Business intelligence best practices
Top Stories
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Feature
11 Feb 2022
Good data-driven decision-making avoids common pitfalls
Avoiding cognitive biases that can lead to the use of incomplete or inaccurate data is crucial to the successful use of analytics. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Jan 2022
Data access key to Regeneron's innovation efforts
After developing a COVID-19 treatment in mere months, Regeneron adopted a data catalog and is developing a data governance framework to speed up its drug development pipeline. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Jan 2022
Data access key to Regeneron's innovation efforts
After developing a COVID-19 treatment in mere months, Regeneron adopted a data catalog and is developing a data governance framework to speed up its drug development pipeline. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jan 2022
How to identify and implement embedded analytics opportunities
Business users need to consider data science workflows and software development to identify opportunities for implementing embedded analytics for business value. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Dec 2021
The benefits of embedded analytics
The top business benefits of embedded analytics and BI include improving sales, gaining competitive advantages and getting maximum value from data to improve performance. Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2021
Data catalogs fuel increased efficiency, speed-to-insight
By collecting and arranging data assets in a single environment, organizations are able to reduce the time to reach the insights that lead to data-driven decisions. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Nov 2021
The roadblocks of business intelligence growth
Training and cost are the two biggest business intelligence challenges impeding organizations' BI usage and expansion, according to a survey conducted by ESG. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Oct 2021
Alation: How to develop a data governance framework
Data governance should keep organizations from violating regulations while fostering data exploration and decision-making, but developing a strong set of guidelines is nuanced. Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2021
Modern data strategy includes cloud, domain federation
Analytics strategies should include overarching organizational best practices blended with teams empowered to build interoperable data assets, according to one industry expert. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2021
Pandemic continues to highlight importance of analytics
Organizations with successful analytics programs have weathered the economic crisis caused by the pandemic far better than those who have not prioritized BI, according to research. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Sep 2021
Dresner: Top analytics trend remains rate of adoption
Increased investment in analytics and proliferation of data science capabilities are among the most significant ongoing trends in BI as the pandemic stretches into late 2021. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Aug 2021
Embedded analytics leads to improved productivity
With many enterprises still in the early stages of using AI technologies, embedded BI remains a key means of making data accessible to a broad array of potential users. Continue Reading
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News
13 Jul 2021
Expert: It's time for the death of the analytics dashboard
Dashboards take substantial time to build and maintain, and they've become outdated with the current pace of business, says ThoughtSpot's chief data strategy officer. Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2021
Eckerson Group unveils service to benchmark analytics
Consulting firm Eckerson Group recently developed an assessment for the insurance industry to help companies compare their analytics programs with their peers. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Jun 2021
Top 5 benefits of augmented analytics
Learn how augmented analytics helps make companies more agile by expanding employee access to data and speeding the decision-making process -- all while saving costs. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Jun 2021
Consider unique business needs when hiring a data scientist
The experience and educational requirements common to data scientist roles have changed rapidly in recent years. Here's how to hire the right data scientist for your business. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jun 2021
Does hiring a freelance data scientist make sense for you?
Enterprises need to make the right hiring choices when it comes to supporting their data projects. Here are some reasons your company may or may not consider hiring a freelancer. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 May 2021
Why do enterprises outsource analytics?
As business data complexity increases, enterprises are turning to third parties for their analytics needs. Here are 10 reasons why companies are choosing to outsource analytics. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Apr 2021
Chief data officer role key to data-drive decision-making
Though the first CDO was hired nearly 20 years ago, many organizations are only now beginning to realize the value of data and seek someone to oversee their data operations. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Mar 2021
Collaborative analytics benefits enterprise data analysis
Sometimes, having more eyes on a problem can help solve it a little bit faster. Experts talk about the enterprise benefits of implementing collaborative analytics. Continue Reading
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Quiz
17 Mar 2021
What do you know about graph data analytics?
Graph database and analytics adoption has been trending in the last few years as their use cases continue to expand. Use this quiz to find out what you know about the technology. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Mar 2021
Top tips for a successful self-service BI strategy
As self-service BI adoption continues across enterprises, it's important to make sure you have a good strategy. Here are the top tips for a successful self-service deployment. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jan 2021
Data governance for self-service analytics best practices
Establish a strong data governance strategy that will support your self-service analytics environment by including these best practices in your organization's process. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Jan 2021
Data governance framework key to analytics success
Successful data-driven decision-making relies on good data at its core, and it's a strong governance plan that ensures the quality of an organization's data. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Jan 2021
Key differences in uses of DataOps vs. DevOps
As with DevOps, DataOps hinges on cooperation between teams and breaking down silos within an organization with the focus of implementing and maintaining a data architecture. Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2020
Continuous intelligence a trend on the rise
As organizations look to gain a competitive advantage -- and many simply attempt to survive during the pandemic -- data streaming is helping them make decisions in real time. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Nov 2020
Data literacy framework must-haves for enterprises
As data becomes increasingly important to enterprises, employees beyond the data team need to be data literate. And data literacy programs need certain components to succeed. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Nov 2020
Data a key driver in fight for social justice
Analytics can be a critical tool in the social justice movement, but cultural and logistical hurdles can prevent nonprofits from using analytics to its full potential. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Oct 2020
Developing a data-driven culture begins with enablement
In an interview, Jennifer Redmon, chief data and analytics evangelist at Cisco, talks about how she helps organizations enable their employees to work with data. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Aug 2020
What makes up a strong data science team structure?
