veins of Order.

TASK M4NAGER!

(…name is a wip. Read its lore below the cut.)

Task M4nager came about from the ambitions of two differing entities. The conquest for Order and an unchanging world, coupled with the need for validation, the want to be acknowledged for SOMETHING by both their peers and their lovers.

But Four got a lot more than what he was bargaining for, that’s for sure.

Task M4nager is, in essence, the worst parts of Ramiel combined with the personality of Order merged to make one being. A scorned and slighted dictator, rejected by everyone.

But it wasn’t always like this.

TM was originally created by Marina as a sort of automated admin panel, able to keep the Memverse up and running without the constant need for organic oversight. TM was in charge of almost everything from the nodes, to the Spire, to even the things that spawn within and so on.

It also acted as a security system, preventing malicious viruses from entering and damaging the code. And it was *supposed* to prevent the exact circumstances that resulted in Order’s manifestation.

But it didn’t do that, did it? This failure in logic resulted in TM completely crashing and becoming basically inoperable.

You would think this would be a good thing for Order, but no actually. Despite its overriding of the system, TM was still above it in the hierarchy. And if TM hasn’t operated in a while, the Memverse’s code will start to rot and tear itself apart. The solution to this plight? The consciousness of a living being. With that, there would be no error since TM is now, well, alive.

The MV however, wasn’t open to the public yet. So Order couldn’t just pluck a random sanatized octo or something for it. But there was….a few beta testers.

Eight/Hephaeus, Acht, Pearl and…

Ramiel. Agent 4.

Out of all the potential choices, Ramiel was the most mentally malleable. See, over the past few months, he had been feeling more and more overshadowed. I mean, how could he not? Artemisa, Hephaeus, and Neo 3 had all basically saved the entire world at one point in their lives. What had Ram even done compared to that? Save a stupid glorified catfish? Hell, he didn’t even save Callie, MARIE was the one to shoot those shades off and bring her to her senses. He felt so….inadequate compared to everyone else. And it ate away at his ego, badly.

Because the MV kept tabs on its users mental states at all times, Order knew this all.

One day while Ram was finishing up recording his combat data for use in the Parallel Canons, Order came to him with a proposition.

That if he joined its cause, he would have everything he ever wanted. Recognition…

Ramiel, not in the best mental headspace, and not really knowing what he was getting himself into exactly, took it up on its offer.

Ram proceeded to have his little squid soul ripped from his physical body and transported into the Memverse, where it was planted into TM.

And thus, Task M4nager was born.

That’s about it.

Thanks if you actually took the time to read all this!

[not-terezi-pyrope]

Ok. It's pretty clear you are more welcoming of AI, and it does have enough merits to not be given a knee jerk reaction outright.

And how the current anti-ai stealing programs could be misused.

But isn't so much of the models built on stolen art? That is one of the big thing keeping me from freely enjoying it.

The stolen art is a thing that needs to be addressed.

Though i agree that the ways that such addressing are being done in are not ideal. Counterproductive even.

I could make a quip here and be like "stolen art??? But the art is all still there, and it looks fine to me!" And that would be a salient point about the silliness of digital theft as a concept, but I know that wouldn't actually address your point because what you're actually talking about is art appropriation by generative AI models.

But the thing is that generative AI models don't really do that, either. They train on publicly posted images and derive a sort of metadata - more specifically, they build a feature space mapping out different visual concepts together with text that refers to them. This is then used at the generative stage in order to produce new images based on the denoising predictions of that abstract feature model. No output is created that hasn't gone through that multi-stage level of abstraction from the training data, and none of the original training images are directly used at all.

Due to various flaws in the process, you can sometimes get a model to output images extremely similar to particular training images, and it is also possible to get a model to pastiche a particular artist's work or style, but this is something that humans can also do and is a problem with the individual image that has been created, rather than the process in general.

Training an AI model is pretty clearly fair use, because you're not even really re-using the training images - you're deriving metadata that describes them, and using them to build new images. This is far more comparable to the process by which human artists learn concepts than the weird sort of "theft collage" that people seem to be convinced is going on. In many cases, the much larger training corpus of generative AI models means that an output will be far more abstracted from any identifiable source data (source data in fact is usually not identifiable) than a human being drawing from a reference, something we all agree is perfectly fine!

The only difference is that the AI process is happening in a computer with tangible data, and is therefore quantifiable. This seems to convince people that it is in some way more ontologically derivative than any other artistic process, because computers are assumed to be copying whereas the human brain can impart its own mystical juju of originality.

I'm a materialist and think this is very silly. The valid concerns around AI are to do with how society is unprepared for increased automation, but that's an entirely different conversation from the art theft one, and the latter actively distracts from the former. The complete refusal from some people to even engage with AI's existence out of disgust also makes it harder to solve the real problem around its implementation.

This sucks, because for a lot of people it's not really about copyright or intellectual property anyway. It's about that automation threat, and a sort of human condition anxiety about being supplanted and replaced by automation. That's a whole mess of emotions and genuine labour concerns that we need to work through and break down and resolve, but reactionary egg-throwing at all things related to machine learning is counterproductive to that, as is reading out legal mantras paraphrasing megacorps looking to expand copyright law to over shit like "art style".

I've spoken about this more elsewhere if you look at my blog's AI tag.

