Features

Features

• How to be pessimistically optimistic about deep learning technology

  Deep learning tools are all the rage right now, with many people predicting big things. But one expert says the ultimate payoff -- while real -- is likely to be more modest.  Continue Reading

• Why physicists are a good fit for data science jobs

  With data scientists in short supply, physicists and other academic researchers from hard-science disciplines are increasingly finding places on data science teams -- and even leading big data analytics projects.  Continue Reading

• Public sector needs efficient data analytics infrastructure

  The public sector has been a big IT spender in recent years, but a lot of that investment went to on-premises big data infrastructure. It's time for an update, says one expert.  Continue Reading

• How one nonprofit embraced a more data-driven strategy

  Nonprofits don't generally have the resources of traditional enterprises, which can make implementing a big data analytics strategy difficult. But one group showed it's possible.  Continue Reading

• Machine learning platform minimized Brexit fallout for investors

  The Brexit vote caused an enormous shock to the world's financial systems and cost investors a lot of money. But a data-driven strategy and machine learning tools helped some avoid the risks.  Continue Reading

• Blockchain seeks to boost data transparency within analytics.

  The eyes of the digital world are on blockchain as businesses try to grasp its capabilities. Analytical transparency stands to benefit from this technology.  Continue Reading

• Embedded BI tools need to be put in their proper place

  Analyst Howard Dresner discusses the potential business value of embedding business intelligence software in business applications -- and what's limiting the technology's adoption.  Continue Reading

• Data scientists benefit when they pay attention to tools for big data

  Data science tools typically revolve around predictive modeling, machine learning and data visualization software. But they should also include back-end data pipeline technology to speed analytics.  Continue Reading

• For users, Hadoop SQL tools go hand in hand with big data framework

  SQL-on-Hadoop query engines are becoming a common companion of Hadoop in big data systems as IT managers look to ease programming for analytics applications and data integration jobs.  Continue Reading

• Clothing company benefits from speed of modern BI reporting tools

  One clothing manufacturer found out that today's BI reports can be produced with a minimum of ETL and other processes that have traditionally slowed down BI.  Continue Reading

• Embedded reporting, BI put analytics data in business users' hands

  Embedded BI software is helping organizations add value to applications and monetize their growing data stores, without requiring end users to turn to separate analytics tools.  Continue Reading

• Data science as a service provides instant access to analysts

  Data scientists are in high demand, but in such scarce supply that some companies outsource their data for analysis. DataScience Inc. CEO Ian Swanson explains how it works.  Continue Reading

• Smart BI software choices expand data analysis skills, staff

  When building an analytics infrastructure, it's important to choose software that allows you to expand the types of job candidates you can consider. The example of a healthcare insurer's analytics team shows why.  Continue Reading

• Businesses and colleges adapt to shortage of analytical skills

  Colleges are graduating more people with analytics skills every year, but still not enough to meet the demand. As a result, some businesses are finding other ways to get the skills they need.  Continue Reading

• Boston's new data chief explains how he plans to leverage CDO job

  The first person to take over the CDO role for the city of Boston is hoping to support existing teams to make government more effective by leveraging data and analytics.  Continue Reading

• BI pros share to-do items for creating data-driven companies

  Experienced business intelligence and analytics managers offer their thoughts on how to get started on instilling more data-driven management and decision-making processes in organizations.  Continue Reading

• Rover.com CTO works to unleash data-driven innovation

  Scott Porad, the lead technology executive at dogsitter matching service Rover.com, explains why it's important for companies operating in the highly competitive sharing economy to be driven by data.  Continue Reading

• SQL engines boost Hadoop query processing for big data users

  Organizations with big data environments are turning to SQL-on-Hadoop software to speed up analytical queries and data integration jobs -- and eliminate the need to program in MapReduce.  Continue Reading

• Experts advise on data science for business teambuilding

  When it comes to building a data science team, businesses should expect to find workers from a variety of backgrounds rather than holding out for a unicorn.  Continue Reading

