Most of the world will be celebrating the New Year on Wednesday 1 January.

Yet, the adoption of 1 January as the official start of the New Year is a relatively recent phenomenon.  The British world only adopted this tradition in 1751.

While Western influence has meant that many cultures have adopted the Gregorian calendar in recent times, many cultures (India, Israel, and China to name a few) still celebrate a traditional New Year that does not fall on 1 January.

Cultural and regional differences can also have a massive impact on data quality initiatives.  Taking care to cater for regional differences is a critical success factor for organisations trying to manage data quality on a global scale.

Wherever you live, and whatever your calendar, have a great New Year.