[stolentrekblr]

Some FAQs

"I feel compelled to tell you I am pleased/angry/don't care about this!!!" I am not telling anyone how they should feel about this. While my blog title is a touch incendiary, I am tracking down the posts I find in the wild and tracing them back to their original poster. It bugs me when screenshots get reuploaded here when the original posts still exist, so I'm doing my best to track them down for you. I also wanted other people to know when their posts/art/edits/words officially escaped containment. While I'm personally irked by the behavior of taking without consent and/or credit, that doesn't mean you have to be. Your response is valid :)

"Why only Star Trek?" Focusing on Star Trek alone is already a massive undertaking. If I could do more, I might, but I am most active in the Star Trek Tumblr sphere and more capable of identifying and tracking down the original post.

"Can I send you something I found/my own post that was reuploaded?" Please do! I am but one person with a questionable attention span, and this is an ambitious undertaking. Tumblr may be the incubator of the Internet, but its search function makes finding things challenging. There is no way to automate this process that I know of.

"What's your issue with this particular Data page?" Initially, I didn't have a problem with this page. My Facebook friend had sent me a couple memes from it, so I liked the page and moved on. I assumed the page runner was just another Trekkie who made memes and reposted art. As time passed, I noticed that many of the memes that lacked credit were coming from Tumblr and from mutuals who had no idea their words/edits/art had migrated off the platform. I mentioned to a couple artists that their work had been reposted and none of them had any idea until I'd mentioned it. I noticed the page was uploading peoples' edits without credit and taking captions verbatim, and that bothered me personally. Two of my posts were lifted in a row, and I had made a couple posts on my main ( @thresholdbb ) about it. It eventually hit a point that I decided this endeavor needed its own dedicated space.

Maybe it's because I spent my entire professional career in education, repeatedly citing all of my sources and teaching students that plagiarism is wrong. Maybe it's because consent in all spaces is vitally important. Maybe it's because the page runner repeatedly solicits money via subscribers, not to mention the "Gift" button that appears in the corner of every stolen picture. It seems disingenuous to present content as your own and also profit from it. On some level, I think the page runner knows what they're doing is at the very least morally questionable/dishonest/wrong, since they do not like or reblog any of the posts they re-upload to their page. (Believe me, I spent a long time trying to track them down before starting this blog.) Far as I can tell, they do not make original posts here, but I cannot confirm this. They make a few original posts on their Facebook pages (I think there's something like 7 that all have the same MO), but they are mostly selfies soliciting money. Like do what you need to do to support your family or whatever, but stealing from people in this way is not cool IMHO.

While it is the nature of meme culture to spread them around without credit, these posts are regularly being taken from a community in which I actively participate.

"Why would they watermark my post?" From what I can gather, straight up screenshots can get nuked because they go against some term of service, but I'm not a super active poster on Facebook and cannot confirm.

"What's your goal with all this?"

Awareness - now you know if a post has broken containment, if your art has been reposted, if your edit has gone uncredited, and where the original post is so you can reblog and add your own tags for OP to read. I'll often see a post in the wild and want to add my comments on my own blog but then can't find it, so I'm doing that legwork as much as I can for the tumblr community

"What if my blog has a do not repost disclaimer on it?"

It seems reposters don't particularly care, but I do. Even when art is reposted with the username/link/credit, the two can quickly become separated if your work doesn't have a watermark because of how some people tend to repost. Let me know you have a disclaimer and I'll add it to the repost report. If you have merch or a tip jar associated with your work, let me know and I'll add that too.

"I'm concerned about Meta's AI"

You and me both. I'm not wild about the fact that tumblr users have no say in what happens to their words, art, and images on another platform. Here they at least gave us the illusion of choice that we could opt out of LLM training, but that disappears once it migrates to Facebook and other social media platforms. People's art being fed into these algorithms without their consent is a concerning trend

"Can I reblog the post and delete your screenshot from it?" Please do! Let the original post be free! In fact, I encourage you to get rid of my reblog completely.

"Why are the posts delayed?"

This page runs on a queue system because I'm not allowing this pursuit to take up my time and mental space every day

"What's your Facebook name?" Must really suck when someone is anonymously taking screenshots of your posts, uploading them somewhere else, and you don't have a say about any of it. On that note, what's your Tumblr name? Mine is @thresholdbb :)

Update: it's @/gjoshmatheny provided they don't change it. This information is provided for blocking purposes only, not to engage with or harass them. Don't feed the trolls

"Why not make your own monetized page?"

I don't want to. I want to post, connect, and nerd out about Star Trek, not profit from my incessant posting. I could and might have moderate success, but it's a lot harder when the posts are original and haven't been vetted by another user base before reposting. I like the Ferengi, but I don't want to emulate them. Besides, even the Ferengi followed the Rules of Acquisition. As a side note, there is already questionable legality over profiting from a copyrighted franchise such as Star Trek, but I am not a lawyer; I'm just some brainrotted tumblr user

"What does the rest of the tumblr trek community think?"

I'm glad you asked! I've compiled reactions here

Also as a side note, reposters sometimes take uncredited memes and images from Tumblrs that do have monetized FB pages/tip jars that post all original content

Overall, the Trek community has a lot of good will, but in my experience that typically comes with a strong sense of justice. I'm just out here spreading the word

[whompthatsucker1981]

real actual nonhostile question with a preamble: i think a lot of artists consider NN-generated images as an existential threat to their ability to use art as a tool to survive under capitalism, and it's frequently kind of disheartening to think about what this is going to do to artists who rely on commissions / freelance storyboarding / etc. i don't really care whether or not nn-generated images are "true art" because like, that's not really important or worth pursuing as a philosophical question, but i also don't understand how (under capitalism) the rise of it is anything except a bleak portent for the future of artists

thanks for asking! i feel like it's good addressing the idea of the existential threat, the fears and feelings that artists have as to being replaced are real, but personally i am cynical as to the extent that people make it out to be a threat. and also i wanna say my piece in defense of discussions about art and meaning.