• Machine learning applications look skyward for expanded use

  Using the cloud for machine learning might be the best way to get the technology off the ground in some organizations.  Continue Reading

• Machine learning tools pose educational challenges for users

  Big data technologies are giving machine learning methods a shot at wider adoption. But for analytics teams, the road to successful deployments involves new IT infrastructure -- and some schooling.  Continue Reading

• Tax software combines public and private cloud architecture

  Intuit sees private and public cloud as a dynamic analytics duo that can quickly scale systems, control computing power and test planned changes to its website.  Continue Reading

• Sky's the limit for cloud big data in online ads

  Capturing, storing and analyzing data in the cloud proves to be the best route for one online marketer.  Continue Reading

• Hudl uses Log analysis software to score points with customers

  To keep its systems running and its users happy, sports video streaming service Hudl uses log analytics software to help manage its 1,000 or so servers and streamline customer service operations.  Continue Reading

• Boston looks to location analysis to speed fire, EMT response

  A new city of Boston emergency response program uses location data to improve the safety of the public and emergency responders by pointing out potential hazards.  Continue Reading

• Text analysis tool helps Lenovo zero in on the customer

  At Lenovo, textual analysis software enables analysts and line-of-business workers to have a more informed dialog about customers and their ever-changing preferences.  Continue Reading

• Alteryx big data analytics platform stakes data-prep claim

  Data preparation for analytics is a huge concern for businesses, and the latest product from Alteryx takes aim at addressing this concern.  Continue Reading

• Traditional BI helps hospitals cope with shifting payment plans

  Hospitals are leveraging traditional BI systems to help them negotiate the shifting terrain around insurance payment programs.  Continue Reading

• Sellpoints sold on using Spark SQL for big data ETL jobs

  To help companies target ads to website users, Sellpoints Inc. relies on the Spark processing engine -- including its Spark SQL module -- to prepare online activity data for analysis.  Continue Reading

• Smart grid technology cuts out guesswork at Arizona utility

  Public utilities are increasingly turning to smart grids and advanced analytics techniques to help manage their operations. Here's how one power provider -- Arizona's Salt River Project -- scored big on analytics.  Continue Reading

• Open source not best bet for all business analytics projects

  Many enterprises today are building their business analytics programs around open source tools, but one software company took a different path.  Continue Reading

• Hurdles cited on selling benefits of business intelligence

  IT and business intelligence managers describe the biggest hurdles they face in trying to convince business executives of the benefits of using BI software to drive decision making.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based BI helped one company rely less on IT

  Cloud-based BI helped ServiceChannel rely less on IT for data management and reporting, which freed up analysts to make stronger use of the company's data.  Continue Reading

• BI self-service tools need middle ground on use, governance

  Deployments of self-service BI and data discovery tools need to be governed to keep things in order. But finding the right balance between user freedom and IT oversight isn't always easy.  Continue Reading

• How PayPal fights fraud with predictive data analysis

  PayPal is using advanced predictive data analysis to help protect its users from fraud and preserve the service's brand. Constant evolution is the key to PayPal's success.  Continue Reading

• How one group uses a data analysis tool to fight drought

  By analyzing new data sources, the group Sustainable Silicon Valley is looking for ways to lessen the long-term impact of the West Coast drought.  Continue Reading

• Businesses look at new data analytics methods for 2016

  With a focus on edging out their competition in 2016, businesses are looking at a variety of new approaches to advanced data analytics.  Continue Reading

• How a data-driven company was molded by asset protection

  A data-driven company tends to outperform its competitors, but the asset protection process rarely drives continued evolution of analytics capabilities. Grocery chain Weis Markets is the exception.  Continue Reading

• Hadoop BI effort gets more out of big data at Yellow Pages

  Hadoop data and traditional BI processes may seem worlds apart, but Yellow Pages Ltd. in Canada was able to successfully bridge the two and uncover new business insights in the process.  Continue Reading

