Features

Features

• Location analytics helps shipping company map out business route

  GIS data analyst Andy Cain always knew location analytics could help develop deep business insights. Now he has the opportunity to show how as part of an initiative at Con-way Freight.  Continue Reading

• Cloud BI tools, hosted systems lower data analysis barriers

  Cloud business intelligence platforms offer companies a faster, easier way to analyze data, thanks to reduced capital costs and streamlined system design.  Continue Reading

• Self-service business intelligence tools don't sideline IT

  Self-service BI tools aren't self-sufficient -- data governance concerns and the complexity of data visualization mean IT teams must remain in the mix.  Continue Reading

• Cloud business intelligence grows, but most BI users still grounded

  In a Q&A, consultant Howard Dresner discusses cloud business intelligence trends and why more user organizations have yet to embrace cloud BI services.  Continue Reading

• Use of analytics in sports media becomes contentious

  Analytics are gaining a high profile in sports media, but some fans and commentators say the stats just aren't what they're looking for.  Continue Reading

• What you need to know before buying BI analytics tools

  Expert contributor Wayne Kernochan describes the different types of business intelligence analytics tools on the market and how they can benefit corporate strategies and operations.  Continue Reading

• MIT project reveals way forward for health data analysis

  Health data is notoriously difficult to analyze due to privacy rules, but a new project is showing it can be done.  Continue Reading

• Operational BI process puts better business practices within reach

  In a Q&A, consultant Rick Sherman discusses operational business intelligence and offers advice to companies looking to use the approach to manage their operations more effectively.  Continue Reading

• Integrated analytics gives users operational intelligence edge

  Embedding analytics capabilities in operational processes can pay big business dividends by enabling front-line workers to optimize how things are done, consultant David Loshin says.  Continue Reading

• Spark Streaming project looks to shed new light on medical claims

  To give healthcare providers a real-time view of the claims processing operations its systems support, RelayHealth is augmenting its Hadoop cluster with Spark's stream processing module.  Continue Reading

• How to develop a data-driven culture

  Most businesses today say they want to be more data-driven, but getting there can be challenging. An inclusive approach helped one retailer achieve its goals.  Continue Reading

• Big data challenges include what info to use -- and what not to

  Businesses looking to get real value out of big data, and avoid overwhelming their systems, need to be selective about what they analyze.  Continue Reading

• Common data vocabulary helps companies globalize governance, BI

  Strong data governance is needed to maximize the value of business intelligence efforts -- and that starts with a common set of data definitions, consultant Wayne Eckerson says.  Continue Reading

• Three trends to watch in businesses' big data programs

  Although the main trends in big data for 2015 may not be a huge departure from the previous year, businesses should still understand what's coming their way.  Continue Reading

• Retail analytics offers online stores an edge in holiday season

  The holiday shopping season is the most important time of the year for retailers, and they're increasingly turning to data analytics to try to get an advantage over their competition.  Continue Reading

• Customer analysis a winning play for 'Candy Crush Saga' maker

  King Digital Entertainment was losing players of "Candy Crush Saga" at an early stage in the online game -- a problem it solved with help from a customer data analytics project.  Continue Reading

• Customer data analysis turns info crude oil into business fuel

  Leading-edge companies are relying on customer analytics to help drive their marketing and service strategies. But there's more to the process than throwing data at analytics tools.  Continue Reading

• BI director needs strong blend of business, IT leadership skills

  To lead successful business intelligence programs, BI managers must have strong communication skills and be grounded in both the business and IT worlds, consultant Wayne Eckerson says.  Continue Reading

• Analytics in sports gets growing front-office role

  Sports teams have been adopting analytics tools to improve in-game performance for years, but now some are also focusing on using data analysis to boost their business operations.  Continue Reading

• Education analytics project helps Marist, students make the grade

  Federal regulators are threatening to crack down on underperforming colleges. Marist College is using analytics to help students succeed -- and make sure it stays off the government's list.  Continue Reading

• To the rescue on business intelligence projects: The BI SWAT team

  A fast-moving SWAT team of business intelligence specialists can resuscitate failing BI programs and help successful ones keep up with demand for new applications, consultant Wayne Eckerson says.  Continue Reading

• Analytical technologies are game changer for casino company

  Casino operations traditionally haven't been very data-driven, but the Sands casino group is using analytics tools to try to get an edge in a very competitive industry.  Continue Reading

• Self-service software missing from operational BI picture

  Consultant Rick van der Lans says most self-service business intelligence tools fall short at the operational level, leaving some key business users locked out of the self-service BI process.  Continue Reading

• Temporal data reality: In BI, time is of the essence

  To fully understand their analytics data, organizations need to incorporate temporal data capabilities into data warehouses and business intelligence systems, consultant Barry Devlin says.  Continue Reading