the threat of automation, and implementation of technologies that make certain jobs obsolete is not something new at all in labor history and in art labor history. industrial printing, stock photography, art assets, cgi, digital art programs, etc, are all technologies that have cut down on the number of art jobs that weren't something you could cut corners and labor off at one point. so why do neural networks feel like more of a threat? one thing is that they do what the metaphorical "make an image" button that has been used countless times in arguments on digital art programs does, so if the fake button that was made up to win an argument on the validity of digital art exists, then what will become of digital art? so people panic.

but i think that we need to be realistic as to what neural net image generation does. no matter how insanely huge the data pool they pull from is, the medium is, in the simplest terms, limited as to the arrangement of pixels that are statistically likely to be together given certain keywords, and we only recognize the output as symbols because of pattern recognition. a neural net doesn't know about gestalt, visual appeal, continuity, form, composition, etc. there are whole areas of the art industry that ai art serves especially badly, like sequential arts, scientific illustration, drafting, graphic design, etc. and regardless, neural nets are tools. they need human oversight to work, and to deal with the products generated. and because of the medium's limitations and inherent jankiness, it's less work to hire a human professional to just do a full job than to try and wrangle a neural net.

as to the areas of the art industry that are at risk of losing job opportunities to ai like freelance illustration and concept art, they are seen as replaceable to an industry that already overworks, underpays, and treats them as disposable. with or without ai, artists work in precarized conditions without protections of organized labor, even moreso in case of freelancers. the fault is not of ai in itself, but in how it's yielded as a tool by capital to threaten workers. the current entertainment industry strikes are in part because of this, and if the new wga contract says anything, it's that a favorable outcome is possible. pressure capital to let go of the tools and question everyone who proposes increased copyright enforcement as the solution. intellectual property serves capital and not the working artist.

however, automation and ai implementation is not unique to the art industry. service jobs, manufacturing workers and many others are also at risk at losing out jobs to further automation due to capital's interest in maximizing profits at the cost of human lives, but you don't see as much online outrage because they are seen as unskilled and uncreative. the artist is seen as having a prestige position in society, if creativity is what makes us human, the artist symbolizes this belief - so if automation comes for the artist then people feel like all is lost. but art is an industry like any other and artists are not of more intrinsic value than any manual laborer. the prestige position of artist also makes artists act against class interest by cooperating with corporations and promoting ip law (which is a bad thing. take the shitshow of the music industry for example), and artists feel owed upward social mobility for the perceived merits of creativity and artistic genius.

as an artist and a marxist i say we need to exercise thinking about art, meaning and the role of the artist. the average prompt writer churning out big titty thomas kinkade paintings posting on twitter on how human made art will become obsolete doesnt know how to think about art. art isn't about making pretty pictures, but is about communication. the average fanartist underselling their work doesn't know that either. discussions on art and meaning may look circular and frustrating if you come in bad faith, but it's what exercises critical thinking and nuance.

[stuarttechnologybob]

What does Automation Testing software do?

Automation Testing Services

Automation Testing and its software is a tool and useful resource that helps to test applications automatically without any major considerations to look into while testing. Instead of having testers manually check every feature or function, automation tools run pre-written test scripts to check if the software works as expected. These tools can simulate user actions, test various inputs, and quickly and accurately check the software's behavior.

The main goal of automation test software is to save time, reduce human error, and increase testing coverage. It is beneficial when you must run the same tests many times, like regression testing or continuous integration setups.

Key Functions of Automation Testing Software -

Automation testing software performs several tasks that help ensure software quality. It checks if the application meets business requirements, validates data processing, tests user interfaces, and monitors performance under different conditions.

These tools can work across multiple browsers, devices, and operating systems. They help catch bugs early in the development process, reducing the cost and time needed to fix them later.

Many automation tools also integrate with other systems like CI/CD pipelines, test management platforms, and reporting dashboards—making the whole testing and development process smoother.

Benefits of Using Automation Testing Software -

Automation test software helps companies speed up testing, increase accuracy, and launch products faster. It reduces the need for repetitive manual testing, freeing testers to focus on more complex tasks.

The software runs tests 24/7 if needed, offers detailed test reports, and allows quick feedback to developers. It also supports better collaboration between QA and development teams, helping improve overall product quality.

While automation helps a lot, it doesn't fully replace manual testing. QA professionals still need to plan tests, review results, and test complex scenarios that automation can't handle, as they both are essential for the process. Automation Test is best for repetitive and everyday tasks like checking login pages, payment forms, or user dashboards and analytics. It's also helpful in regression testing — where old features must be retested after  certain updates or common system upgrades.

Automation Testing software is a must-have tool and essential for modern software development operations as it gives completely transparent and reliable results if opting towards it as it saves time and the efforts of checking manually. It brings speed, reliability, and efficiency to the testing process. Trusted companies like Suma Soft, IBM, Cyntexa, and Cignex offer advanced automation testing solutions that support fast delivery, better performance, and improved software quality for businesses of all sizes.

[spidereggs888]

Miguel’s new secretary ooh-la-la

(lol /j 💀)

Miguel O’Hara & y/n, any gender or non gender. Very casual writing style. TW Dark humor, dangerous situations, 18+. Y/n are sorta attracted to Miguel (why else would you be here?) but he doesn’t know you lol

This is a loooong read so make sure you have time or something. Also, there’s an illustration in the middle of the chapter! Enjoy

≋≋≋≋≋≋≋≋≋≋≋≋

MIGUEL & YOU

ACT 1 | ALGORITHMIC LOTTERY

It's the year 2110.