• FullFunnel taps self-service analytics tools, ousts Excel

  Excel is still one of the most widely used BI tools, but marketing services firm FullFunnel found it limiting and switched to self-service analytics tools.  Continue Reading

• How BI development can support quick and nimble businesses

  In an excerpt from his book on BI development and delivery, author Greg Steffine explains why it's important to focus BI initiatives on enabling the business to respond quickly and nimbly to situations.  Continue Reading

• Need for speed in delivering BI capabilities, author says

  Organizational alignment and teams of BI evangelists who are hyper-responsive to user needs are key to improving business intelligence processes, according to author and BI manager Greg Steffine.  Continue Reading

• Top data analysis software and techniques stories of 2015

  As 2015 comes to an end, it's time to review some of the biggest developments and trends in the world of BI and big data, including how sports teams, hospitals and data-driven executives pushed ahead on analytics.  Continue Reading

• A look at SAP BusinessObjects BI suite

  SAP BusinessObjects BI platform provides users with self-service access to information to support the decision-making process. Find out what's different in version 4.1.  Continue Reading

• Insight into Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite

  Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite enables users to access information through interactive dashboards, search and mobile devices.  Continue Reading

• Exploring Microsoft Power BI SaaS analytics products

  Microsoft Power BI SaaS analytics lets users view their most critical data via a live dashboard, create interactive reports and access their data on the go.  Continue Reading

• End-user focus central to solid data visualization process

  BI teams often fail to deliver on the promise of data visualization applications, unless they combine effective visualization techniques with input from business users on what's really needed.  Continue Reading

• TIBCO Analytics targets data-driven users

  TIBCO Spotfire provides users with self-service analytics capabilities, while TIBCO Jaspersoft aims to enable developers to make faster decisions based on actionable data.  Continue Reading

• Shortage of data scientists, big data pros vexes IoT efforts

  There's an abundance of big data technologies that can support Internet of Things projects, but the pool of IT professionals with the advanced know-how to handle massive amounts of IoT data is limited.  Continue Reading

• Data storytelling, lauded for its potential, lags in practice

  Educators and experts tout data storytelling as a way to better engage business managers with data, but others caution about overcrowding visuals.  Continue Reading

• MicroStrategy 10 promotes self-service analytics

  The MicroStrategy 10 analytics and BI platform lets users tap into data from a variety of sources to create and distribute customized reports. Plug-ins can extend functionality.  Continue Reading

• Examining the Qlik data visualization platform

  The Qlik data visualization platform aims to help users access, present, explore and capitalize on their data.  Continue Reading

• Analytics team structure can work without data scientists

  Despite the value data scientists can bring to a big data analytics team, not every business requires them. Some are using a mix of technology and culture to avoid the need.  Continue Reading

• Logi Analytics provides self-service analytics

  Logi Vision and Logi Info self-service analytics products enable users to perform reporting and dashboarding, scorecarding, search, ad hoc queries, OLAP and data discovery.  Continue Reading

• Exploring Tableau visualization and analytics products

  Tableau helps users of all technical skill levels quickly analyze, visualize and share data with colleagues so they can make data-driven decisions.  Continue Reading

• IBM Cognos Business Intelligence offers self-service BI

  The latest version of IBM Cognos Business Intelligence is managed by IT but provides end users with a simplified setup and deployment.  Continue Reading

• SAS Visual Analytics software supports data discovery

  SAS Visual Analytics software provides self-service BI and reporting capabilities aimed at helping non-technical users identify meaningful patterns and relationships in data.  Continue Reading

• Information Builders WebFOCUS helps leverage BI analytics

  The Information Builders WebFOCUS platform includes several BI analytics tools that users can leverage to perform predictive analytics, statistical modeling and big data analytics.  Continue Reading

• Spark data processing helps ad company tune in on TV viewers

  BlackArrow CTO Joe Matarese says the Spark analytics and data processing engine has become a key part of the advertising optimization company's IT lineup, in spite of some immaturity issues.  Continue Reading

