Features

Features

• Don't let these big data myths derail your analytics project

  A number of myths about big data have proliferated in recent years. Don't let these common misperceptions kill your analytics project.  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 sentiment analysis helps investors place bond bets

  Sentiment analysis based on social media data can be tricky to pull off, but Capital Market Exchange is using it to provide insights on the corporate bond market to investment managers.  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

• A view from the chief analytics officer

  The chief analytics officer is the newest data-focused executive. One financial company's CAO sizes up the state of analytics.  Continue Reading

• Data governance model key to analytics success

  There are so many tools today that make launching analytic applications simple, but this doesn't mean you can skip data governance.  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

• Analytics in sports helps USTA modernize

  Tennis is all about tradition, but the USTA is slowly embracing analytics technology, enabling it to modernize its operations.  Continue Reading

• Hadoop clusters provide single spot for spreadmarts, analytics

  Consultant Wayne Eckerson says Hadoop offers a platform for reining in the spreadmarts set up by individual data analysts and business users, while still giving them a place to do self-service analytics.  Continue Reading

• Managing privacy in the age of big data

  Businesses that overlook privacy in the age of big data do so at their own peril. Commentators say greater respect for privacy is needed.  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

• Utility department runs customer behavior analytics to keep power flowing

  The City of Palo Alto Utility has turned to customer behavior analytics to help smooth spikes in demand, helping to keep the city cool.  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

• Linthicum: Cloud analytics apps need solid data architecture

  At the 2014 TDWI Executive Summit in Boston, consultant David Linthicum explained the importance of a well-planned cloud architecture for data analytics applications and offered tips on avoiding common cloud deployment mistakes.  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

• How to speed up analytics in healthcare

  Attendees at the TDWI conference in Boston explain how they are speeding up analytics in healthcare.  Continue Reading

• Retailer revs up analytics with cloud storage system

  Cloud storage systems aren't necessarily at the top of every business list for analytic data stores, but one Japanese retailer has experienced success.  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

• Hadoop 2, YARN set to shake up data management and analytics

  Consultant Wayne Eckerson says Hadoop 2, with its key YARN component, qualifies as a flexible big data operating system. And it could quickly take the open source framework into the IT mainstream, he predicts.  Continue Reading

• Provider uses health analytics to improve patient care

  One community health center was not content with the quality of care it was delivering, so it decided to do something about it with help from health analytics.  Continue Reading

• Swim with the tides of change to visualize data -- and decisions

  Completing a three-part series on his blue ocean strategy for decision visualization, Lee Feinberg explains how you can take decision making to the next level by giving more people access to business intelligence and data visualization capabilities.  Continue Reading

• Don't let data oust intuition in risk measurement, decision making

  Consultant Barry Devlin discusses how people misinterpret risks because of sloppy statistical data analysis and explains why business decisions shouldn't be wholly data-driven.  Continue Reading

• Adoption of analytics in healthcare faces hurdles

  Analytics in healthcare is a hot topic, but providers need to get their infrastructure on more solid footing before moving forward with adoption.  Continue Reading

• Data battle rides on big data systems, executive awareness

  Consultant Rick van der Lans says data is now a competitive differentiator -- and companies looking for an edge need top management that understands big data technologies.  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

• Author: Data mining projects depend on excavating meaningful data

  In a Q&A, book author David Nettleton offers advice on avoiding data mining pitfalls and pinpointing valuable business data to mine and analyze.  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

• Big data definition fractures technology market

  Technology vendors have tried to develop their own big data definition, which has helped rip apart the market for analytics tools.  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

• A perfect pairing: Big data use cases start with analytics

  Big data analytics can pay big dividends. But its promise also comes with pitfalls, so make sure you're in the know on managing a big data project.  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

• Businesses look for tech solutions to big data security issues

  The growing adoption of big data analytics applications is complicating data security challenges -- and creating a need for new security strategies.  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

• Software budget spending getting boost in 2014

  Software budget spending is increasing more than in other areas such as hardware and cloud, according to TechTarget's 2014 IT Priorities Survey.  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

• The network is the database -- and that complicates data integration

  Data has become highly distributed, as have business users. Data integration processes need to change to keep up, says consultant Rick van der Lans.  Continue Reading

• Distributed data needs integrating, but is centralization the answer?