You are maneuvering through traffic in a sputtery fashion, the lifter problem in your engine getting so bad it almost sounds like you got rocks under the hood. The podcast is going on about alligators in Nueva York sewers.

“Couldn’t be more wrong,” you mumble, “there’s CROCODILES in the sewers, not alligators.”

You aren’t looking forward to this interview. How the heck did you manage an audition for office secretary to the CEO of Alchemax?!

“I don’t know,” you say aloud to your other self, “but if I get the job, Imma upgrade to a better ride than this heap of Maglev shit…”

But there’s other bitches who want this position. Two of them you are aware of: Syd and Brody. Syd is a real suck up who will say any damn thing to get the position. She out-groveled you and got the lead PR accounting job you wanted. Suck-up Syd is what you call her around your friends. Brody on the other hand is opposite; he thinks he can strong-arm his way into anything and he pretty much has. He’s kicked people down, screwed people over, and there’s a rumor he filed a sexual harassment charge on his friend Ashton just to get the promotion before Ashton could.

These two skanks are gonna be tricky, but that’s the least of why you loathe this whole thing. You also heard that Miguel O’Hara is a hard ass. When he came into power a few years ago, he immediately fired the former secretary for talking about his father in a positive light. Then he proceeded to chew and spit out people who ever had the misfortune of being in that job position.

“Or maybe they just cut their losses after raking in half a billion,” your friend Speshall guessed the last time you seen her, “they prolly couldn’t take the heat for that long so they waited until they were set for life then said something stupid on purpose to get him to let them go. What a retirement plan! To work for the sexiest man of the year then have him berate you on your way out!”

She was always like this.

Anyway, now your car is not being validated in the automated parking center.

“What the HELL?!”

“Sorry, your credit has been declined.”

“Oh fuck me-“

You fumble your lanyard of data sticks. You are looking for the green one, which has a small amount of credit you procured from test playing phone games. You lean out of your car window to bring the green stick drive near the wireless reader.

“Sorry, we cannot accept credit from online gambling. Please use another method of payment.”

“Oh fuck you!”

≋ ≋ ≋ ≋

Now you are walking. You had to park where they don’t give a shit about where your money is from. Alchemax is trying to create a good precedent by not accepting dirty money, but Alchemax, as far as you know, does dirtier stuff for pay. Why the hell is “gambling money” any different?!

Scowling so hard, you almost didn’t notice there’s some douchebag trying to walk close behind you. He probably saw the lanyard of data sticks around your neck, so you fluff your scarf around until they are covered.

“I don’t have any money, muh guy” you say in your heaviest Nueva York accent along with this generations lingo.

“Oh I’m not afta you. I was tryna tell ya there’s this otha weirdo following ya. I’m tryna group up here.”

You know better than to look back. That’s what this fucko wants you to do. He’s probably a flasher, so you walk into traffic.

“Hey that’s dangerous, yo!”

You don’t listen. Cars flying past is not as scary as going up to see the freakin CEO of Alchemax.

No cars hit you, so now you have to face reality. You walk into the Alchemax Business Bureau building (one of hundreds), and wave your ID at the receptionist in the lobby. The receptionist is preoccupied with a lady who has one hand on her hip and the other holding out a holo watch. It’s projecting a screen with a giant hourglass animation flipping over and over.

“I don’t know why it’s so hard to get a damn cup of coffee around here, I just don’t!”

“C’mon it’s not necessary to bring security here, ma’am.”

He remains standing behind his desk and grimaces at you. You really need to get him to validate your ID so you won’t be stopped by security, so you pull up your phone and say to the woman, “you want some coffee coupons for Dunkin Donuts?”

“What?”

You open your savings app and hastily air-swipe several coupons to her holo device like someone flicking bills at a stripper. She stops to look at them.

“A regular frap for half off? Oh woooow, how- will they really honor this?” She asks.

“Yeah! It’s good for two more days, so you may wanna hurry over to the kiosk at the west end.”

“Really?”

“They sell all brands of coffee, they’ll honor it.”

“Well, nevermind, then,” she says curtly to the receptionist as she turns her shoulder away, “Didn’t want hours-old coffee anyway.”

She turns on her fancy heel and trots away. You grin stupidly at the receptionist who rolls his eyes and snatches your ID card from you. He swipes it near his card reader then flicks it back without a word.

After a nod, you swiftly leave down the lobby to the elevator area. You round the corner and see an open elevator closing. It's the only one since the other two are under construction. You rush forward as fast as your legs will allow.

"Wait wait WAIT WAIT!"

The doors are closing and you see the face of Suck-up Syd with her smoky eyes and faux fur capelet. She smiles and does nothing as the doors close.

"Shocking typical," you grumble. But you know where the other elevator is. You take off to the other end of the building for the second set of elevators.

You make it onto the elevator with two other people, some white chick and an Indian dude. The lady sees your pass.

"Going for the secretary job?" She asks.

"Yeah."

“Me too. If I don’t get this, I’m going to jump from this building,” the lady jokes.

“If I get this, I WILL jump from this building,” you add.

“Either way, it's gonna be job security for the custodian department,” the Indian guy says. All three of you chuckle politely.

The elevator lets more people in. You check your phone. You are fucking late by 20 minutes, but so is the lady who wants this job or else. You assume it would have taken a while anyway, since there was about 15 people going in for this very same job. Could it be you?! Could you land this job?! What if your mom was wrong?! And what if O’Hara says yes? What if you are set for life?