• Examining the Birst BI and predictive analytics tool

  Centralized BI and IT teams can use Birst to connect with decentralized teams on the business side. Learn more about the BI and predictive analytics tool.  Continue Reading

• Health systems get analytics implementation off the ground

  Hospitals and health systems may be somewhat behind the tech-adoption curve, but there are still things they can start doing today to implement analytics.  Continue Reading

• How predictive analytics in healthcare can lower readmissions

  UPMC and University of Tennessee Medical Center are benefitting from healthcare analytics to reduce their readmission rates. Here's how they're doing it.  Continue Reading

• Comparing BI analytics tools from the leading vendors

  Deciding which BI analytics tool to buy shouldn't be based on the product with the most features but on the tool that best supports the needs of your business users.  Continue Reading

• Subtle analytics decisions key to data privacy protection

  As companies increasingly deploy predictive analytics tools to model employee and customer behavior, they're having to set new data privacy policies to help build trust both internally and externally.  Continue Reading

• Industrial analytics delivering greater business value

  The barriers to collecting and analyzing log and sensor data are lower than ever. Businesses are now starting to capitalize on the emergence of industrial analytics.  Continue Reading

• Hospital's indoor tracking system improves patient care

  A real-time indoor tracking system and analytics software help Florida Hospital combine nurse location data with patient records for analysis.  Continue Reading

• Location-tracking system improves business efficiency

  For organizations in industries such as healthcare and trucking, analyzing data on the location and movements of employees is helping to streamline operations.  Continue Reading

• How The New York Times uses predictive analytics algorithms

  Most print media companies have struggled to make money in the 21st century, but The New York Times is using predictive analytics tools to gain a competitive edge.  Continue Reading

• Business focus is key when applying predictive analytics models

  Predictive analytics modeling requires statistical and technical prowess, but modelers shouldn't overlook the business problem they're trying to solve.  Continue Reading

• Why haven't SMEs cashed in on big data benefits yet?

  In a Q&A, author and consultant Dale Neef talks about how the shortage of big data skills is keeping small and midsize businesses from cashing in on new analytics technologies and applications.  Continue Reading

• Big data analytics architecture requires integration push

  Organizations looking to analyze big data typically have to pull it together from various systems, making data integration a fundamental component of a big data analytics platform.  Continue Reading

• Building predictive analytics models takes a team effort

  Predictive modeling shouldn't be a solo activity. Businesses looking to get the most out of their data scientists should ensure they're working collaboratively to build analytical models.  Continue Reading

• Effective big data visualization starts with simplicity

  Big data analytics offers lots of opportunities to visualize data for business users. But analysts have to be careful not to overload big data visualizations with too much information.  Continue Reading

• Doors opening for open source data visualization tools

  Open source data visualization technologies have matured to the point where users say the available tools can handle large amounts of their visualization workloads.  Continue Reading

• Analytics execs reveal how to hire data scientists

  Hiring a data scientist can be a big investment, so businesses need to know how to optimize the process. As a guide, some experienced analytics managers discuss their hiring strategies.  Continue Reading

• BI data dashboards help businesses focus on analytics ROI

  Advanced analytics tools have taken over the spotlight, but officials in some organizations say business intelligence dashboards are still where the money is on their BI investments.  Continue Reading

• How to get the most out of your data science program

  Interest in data science continues to grow among businesses. As companies put teams to work in a data science program, they need to know how to make the most of the investment.  Continue Reading

• Nate Silver lays out data-driven business strategy

  A lack of standards and best practices can hold back businesses from becoming more data-driven, says data science guru Nate Silver. But he offers tips on how to overcome analytics challenges.  Continue Reading

• New business intelligence skills in, BI developers out

  Consultant Lee Feinberg says organizations need to build up their data storytelling and visualization capabilities -- and details a competition for finding people with the right business intelligence skills.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based BI can be a good fit -- for data in the cloud