• Balance required between big data volume, analytics needs

  Many businesses implementing big data analytics applications focus on the size of their data sets, when what they should really focus on is whether they have the right data.  Continue Reading

• Chief data officer job description requires a proper fit

  A panel of chief data officers said their jobs are demanding, even taxing at times. But they added that the rewards of the CDO position outweigh the challenges for them.  Continue Reading

• Social media data analysis spans a spectrum of business uses

  Different facets of the social media analytics process offer different types of information to businesses looking to monitor social networks and analyze their own social media strategies.  Continue Reading

• Eliminate inconsistent data by ousting its evil twin sisters

  Data quality problems, often resulting from inconsistent data definitions and duplicates, can hamstring BI and analytics efforts if they aren't forcefully addressed.  Continue Reading

• Managing big data: The two biggest mistakes companies make

  Many organizations are setting their big data analytics efforts up for failure by plunging ahead without proper planning upfront, says book author Keith B. Carter.  Continue Reading

• The future of analytics lies in open source technology

  All the excitement of analytics professionals today is attached to open source tools. Author Cory Isaacson explains why.  Continue Reading

• Big data analytics projects raise stakes for predictive models

  Before starting the analytical modeling process for big data analytics applications, organizations need to have the right skills in place -- and figure out how much data needs to be analyzed to produce accurate findings.  Continue Reading

• Sounders coach shows way ahead for analytics in sports

  The Seattle Sounders fitness coach is taking sports analytics into uncharted territory and scoring some big wins along the way.  Continue Reading

• Big data benefits begin with business focus in analytical modeling

  Big data analytics programs need a strong analytical modeling foundation to deliver the business benefits that companies are looking for. And that starts with tight ties between analytics teams and business units.  Continue Reading

• Location-based analytics helps Wendy's find its way to new sites

  Most people remember geography class as a liberal arts concentration. But John Crouse of Wendy's is showing that geographic knowledge can make for a valuable pairing with statistical analysis as part of location intelligence efforts.  Continue Reading

• Location-based analytics helps orgs zero in on gains

  Location-based analytics may be overlooked right now, but users expect this mapping technology to play a huge role in the future of business.  Continue Reading

• Why 'logical data warehouse' is no longer a logical term

  Consultant Rick van der Lans contends that data warehouses are inherently logical and don't need to be qualified as such. What really matters, he says, is that they present an integrated view of enterprise data, no matter where it's stored.  Continue Reading

• Data visualization software deserves a deep look before buying

  Data visualization tools can present information to business users in easy-to-grasp formats. But it isn't a pretty picture if you buy the wrong one.  Continue Reading

• How to evaluate the viability of a data mining project

  In a book excerpt, author David Nettleton details questions to ask and factors to consider in weighing the potential benefits of data mining projects.  Continue Reading

• BI architecture needs extensions to meet new analytics demands

  Claudia Imhoff and Colin White outline a business intelligence environment designed to accommodate existing data warehouses and new technologies.  Continue Reading

• Data lake muddies the waters on big data management

  Barry Devlin argues against using the trendy term 'data lake' to describe a big data store for structured, unstructured and semi-structured data.  Continue Reading

• Big data vendors should stop dissing data warehouse systems

  Wayne Eckerson examines the analytics roles of data warehouses and big data systems and says he's tired of data warehouse bashing by big data vendors.  Continue Reading

• Laws leave gray area between big data and privacy

  Laws on data collection and use remain foggy, leaving businesses to feel their way through big data and privacy laws.  Continue Reading

• Data collection practices spark debate on big data ethics, privacy

  The increasing emphasis on collecting and analyzing big data is driving a debate on whether tighter privacy rules are needed to protect customers.  Continue Reading

• Self-serve analytics systems allow business users to wear analyst hat

  Data visualization and self-service analytics systems are allowing businesses to cut out the data scientist and put analysis on business users.  Continue Reading

• New BI reporting, data analytics tools give users a business edge

  More affordable and easier-to-use software is enabling companies in various industries to embrace the power of business intelligence and analytics.  Continue Reading

• Cognitive computing for all? Think about it

  Machines like IBM's Watson are becoming as smart as we are. And soon the technology may become elementary to many more than just Big Blue.  Continue Reading

• Selecting the right SQL-on-Hadoop engine to access big data

  Rick van der Lans explains why it's important to evaluate the differences in the technologies that make it possible to access Hadoop data using SQL.  Continue Reading

• Developing business decision-making models that really work

  David Loshin defines weighting factors and offers advice for beginning a decision-modeling effort that ultimately leads to the best business outcome.  Continue Reading

• R programming language demands the right use case

  The R programming language is becoming more popular in commercial settings, but users have to make sure it fits their needs.  Continue Reading

