Tips to Avoid Demo Drama - Tip 18: Your own demo data is usually the best choice
Industry or special demo data can work if you have a perfect match between your customer’s expectations and purpose. However, data from customers can be tricky. You never know what you will get. Personally, I never ask for customer data. In my view, it must be a requirement from the customer, and you will also need one or more use cases that define what to do with the data. Be aware that getting customer data will almost certainly also mean extra data preparation time is needed.
Personally, I always prefer to use my demo data. Why? The content is very straightforward, and I know that it focuses on sales and is customer-related. I know this data very well and I can cover almost any demo situation with it. There is also a huge advantage to knowing your data: it gives you a lot of flexibility. You can switch direction at any time during your demo, and showcase things that were not originally planned—and as we have said before, this can often save you from demo disaster.
The bottom line is that best practice is to use diverse data that can cover many areas. Most importantly, it must be understandable to your audience.
