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# Why Your Data Quality Degrades Over Time
- URL: https://blog.jestor.com/why-data-quality-degrades/
- Published: 2026-09-17T22:32:05.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-17T22:32:05.000Z
- Author: Bruno Bannach

The reason **why data quality degrades** is structural rather than behavioural. If the same information can be entered in two places, it eventually will be — and the two copies will disagree.

## How decay happens

Nobody decides to corrupt a dataset. It accumulates from reasonable individual actions.

- The same client entered separately on three records
- Values typed as text, so nothing can validate them
- Optional fields left blank and later assumed to be zero
- Connected records selected by ID, so the wrong one is picked

## Structural fixes

- **Relationships** — the client exists once and is referenced everywhere
- **Field types** — currency for money, date for deadlines, connected for relationships
- **Required fields** — so no record enters incomplete
- **Label fields** — so selection shows names rather than identifiers
- **Single select for status** — so a record cannot hold two states

## How to prevent it in Jestor

1. Build tables in **Jestor** for each core entity and connect them rather than copying values.
2. Choose field types deliberately — a formula cannot sum text.
3. Mark required anything the process cannot proceed without.
4. Set the label field on every related table so selection is readable.
5. Use single select for status and tags only for attributes a record can hold several of.

## Why choose Jestor for data integrity?

**Jestor** puts a relational database at the centre of the operation rather than bolting storage onto an interface, which is what makes entering data once and referencing it everywhere possible.

The recycle bin recovers records and fields deleted by accident, and the table history shows what changed and from which source — so decay can be diagnosed rather than merely regretted.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why does the same client appear twice?

Because the data was copied rather than connected. See [jestor.com](https://jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com).

### Why does my formula not calculate?

The source field is probably text rather than currency or number.

### Can I recover a deleted field?

Yes, from the recycle bin.

## Video Tutorial: Step by Step

Check out other practical tutorials on the Jestor YouTube channel.

## Get to know Jestor

With **Jestor**, you can automate workflows, connect teams, and build internal systems your way — all without code and powered by **AI**. Discover Jestor at [jestor.com](https://jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com) and see how to take your company's operations to a new level of efficiency and control.