  Is a cloud BI and analytics strategy the right choice for your organization? That may depend on whether your data is on-premises or already in the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Providers find routes to healthcare data analytics

  The record-keeping systems used by most healthcare providers don't make analyzing the data easy, but some providers are finding a way around these challenges.  Continue Reading

• Data mashup tools boost business intelligence, analytics efforts

  Customer data can be valuable on its own, but when it's combined with other internal information and outside sources in a data mashup, the business benefits of analytics apps can skyrocket.  Continue Reading

• How one company improved its data literacy

  All smart businesses these days want to be data-driven. With a shortage of knowledgeable workers, getting to that point can be hard -- but the head of BI at online lender Avant is helping it to do so.  Continue Reading

• Business use cases can determine the right BI analytics tool

  Before selecting a BI analytics tool, you should create BI use cases and then match those requirements with BI analytics tool categories and styles.  Continue Reading

• Business intelligence in the cloud gives boost to BI process

  Migrating BI to the cloud can help organizations simplify and streamline data analysis. But self-service BI doesn't equal DIY BI, warns expert David A. Teich.  Continue Reading

• Spark analytics applications boosted by built-in libraries

  Apache Spark is about more than just data processing. The software libraries included in the big data platform make it suitable for a variety of analytics applications.  Continue Reading

• Predictive analytics tools point to better business actions

  Using predictive analytics tools lets organizations look ahead in an effort to optimize business strategies. But there has to be a purpose to the analytics efforts, and a solid plan behind them.  Continue Reading

• How Boston embraced data analysis methods

  The current mayor of Boston is moving to make data analytics a key part of how city services are run, which is a major departure from his predecessor's approach.  Continue Reading

• Analytics applications get governance, customer data protection

  Companies such as Intuit are taking steps to try to ensure that customer data analytics initiatives don't give them a black eye because of data breaches or misuse.  Continue Reading

• How big data analytics tools can help your organization

  Big data analytics is a trending practice that many companies are adopting. Before jumping in and buying big data tools, though, organizations should first get to know the landscape.  Continue Reading

• Enova's chief analytics officer on managing an analytics team

  Joe DeCosmo, chief analytics officer at Enova International Inc., discusses his approach to building and managing the financial services firm's team of data scientists and analysts.  Continue Reading

• Big data analytics projects need measured but firm management hand

  Managers of analytics teams have to walk a fine line between guiding the work of data scientists and giving them the leeway needed to do their jobs effectively.  Continue Reading

• Data storytelling skills get key role in analytics process

  People with good data storytelling skills are becoming big contributors to the data analytics process in organizations looking to make info more understandable to business execs.  Continue Reading

• Multinationals face complications on data analysis strategies

  Varying privacy laws on data collection and analysis in different countries can make unified business intelligence approaches difficult for global companies.  Continue Reading

• CEO pushes for data-driven strategy

  Everyone knows executive support for analytics initiatives is important, but CEOs are starting to get behind analytics like never before.  Continue Reading

• Building a data lake architecture can drag unprepared users under

  Organizations have found that they can't just jump into a data lake -- it requires a strategic approach to building an architecture that can support it.  Continue Reading

• Why a BI environment needs a solid architecture framework

  In a book excerpt, consultant Rick Sherman explains why taking a siloed approach to creating a BI architecture framework can lead to problems for organizations.  Continue Reading

• Self-service tools, data visualization software give BI a new look

  Self-service business intelligence and data visualization tools can make it easier for business users to analyze BI data. But there's a lot that needs to be done up front to make that happen.  Continue Reading

• The front line fights greater use of data analysis tools

  Pushing business intelligence and analytics tools out to front-line workers can be a challenge for organizations, but there are ways to overcome the hurdles and get value from BI investments.  Continue Reading

• Insurers use fraud analytics to stop unnecessary payments

  Commercial insurance companies lose billions of dollars each year to fraud, but there is a major opportunity to use analytics tools to stop this bleeding.  Continue Reading