The final floor of this elevator is reached. You wobble on your way out. The lady doesn’t move.

“Actually, I can’t do this. I’m going home.”

The elevator doors close and she goes back down. You hear a faint byeeeeeeeeeee as the elevator descends to lower levels. You pay no heed and follow the Indian man into the massive hall.

There’s already chaos. One guy is being escorted out of the lobby by his shirt collar, and he's spouting obscenities. Some lady had dropped all her paperwork and she’s too numb to pick it up again. Two ladies near her are sarcastically wishing each other luck, one of them is Suck-up Syd. She looks 10x more desperate today with her tight-fitting outfit and belt buckle the size of a plate. Her overly fake smile gives you no esteem or hope. You almost sit but realize there’s barf on the chair.

Okay, surely everyone is overreacting in here.

“Man I’m not scared at all. There’s a trick to facing down Alpha males,” says a guy who you didn’t ask.

“Ah, cool.” you say through a grin. It’s Brody. You don’t even have to see him to know he’s there with his overwhelming presence of snobbery.

“See, as a Sigma male,” he continues, leaning on the back of the barf chair to talk to you, “I don’t adhere to the Alpha’s orders. That’s how the pack survives! One guy is an outlier so like if the Alpha fails in his role as leader, the Sigma will show by example and the rest of the females and Betas will follow him-“

“BRODY!”

You and Brody see Ashton in the doorway you came from. Ashton beelines across the room with his briefcase raised high. He brings it down on Brody with a loud clunk and they grapple and exchange blows. You go ahead and sit down perfectly still.

"Oh my GOD!" Suck-up Syd muses. She only sees this as two less competitors. You wince as the men start yelling obscenities at each other in their struggle. The guards who took out the last guy come back in and see this happening and they both huff angrily.

"Next!"

"Ah, that's me!" Syd says, “you guys are welcome to leave, I probably got this in the bag.”

She gets up and thrusts her capelet onto the lobby assistant.

.˳˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱ⋅.˳ ˳.⋅ॱ˙˙ॱᐧ.˳˳.

Four hours pass. Brody and Ashton were escorted from the building, those bozos didn’t even get an interview, but it was funny watching Brody get dragged down to hell by a demon he wronged.

Suck-up Syd walked out in tears and a forced smile. You felt bad for making fun of her in the past. She’s just kinda desperate and a little pathetic. You assume groveling doesn't work on the boss.

Other people came and went swiftly. The cheerful Indian man from earlier left looking surprised at his failure. The lady who dropped all her crap earlier apparently already had an interview and was reeling from her bad luck. You understand their disappointment since being chosen for this position was like winning the lottery, except you don't know if you won or not.

“Next!”

Your stomach twists but you refuse to be like them. This is just a job. You’ll be answering phones, emails, and possibly even mailing some dry cleaning. No big fuckin deal.

You thank the lobby assistant but she ignores you and walks away. She is just doing her job. She looks very tired of everyone else’s shit and is probably glad it's over. You walk to the elevator where the second to last person is taking baby-steps, talking on his phone with someone nursing his wounded pride. That could be you in a minute.

I'm probably not gonna get it either, you think, but I'm going down with some dignity.

You work yourself up as you step into yet another elevator, this one glass paneled. You stare across Nueva York as you ascend, contemplating your future. So what if you don't make it? You will simply fall back to your job and go about your life. Your mom will say she's right about the invitation being a fluke. You will go back to paying off debts and supplementing your food budget by testing mobile phone games during work hours and before you go to sleep. You see your own reflection, no longer as young as you used to be, and you sigh.

The glass doors open behind you. You walk through another set of foggy glass doors. Despite your self pep talk, you are still not looking forward to this. You've seen pictures of Miguel O'Hara before; over 6 feet tall, wide shoulders that could support an ox yoke, and a presence so large one would think he could go toe to toe with Godzilla. How will the interview go? You imagine fire. You expect a demon sitting behind a black marble desk in the darkness, a horrendous mob boss wearing Scarface attire, spitting fiery facts and passing cruel judgment, his horns ascending at the heavens with searing indifference and contempt for mercy. You expect a fax machine in the corner that will print out your death.

This is not what you see.

There he is, in this meager temp office sitting behind a tiny desk covered in empty water bottles. His shoulders are wider than the desk, but he's scrunching them in to seem normal. He's wearing a regular dress shirt, no tie. No fancy jewelry either, just some off-brand oversized watch on his left wrist. He looks disappointed already, but not at you. He’s squinting down at some of the tiny desks’ interactive holo-projections. You see your name on one of the files he’s peering at through comically large anti glare glasses.

You don’t sit. You are too stressed. He hasn’t noticed you. He picks up one of the water bottles and carefully opens it with his monster hands. They look travel-sized compared to him. He sips it and notices you.

“Hello!” You greet.

He finishes it in two gulps and sets it down slowly, as to not disturb the other bottles.

“Okay I don’t have a lot of time left, so let’s cut through here… you work for the guys in the PR department-“

“Ah yeah, they are a very friendly bunch down there! That is until you get to know them!” You blurt out. He looks up at you with tired eyes and swipes through the files without looking at them.

“Says here you were demoted from vice head PR accounting a while back, but you attached a note saying you have an alibi? Let’s hear it.”

“Uhhh.”

“C’mon I don’t have all day.”

“There was a payment discrepancy, uh, I was given a raise but I noticed my boss didn’t update it for a whole month. He was on vacation and wasn't answering my calls, so... since he left the finances to me I updated it myself… And I got into trouble BUT it was technically not embezzlement, so I was given an ultimatum to either move to a lower department or get fired, so-“

“Self-reliant. Got it. There's a note from your current department head saying she's been notified anonymously that you've been paying for Alchemax home services with gambling money, what do you have to say about that?"