  Consultant Rick van der Lans says that centralizing the data integration process might not be the optimal way to deal with distributed data.  Continue Reading

• Data virtualization tools move integration processing to the data

  Data virtualization software is a good fit for integrating distributed data, says Rick van der Lans. But it needs to be in tune with your network.  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

• Cable exec: See the big picture in evaluating big data opportunities

  Businesses need to know how big data tools will fit into their larger business goals before adopting them, says a BI manager at Time Warner Cable.  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

• Eyes open: Don't lose sight of data visualization best practices

  Data visualization tools are becoming more and more common in organizations. But it's easy to go awry on visualization efforts if you aren't careful.  Continue Reading

• Sports teams embrace data analytics techniques

  The world of sports is rapidly embracing data analytics techniques. Businesses have a lot to learn from professional teams' experiences.  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

• Big data analytics applications pull business value from info vaults

  Just collecting pools of big data won't get you very far with business execs. Don't go into a big data project without a plan for analyzing that data.  Continue Reading

• Hadoop 2 puts big data environment on friendlier analytics turf

  Separating resource and application management in Hadoop 2 improves the framework's ability to support data analytics, says consultant David Loshin.  Continue Reading

• Data visualization software isn't the only alternative to big data

  Most analytics systems fall into either the data visualization or big data category. But there are offerings in between.  Continue Reading

• Manufacturer scores win with in-memory analytics

  Once reserved for only the most tech-savvy, in-memory analytics applications are making their way to more mainstream companies.  Continue Reading

• Retailers are mining big data to help stop employee theft

  Businesses can lose a lot of money to employee theft, but some retailers have begun mining big data to see how to stop it.  Continue Reading

• Big data architecture doesn't need to involve big data sets

  Many companies are looking to expand their big data architecture, but they may not realize they may have all the data they need.  Continue Reading

• Trending topic: Big data benefits for better business performance

  Mark your calendars for a tweet jam on big data best practices and business value, led by Forrester's Boris Evelson and TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson.  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

• Location analysis, intelligence take BI process to a new place

  Analyzing location data can help boost revenues and cut costs. But getting to where you want to go with location intelligence requires some effort.  Continue Reading

• Businesses must cut through the big data hype in 2014

  Big data hype continued to grow throughout 2013. The year ahead will determine whether the hype is justified.  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

• Top analytics technology stories from 2013

  Some analytics technology trends continued this past year, despite the fact that users say they are overhyped or misunderstood.  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

• Healthcare provider embraces BI reports to outpace reforms

  The Community Health Access Network is using SAP business intelligence software to keep up with changes in the healthcare industry.  Continue Reading

• Should in-memory analysis have a seat at your big data table?

  Big data and in-memory analytics software can form a mutually beneficial relationship, provided business users really need in-memory processing power.  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

• Users offer tips on implementing location intelligence software

  Location intelligence tools can deliver business insights, but only if they're implemented properly. Experienced users detail key points to consider.  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

• Path on predictive analytics tools needs light from business beacons

  This article details the importance of properly defining the aims of a predictive analytics program and aligning them with business goals.  Continue Reading

• Predictive analytics programs marred by poor planning, flawed models

  In order to be successful, predictive analytics programs need proper planning, well-developed predictive models and a flexible corporate culture.  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

• In-memory applications take on big data analytics challenge

  In-memory tools and big data can be a potent analytics mix. But before you put them together, read advice from experienced users and consultants.  Continue Reading

• Texas utility deploys operational intelligence, improves 'on-boarding'

  TXU Energy applied Vitria operational intelligence software to gain a better customer view. Careful processes selection ensured quick performance.  Continue Reading

• In-memory big data analytics systems need solid IT foundation

  Using in-memory tools to analyze pools of big data raises system design, scalability and data integration issues that must be addressed up front.  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

• In-memory analytics tools pack potential big data punch

  The faster analytics performance spurred by in-memory technology can help companies capitalize on big data, but there are barriers to be aware of.  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

• As BI mobility takes off, don't get left behind -- or unprepared

  Deployments of mobile business intelligence tools are spreading rapidly. Before you take the mobile BI plunge, read advice on how to make it work.  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

• Mobile business intelligence applications: Not just a pretty interface

  Back-end factors such as network performance and server hardware are key elements of building an effective mobile business intelligence architecture.  Continue Reading

• Growing use of mobile BI apps sparks need to downsize designs

  Mobile business intelligence adds new challenges for BI teams, especially in designing apps. Don't overdo it on data, say BI managers and analysts.  Continue Reading

• The buzz: Social media analytics tools a must for many

  No doubt you've heard the term social media analytics -- it's the gathering and exploring of social media data. Do you need to invest now? It depends.  Continue Reading

• When open source tools aren't the best BI software for an organization

  Book author Lyndsay Wise explains why some companies might be better off sticking with traditional BI software instead of adopting open source tools.  Continue Reading

• Reasons for choosing open source business intelligence software

  Book author Lyndsay Wise explains why open source business intelligence tools might be the way to go for organizations looking to deploy BI systems.  Continue Reading