Data Mapping is sometimes defined as dotting the i's and crossing the t's.  We defined our needs, then we mapped these needs to features of the software, now we need to map the data elements of the software to the data the company needs to collect.

In a data map we check things like

• the size of an order number matches the size that the system can store
• The General Ledger Account number can be stored in the software package
• Inventory SKU's are stored properly.

We make sure that each identified business data element maps to a software data element.