"I- that is a th- thing with SoloGameMedia, ah, they are a parent company to a gambling franchise, therefore every transaction from them is registered as gambling profit- but I test games with- from them directly! It's a side hustle- thing, I- that, I DO NOT playtest games during work hours! Only on-"

"Why do you think I should hire you?”

You are caught off guard by the most basic interview question.

“Hhhhhh WELL… because you need a secretary now?”

He’s already looking back down at the files again. You can see NYPD files, apparently he’s now looking at your small criminal record. You also notice his shirt is unbuttoned on the top. For curiosity's sake, you discreetly raise up on your toes to see down his cleavage. It's deeper than you expected. One mighty flex and that shirt will send buttons flying everywhere. He looks back up as you quickly drop back down on your heels.

“Yeah. Mmm. Ok. So you are way in over your head in college and credit debt, you have been gambling as a means to get by- really don’t care about that, and you did not dispute your boss's ultimatum when you had the chance."

"Wait, what?"

"Four years ago, when your boss gave you the ultimatum to get demoted or get fired. His proposal was ILLEGAL."

Your gut twists.

"That- that was illegal?!"

"You had six months to report him and you didn't. Why?"

"Be- because I just thought he was being fair, I-"

"I'm sorry, but you got screwed."

He looks sincere behind those nerdy lenses with his pout lips. You really want to throw something right now.

“I… oh…”

"Look, the most I can do is re-open your case," he says as he pushes his glasses back up his nose bridge, "You might get a small settlement out of it, but even that isn't guaranteed."

"So... I'm not getting the job?"

"How do you expect to get hired with such an unexceptional history of white collar crime and a meek attitude that's gotten you nowhere? Hey Lyla? Is this all we have?”

An AI assistant pops up from the interactive desk.

“This is the last one, sir.”

“Okay, cool. Look I’m sure you’re actually great at your job, but I have places to be-“

“Wha- well so do I!”

“Uh huh, nice talking to you,“ he scoots his chair back and hits his knee on the tiny desk, sending empty bottles scattering all over the room. He cringes.

“Well if I’m so unexceptional, why was I accepted for an interview?!”

“I’m gonna guess because of some algorithmic lottery? Probably to do with the amount of experience you have in your department, I dunno,” He guesses as he attempts to gather the bottles by sweeping them under the desk with his shoes, “If you wanna blame someone for the short interview time, thank those other time-wasters who came before you. I gotta go.”

“Now WAIT a… minute”

He stands up from his tiny desk as you say that. He’s towering over you with a tired expression and loose strands of hair about his face.

“What?” He asks, all friendliness gone.

“Can we continue this interview at a different time? You obviously haven’t found a secretary you want, but you still need one, right?! I could be the one you need even if I’m not the one you want!”

It takes every inch of your being to not slap yourself on the forehead. He is scrunching his nose, squinting down at you with mild contempt. You get a good look at his sharp, broad temples and cheekbones, complete with a hardened jaw. His thick dark lips are pulled to one side in annoyance and are accentuated with a pair of jowls that look poised to bite at any time like some kind of deep sea angler fish. His eyes are very dark. They almost look red…

His expression goes blank as he sighs.

“Okay.”

“Great! Ah, when?!”

“Tomorrow, same time.”

“Grabsolutely- Great- fantastic! I won’t let you down!”

“Uh huh.”

He leaves. You assume you should leave too. You awkwardly follow him. He grabs his coat off a nearby chair, and you get a brief display of his amazing body shape as he flips the coat over his shoulders. You avert your attention to the floor, already feeling disrespectful after having looked down his shirt. Now you are both in the elevator. You are doing all in your power not to pass out over your small lucky break.

O’Hara pretends you aren’t there as he looks at his phone and chats with his AI assistant.

“Lyla, push the evening meeting to tomorrow as well, except an hour earlier.”

“Roger that!”

“I need coffee.”

“Roger that also!”

“Please, PLEASE tell them to not add cream. I really hate when they do that.”

You wanna ask him if he’s lactose intolerant but you already pushed your luck today.

Apparently he is exiting the building in the same way you are going, but he's booking it with long ass strides and it's difficult to keep up. You both end up on the same elevator again, this time with other people. He awkwardly acknowledges you with a blank smirk and brow raise, then promptly looks back down at his phone. Everyone else is trying not to bother him.

"Hello, Mister O'Hara, I didn't realize you were here! Hi!" says a lady who is shooting her shot at a social connection (she totally knew he was there.)

"Ah, hey. Miss...?"

"Stacy Brian! We met at the Student Festival earlier this year."

"Oh, right, right! Miss Brian, how are you?"

"Doing well! I didn’t know you wore glasses!"

"Oh- I totally forgot these were on my face," he admits while taking them off and trying to find a place to stash them, "I actually don’t wear glasses, it's- um, I have issues with bright computer screens."

You discreetly watch him in the elevator wall reflection as he quickly swaps the lenses out for a pair of red sunglasses. The elevator doors open and everyone flows out into the foyer. You realize you never got his card.

"Hey one more thing, sir!" You call out to him.

"What?"

"I don't have your number! What if we need to reschedule?!"

"Ah, right. Get your phone out, please."

He turns back around and searches for something on his phone. With a swift flick of his hand, he air drops his ID and number to your device.

"Thank you!"

"¡De nada!"

