In the modern world, data is the infrastructure beneath every interaction. From knowing where a boat is located in a marina yard to sending the right invoice to the right owner, good data quietly powers everything behind the scenes. But what happens when data is missing, outdated, or just plain wrong?

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Ask any operations manager and they’ll tell you: bad data doesn’t just break processes, it erodes trust. For Myxar, and for every organization relying on clean workflows and great service, the quality of your data is the foundation of your member experience. And when that foundation cracks, members feel it.

Members Notice Bad Data Even if You Don’t

We live in a world of instant expectations. If a member gets an alert for a service they didn’t request, if a boat isn’t where the system says it is, or if they have to re-enter information they’ve already provided, they notice. And often, they internalize those moments as a signal: I’m not important here.

That’s not a good place to continue a relationship.

According to a study by Gartner, organizations lose an average of $12.9 million annually due to poor data quality. While much of that loss is operational (duplicate records, billing errors, inefficient workflows), the hardest hit is member trust. No one likes being misnamed in an email, told their payment is late when it’s not, or asked to confirm something they’ve already clarified three times.

And with choice just a click away, these small moments of friction are enough to drive members elsewhere.

A Lesson from History: When Bad Data Leads to Bad Outcomes

Let’s look at some infamous examples of poor data quality and the real-world consequences.

NASA’s $125 Million Mistake
In 1999, NASA’s Mars Climate Orbiter was lost because one engineering team used metric units and another used imperial. A simple data mismatch led to the spacecraft disintegrating in Mars’ atmosphere. Price tag: $125 million.

The UK Post Office Scandal
Between 2000 and 2014, hundreds of UK sub-postmasters were falsely accused of theft due to a faulty IT system that showed missing funds. The root cause was incorrect transactional data. It ruined reputations and lives. The legal and financial fallout is still ongoing.

Target’s Predictive Shopping Fail
In a now-famous incident, Target’s data science team predicted a teenager’s pregnancy based on her shopping behavior and mailed her maternity coupons before her own father knew. While technically impressive, the lack of context and data sensitivity breached trust and privacy.

These examples may seem extreme, but they all share something: flawed or incomplete data leading to real damage. For everyday organizations, the harm may not make headlines, but it still causes churn, friction, and reputational drag.

Members Want to Feel Known, Not Tracked

There’s a fine line between efficiency and intrusion. When data is used well, it can create frictionless experiences: pre-filled forms, accurate notifications, personal service. But when it’s used poorly or is out of date, it quickly becomes noise or, worse, feels invasive.

A Salesforce report found that 76 percent of consumers expect companies to understand their needs and expectations. But only 34 percent feel companies actually do. That gap is where many organizations lose ground.

And it’s not just about personalization. It’s about respect. Members want to feel like you listen. That you remember. That they matter.

Bad data tells them the opposite.

The Silent Churn Problem: When Members Leave Without a Word

Not every unhappy member complains. In fact, most don’t.

A report by Esteban Kolsky found that only one in twenty-six unhappy customers actually voice their dissatisfaction. The rest? They quietly walk away. And when they do, the organization often has no idea why.

Poor data quality increases this risk. If someone’s name is wrong in the system, their membership status is inaccurate, or services are misaligned, the result is a member who feels invisible. And people who feel invisible don’t renew.

How Good Data Protects Member Loyalty

Good data does more than power your workflows. It’s a promise.

It says: We see you.
It says: You matter here.
It says: You can trust us.

At Myxar, we believe that operational excellence isn’t just about processes. It’s about people. The boats, the billing, the yard layout, the bookings—every touchpoint reflects the integrity of the data underneath.

And that integrity is what keeps your members coming back.

Practical Ways to Maintain Good Data

So how do you protect data quality in a fast-moving operation?

Here are a few best practices:

Validate at entry. Ensure required fields are complete and accurate the first time.
Automate consistency. Use workflows that reduce manual entry and enforce naming conventions.

Audit regularly. Set a cadence for reviewing member records, location data, and usage trends.

Empower members. Let members update their own profiles and preferences in real time.
Integrate systems. Avoid silos. Make sure data flows cleanly between departments and tools.

Good data isn't a one-time achievement. It's a living system that needs to be fed, checked, and respected. Like any relationship.

The Bottom Line

Data is the silent engine of every member experience. When it’s good, everything works better. When it’s not, it silently sabotages your efforts and your relationships.

Your members have options. They’re comparing not just services and prices but how they feel when they interact with you. Bad data makes them feel unimportant. And no matter how good your product is, if your members feel unimportant, they will leave.

At Myxar, we’re building infrastructure that makes it easy to get and keep your data right. So that your workflows run smoother. Your members feel seen. And your team stops fighting fires and starts building value.

Because when you get the data right, everything else follows.

Ready to see how Myxar can improve your member data experience? Visit our pricing page to learn more about our modular platform and how we help marinas, clubs, and communities thrive, one clean dataset at a time.