• Close the deal on using CRM analysis to boost customer knowledge

  Customer relationship analysis holds the key to improved marketing and customer engagement. But it starts with having the right tools and skills.  Continue Reading

• Data visualization tools help users make sense of messy data

  Visualizing data makes it easier to grasp. But there's more to selecting and deploying data visualization software than creating catchy graphics.  Continue Reading

• Self-service analytics tools have value, carry risks

  There are risks to be aware of when business users take responsibility for self-service business intelligence, but there are ways to mitigate them.  Continue Reading

• Kaiser Permanente VP prescribes bigger role for healthcare data analytics

  Terhilda Garrido is at the head of a heightened effort by health system Kaiser Permanente to use analytics to improve its patient care delivery.  Continue Reading

• Loshin: Keys to managing better business intelligence programs

  In a Q&A, author David Loshin details how business intelligence managers can enhance BI success, from building dashboards to demonstrating value.  Continue Reading

• Defining and using KPIs in a successful business intelligence system

  In this book excerpt, author David Loshin discusses how to select key performance indicators and turn data into actionable knowledge for BI success.  Continue Reading

• Analytical models in big data environments often best left small

  In many cases, data analysts can find the results they're looking for by examining only a sample of the data that's available in big data systems.  Continue Reading

• Hadoop still too slow for real-time analysis applications?

  Hadoop vendors are trying to position the distributed processing technology as a real-time analytics tool. But some real-time roadblocks remain.  Continue Reading

• Download presentations from the BI Leadership Summit

  At the 2013 BI Leadership Summit, many of the industry's leading BI experts gathered to share vendor-neutral expertise and proven strategies.  Continue Reading

• Limited role for big data seen in developing predictive models

  Big data gets a lot of hype, but when it comes to developing predictive models, it may not be as useful as some think.  Continue Reading

• Uplift modeling reshapes the art, and science, of customer persuasion

  Uplift modeling is helping leading-edge marketers and political campaigners to more precisely target the "persuadable" members of their audience.  Continue Reading

• Prescriptive analytics takes analytics maturity model to a new level

  Consultant Jen Underwood explains what prescriptive analytics is and how it can help companies looking to optimize their decision making processes.  Continue Reading

• Handling the hoopla: When to use Hadoop, and when not to

  Hadoop has become everyone's big data darling. But it can only do so much, and savvy businesses need to make sure it's a good fit for their needs.  Continue Reading

• What location technology, and location intelligence, can do for you

  In today's mobile and data-rich world, there are an increasing number of ways location intelligence initiatives can generate business value.  Continue Reading

• Data visualization tools may be glamorous, but focus on business value

  Data visualization tools definitely possess a cool factor, but it's important not to get caught up in the glamour. Focus on business value first.  Continue Reading

• Location data finds a home in mobile business intelligence apps

  The combination of location intelligence and mobile BI tools can help users take analytics into the field, but there are challenges to be aware of.  Continue Reading

• Companies using Hadoop for analytics bring meaning to satellite data

  Companies are using Hadoop for analytics to uncover new meaning in satellite imagery and allow industries to gain new insights from geospatial data.  Continue Reading

• Predictive analytics software puts big squeeze on IT systems

  Predictive analytics projects can overpower IT systems, making it necessary for IT managers to provide appropriate support, storage and data control.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based analytics still mostly on the horizon

  Business intelligence and advanced analytics applications have yet to make a big mark in the cloud, despite vendor efforts to push cloud analytics.  Continue Reading

• Match in-memory processing speed to big data analytics business need

  Michael Minelli, co-author of a book on big data analytics, says in-memory analytics tools must be tied to business processes to pay off for users.  Continue Reading

• Eckerson: Self-service business intelligence not a give-and-go affair

  In an interview, TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson explains why there's more to self-service BI success than putting tools in the hands of business users.  Continue Reading

• In-memory technology pushes analytics boundaries, boosts BI speeds

  In-memory appliances amp up business intelligence performance by moving processing off of disks. But cost and other issues need to be considered.  Continue Reading

• Seeking treasure from social media tracking? Follow the customer

  Social media analytics tools can help companies dig into layers of online customer data in search of business gold. But a human touch is needed, too.  Continue Reading

• Self-service BI tools best fashioned with custom fit for diverse users

  Project managers must consider the unique needs of different groups of business users when implementing self-service business intelligence tools.  Continue Reading

• Real-time analytics brings BI data directly into business operations

  Giving end users immediate access to operational data for real-time business intelligence can help drive better decisions, if it fits business needs.  Continue Reading

• Note to self: Business intelligence, analytics trends to watch in 2013

  Businesses will tackle big data analytics, cloud BI, consumerization and collaboration in the New Year alongside beloved classics like data quality.  Continue Reading

• Clutter, data overload put dashboard designs on path to failure

  Keep your BI dashboard project on track by avoiding common mistakes, such as design gimmicks, cluttered screens and irrelevant data.  Continue Reading