He swiftly leaves through the front doors and trots down the steps. You watch this huge marvel of nature hail a cab. The automated transporter car is so small that he has to bring his shoulders in tight to fit through the doorway. This seems to have more to do with him not wanting to snag his nice jacket.

A man of this position and wealth... hailing a cab? Must be in THAT much of a hurry. You look down at the data he sent you. His ID photo looks like they took his picture after pulling an all-nighter, and his half-hearted smile reveals his crooked teeth. But somehow he still looks great in an unconventional way.

•°《💀》°•

You drive home, feeling both anxious and also deflated. Miguel O'Hara was a mixed bag of what you expected. Speshall hyped him up as a sexy hunk of the year and Brody felt so intimidated that he went on an unwarranted Alpha Male rant, but the guy was so awkward with his tiny desk and water bottles and weird glasses, and he was whining to his AI helper about his coffee. He’s a large… finicky… lactose-intolerant nerd, but he's also got the moxy to move mountains. What’s more, now ya gotta think of what to say to him in the next interview. What could be expected of a guy like that? What if he cancels the meeting and your chance is lost forever?

Your car makes it home and you sit in it for a moment. Speshall left you a text asking about the interview.

Went weird, you text back.

"Welcome back, tenant 27," the AI apartment valet greets.

You open your car door and notice you've been parked over the grates again. You remember when you last dropped your phone in this spot, the fucking thing went right in between the grate holes and you couldn’t get it back for a week. You have the presence of mind to upload the latest bit of information (O'Hara's phone number) to your data cloud.

You walk through the parking garage. You know all the safe routes. It didn’t matter who you were, Nueva York was never safe at night.

You hear footsteps to your left but it’s just a couple of people walking together, a man and woman trying to huddle. The garage opening is just ahead. You go ahead and march out, not looking back.

You step out into the warm breeze of middle-class Nueva York. The wind is artificial, billowing from the hydro-electric plants that keeps this city running. It took you forever to get here, a lot of cheap-skating, white lies, and debt piling to maintain this life, but you are here! Unapologetic holo screens buzz near you as you walk, begging you to spend money as they light up the way to your apartment. There's no point in tapping their "no" buttons since that just wastes your time. The screens showcased brand-new cars, beautiful clothes, and radiant health. If you had more money, at least some of that could be yours. You hate that people roll around in all the wonderful things this world has to offer while you have to make do with decade old clothing and over-processed food. Where the hell is everyone getting it all from? When the hell will you get yours?

“Hey! Wanna buy a shared data cloud?!”

You are now being bothered by a salesman. You say nothing and keep walking. Even saying no opens more dialogue. He gives up but another comes at you.

“Wanna be a part of the elite task force that edits any and all articles about Thor?! It’s a paying job! $100 an hour!”

As dystopian as it sounds, $100 an hour won’t get you far in Nueva York, not in this era of quadrillionaires.

“Hey, I saw ya on da street earlier! Ya walked into traffic!”

You accidentally glance over at the familiar voice talking about the familiar subject. He’s got you. Your eyes are fixated on a creepypasta face, his irises flashing in a hypnotic pattern. This was way worse than the idea of the guy being just a flasher.

He’s a black market demon. The worst street hawker known to man.

You can’t remember much else besides him taking you by the hand and leading you away.

_________________________________________

Next: ACT 2 | BLACK MARKET DEMONS

[askagamedev]

Who (if anyone) picks up an auto error report when a game crashes? And does sending it (with screenshot or video) actually help?

That entirely depends on the team, the game, and the audience size. A 0.1% crash for a game with millions of players is still tens of thousands of crashes daily. Sending such reports generally helps (especially if you can add more context to what happened), but not always - in maintenance mode games, for example, there's often no one on the other end to read the report.

In large population live games like Call of Duty, there are automated systems that collect and parse the crash data, then generate reports. Because they have access to things like crash dumps and error logs, they can actually collate duplicate crashes/errors to see which issues are one off random occurrences, and which are affecting large numbers of players. These reports get sent to production, who then create the tasks to fix them, prioritize the tasks, and then assign them to the other dev team members for validation and fixing.

In smaller games the same kind of reports are generated and sent, but the more elaborate automated handling is reduced. The teams are smaller, which means their ability to handle live issues is also proportionately smaller. The producers generally prioritize the issues that are the worst offenders - common crashes and broken states - are must-fix, while other strange behavior or rare occurrences get ranked against the ongoing content update schedule.

The worst case scenario are games in (or approaching) maintenance mode. Skeleton crews basically mean that fixes of any kind are fairly uncommon. Any automated error reporting was built long ago and is likely still being collected, but there's probably no one on the team left to read the reports and interpret them.

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Frequent Questions: The FAQ

[jcmarchi]

Streamlining Data Validation: The Power of API Integration - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/streamlining-data-validation-the-power-of-api-integration-technology-org/

Streamlining Data Validation: The Power of API Integration - Technology Org

Data validation is a critical aspect of any data-driven organisation. Ensuring that the data you collect and use is accurate and reliable is essential for making informed decisions and maintaining the trust of your customers and stakeholders. The need for efficient and effective data validation methods, such as the LEI register, has never been greater in today’s digital landscape, where data is constantly flowing in from various sources. One powerful tool in this regard is API integration.

Data analysis – abstract artistic interpretation. Image credit: Conny Schneider via Unsplash, free license

Understanding Data Validation

Before delving into the benefits of API integration for data validation, let’s first understand what data validation is. Data validation is the process of checking data for accuracy and completeness. It involves verifying that the data you receive is correct, consistent, and adheres to predefined standards or rules. With proper data validation, organisations can avoid making decisions based on inaccurate or incomplete information, leading to costly mistakes and missed opportunities.