• Data-driven culture helps analytics team generate business value

  Three analytics managers offer tips on engaging with business users and building strong analytical environments, as told to author Wayne Eckerson.  Continue Reading

• Creating effective analytical processes: Tips from analytics leaders

  Drawing on real-world examples, book author Wayne Eckerson summarizes the elements needed to implement a successful business analytics program.  Continue Reading

• Put consumer data privacy first -- analytics value will follow

  Data privacy and privacy policies are sensitive subjects, but done right, they may also create a competitive advantage.  Continue Reading

• Social media analytics software pulls useful info out of online muddle

  Companies can use social media analytics tools to distill business insights from the abundance of data on social networks. That's the goal, at least.  Continue Reading

• Power, reach of analytics pose new ethical dilemmas

  Analyze, analyze, analyze. That’s the mandate in many companies. But to avoid negative repercussions, it’s wise to proceed with caution and consider the moral issues created by powerful analytics tools.  Continue Reading

• Data visualizations get more advanced -- and more complicated

  With data visualization tools offering more and more functionality, managing projects to visualize data is becoming a bigger challenge for BI teams.  Continue Reading

• Predictive analytics programs need open organizational minds

  Using predictive analytics tools can help companies move forward more intelligently, particularly when they welcome new ideas on business strategies and processes.  Continue Reading

• Mobile business intelligence brings benefits -- and barriers

  Developing and delivering mobile business intelligence applications poses various challenges that can derail a mobile BI strategy if not avoided.  Continue Reading

• Ability to explain analytical results vital to gaining executive buy-in

  They've purchased the analytics tools, but executives may not buy the results, especially if they don't understand what the numbers are saying.  Continue Reading

• Apache Hadoop spurs hopes but creates hardships for analytics users

  Described as cutting edge, hot, niche and hard to use, Hadoop, like all celebrities, has its shining moments and its dismal displays.  Continue Reading

• 'Big data' concept has grown well beyond its diminutive beginnings

  What is "big data" and why is the IT industry talking about it so much? IT pros offer insights into the origins of the popular and much-hyped phrase.  Continue Reading

• App47 selects Loggly over Splunk for log management

  Find out why mobile application management provider App47 chose up-and-comer Loggly over well-known Splunk for its log management needs.  Continue Reading

• NASA uses text analytics to bolster aviation safety

  NASA relies on numeric data to explain what incidents occur, but text data from incident reports and warning signals reveals why they do.  Continue Reading

• Social media analytics tools offer customer insights, but care needed

  While analyzing social media data can yield valuable information, consultants caution that the process is still a complex and inexact science.  Continue Reading

• Data sandboxes help analysts dig deep into corporate info

  Giving analytics professionals control of small amounts of space in data warehouses lets them experiment with data sets in a managed environment.  Continue Reading

• Riding herd on Excel BI use isn't easy, but it's necessary

  Eradicating the use of Excel in business intelligence applications turned out to be a pipe dream in most organizations. Now the focus is on controlling it -- as best you can.  Continue Reading

• Collaborative business intelligence brings users together on BI

  With users working together on business intelligence processes, organizations can make better decisions. And you don’t need to go all-in to get started.  Continue Reading

• Performance management gap: Goals versus realities

  Successful performance management initiatives involve more than purchasing and implementing software. And despite good intentions, there’s a high probability that you’re not getting everything you should from your system.  Continue Reading

• 'Big data' analytics programs require tech savvy, business know-how

  Consultant Rick Sherman details the skill sets and roles that he thinks are vital to the success of "big data" analytics initiatives. Technical skills alone aren't enough, he says.  Continue Reading

• The wrong way: Worst practices in 'big data' analytics programs

  Consultant Rick Sherman details the biggest mistakes to avoid in planning and managing deployments of big data analytics tools, from focusing on the technology to overselling projects.  Continue Reading

• Five first steps to creating an effective 'big data' analytics program

  Choosing the right technology is only half the startup battle on "big data" analytics. Get a list of deployment tips from consultant Lyndsay Wise to help set your organization on the right path.  Continue Reading

• 'Big data' analytics projects easier said than done -- but doable

  Putting an effective "big data" analytics plan in place can be a challenging proposition. Consultant Lyndsay Wise offers her advice on what to consider and how to get started.  Continue Reading

• Managing multiple BI tools doesn't have to be so hard

  A multi-tool business intelligence environment may be the norm, but it’s not the ideal. Learn steps you can take to reduce the complexity and increase the effectiveness of your BI installation.  Continue Reading

• Applying agile methods to data warehouse projects

  Agile development processes can take a lot of the pain out of building data warehouses and enable project teams to deliver functionality, and business value, on a rolling basis.  Continue Reading