The Challenges of Manual Data Validation

Traditionally, data validation has been a manual and time-consuming process. Data analysts and IT professionals would spend hours manually reviewing and correcting data, which slowed down operations and introduced the risk of human errors. Additionally, in industries like finance, ensuring data accuracy often involves cross-referencing with external sources, such as LEI register, to verify the authenticity of entities and transactions.

The Role of APIs in Data Integration

APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, have emerged as game-changers in data validation. APIs are rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate and share data. They enable seamless integration between other systems, applications, and databases, making data validation more efficient and accurate.

Automated Data Validation

One key advantage of API integration for data validation is automation. With APIs, organisations can set up automated processes to validate incoming data in real time. For example, data collected from an external source can be automatically passed through a validation API that checks it against predefined criteria. Any data that doesn’t meet the specified standards can be flagged for further review or correction.

Enhanced Accuracy and Consistency

API integration also ensures greater accuracy and consistency in data validation. There is no room for human error since the validation rules are predefined and implemented through APIs. This means that data validation results are reliable and consistent, regardless of the volume of data being processed.

Efficiency and Time Savings

API integration streamlines the data validation, saving organisations significant time and resources. Manual data validation can be labour-intensive, requiring skilled personnel to review and correct data. With API integration, this process is automated, allowing employees to focus on more strategic tasks that require human expertise.

Scalability

As organisations grow and their data needs expand, scalability becomes crucial in data validation. API integration allows organisations to quickly scale their data validation processes to handle larger volumes of data without significant additional resources or infrastructure. This scalability is essential in today’s data-driven world, where data volumes can vary significantly from one day to the next.

Real-time Data Validation

In a rapidly changing business environment, real-time data validation is essential. With API integration, data can be validated when it enters the system, ensuring that decisions are based on the most up-to-date and accurate information. This real-time validation helps organisations react quickly to changing circumstances and make informed decisions on the spot.

Cost-Effective Solution

API integration for data validation is a cost-effective solution in the long run. While there may be initial setup and integration costs, the efficiency gains and reduced risk of errors result in significant cost savings over time. Organisations can also avoid the costs associated with manual data validation, such as hiring and training additional personnel.

Security and Compliance

Data security and compliance are paramount for organisations, especially when dealing with sensitive or regulated data. API integration allows organisations to implement robust security measures and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. APIs can be configured to encrypt data during transmission, authenticate users and systems, and provide audit trails for data validation processes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, API integration is a powerful tool for streamlining data validation processes in today’s data-driven world. It offers automation, enhanced accuracy, efficiency, scalability, real-time validation, cost-effectiveness, and robust security and compliance measures. By integrating APIs into their data validation workflows, organisations can ensure that the data they rely on for decision-making is accurate, reliable, and up-to-date. This helps them make more informed decisions and enhances their overall operational efficiency and competitiveness in the digital landscape. As data continues to play a pivotal role in business success, harnessing the power of API integration for data validation is an innovative and strategic move.

[smbhav]

Sales Tracker vs Sales Automation: What's Right for SMBs in 2025?

In today's digital economy, tracking sales activities has become more important than ever. Whether we’re at networking events or meeting customers, one question often comes up:

“Can we keep track of our sales team without making them feel monitored all the time?”

Our answer: “You are tracking activities, not people.”

In 2025, small FMCG businesses and emerging CPG brands need to track on-field sales. Writing retailer orders in notebooks was fine back in the day.

Sales Tracker vs Sales Enabler: What’s the Difference?

Sales Tracker: A tool to digitize and monitor sales activities in real time. It offers basic data but minimal insights.

Sales Enabler: An advanced solution that automates processes and uses real-time insights to provide detailed data on sales volume, outlet visits, performance trends, and more.

For example, the Sales Force Automation App goes beyond tracking. They analyze historical data to suggest better routes, product assortment, and provide actionable insights to improve performance.

Why Do SMBs Need a Sales Enabler in 2025?

Many small FMCG brands still rely on Excel sheets to track sales. While it works in the early stages, managing a business in today’s competitive market, where over 12 million retail outlets serve products from 30,000 brands, requires more advanced tools.

Here’s what a Sales Enabler can do for SMBs:

Validation of Outlet Visits: This is an essential feature that ensures every visit to a retailer is genuine. With geo-fencing, you can confirm each visit, while live tracking allows you to monitor the number of outlets visited, the average time spent at each outlet, and other key activities like leaves or meetings. This gives you a clear picture of your field team’s productivity throughout the day.

Smart Order Booking: For emerging businesses, smart order booking takes sales tracking to the next level by enabling faster and smarter order processing.

3. Automated Attendance Management: KRA-based attendance management system brings transparency and discipline to field operations. By implementing a KRA-based attendance policy, you can encourage salespeople to meet defined goals like total outlet visits or starting their beat on time.

Benefits of Sales Enablement Solutions for Growing Businesses

Improved Productivity: Sales enablement platforms ensure higher compliance and productivity by closely monitoring field activities.

Improved Market Penetration: Unlike basic sales trackers, sales enablement solutions provide in-depth insights into market penetration.

Better Sales Performance: By analyzing historical data, business owners and sales leaders can identify trends and patterns in consumer behavior, such as which products are in demand, when, and where.

Competitive Edge: Sales enablement solutions also enable growing businesses to stay ahead of competitors by tracking how their brand performs against others in the market.

Accurate Forecasting: A good sales enabler like the SFA App provides historical data comparisons, including year-on-year, month-on-month, and even three-month trends.