Enterprises rely on a strong data science team to get the most from their data. Read on to find out what talents you'll need to employ to support your organization's data. Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2020
Importance of analytics heightened by COVID-19 pandemic
Business intelligence is needed when times are bad, and it's the organizations who have created a data-driven culture that are best poised to thrive amid the COVID-19 crisis. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Aug 2020
Why more employees need data literacy skills
Encouraging employees to learn data literacy skills can benefit any enterprise. Read on for some of the benefits and resources to take advantage of in building those skills. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jul 2020
State of the self-service analytics market
Self-service analytics are important to strong enterprise analytics. Experts talk about how top vendors in the market are keeping up with user needs. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Jul 2020
Overcoming the top 3 analytics adoption challenges
Analytics is a growing part of many businesses. Experts talk about some of the most pressing challenges enterprises may face when implementing new analytics strategies. Continue Reading
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News
01 Jul 2020
Lack of data literacy still a problem for many organizations
Organizations' lack of confidence in their ability to understand and use data to make decisions blocks their efforts to become data-driven. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Jun 2020
What does Salesforce mean for Tableau AI features?
Tableau and Salesforce both offer AI features for their analytics tools. Experts talk about how the AI offerings from each platform can complement each other. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 May 2020
Data science interview preparation: How to answer top questions
A successful interview for a data scientist position relies on the ability to effectively communicate and demonstrate your combined experiences and skills. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 May 2020
4 features of great data visualization and storytelling
Data visualization and storytelling go hand in hand when it comes to explaining data. Here are four ways to make sure you build and tell a strong data story for your audience. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 May 2020
Data scientist vs. machine learning engineer careers
There are many careers under the data science umbrella, including data scientist and machine learning engineer. But what's the difference between the two? Read on to find out. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Apr 2020
The COVID-19 impact on analytics professionals
The global pandemic has forced many businesses to make quick changes. The COVID-19 impact on analytics professionals makes them imperative to changing business goals. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Mar 2020
Varied experience builds strong data science background
Data scientists need many skills and learn those skills from different backgrounds. Experts say relevant experience can come from nearly any quantitative field. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Feb 2020
The data science pathway demands continued learning
With the advent of open source coding languages and the expansion of online courses, the pathway to becoming a data scientist has never been easier. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Feb 2020
How to improve data scientist job satisfaction
Hiring data scientists is tough. Keeping them is tougher. However, there are certain things companies can do to minimize the high cost of turnover within their data science team. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2019
How to improve data governance for self-service analytics
Citizen data scientists and self-service analytics are on the rise as the data scientist shortage continues. Here are some data management best practices to support them. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Sep 2019
Data integration problems a hurdle companies must overcome
Relevant data is hard for organizations to find, Talend CEO Mike Tuchen says. So is mining the right data amid the complexity that large data stores have created. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Sep 2019
Talend CEO discusses importance of mining relevant data
Enterprises can't do good business intelligence without good data. In the first part of a two-part Q&A Talend CEO Mike Tuchen talks about how hard mining the right data can be. Continue Reading
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Opinion
27 Aug 2019
Governance, compliance, ethics in data mining: Separate but equal
In the ethical mining and analysis of data, governance, compliance and ethics are mistakenly taken as one in the same. Data managers need to be aware of the critical differences. Continue Reading
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Guide
21 Aug 2019
GDPR, AI intensify privacy and data protection compliance demands
This guide covers the challenges data management teams face on data protection and privacy, particularly with the rise of GDPR and similar laws and the growing use of AI tools. Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2019
Data ethics issues create minefields for analytics teams
Organizations have to map out ethical boundaries for data mining and analytics applications, according to participants in a roundtable discussion on data and ethics. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Jul 2019
How to navigate today's business analytics governance challenges
Don't let a traditional analytics mindset lure you into complacency when it comes to advanced analytics governance. Here are the biggest governance roadblocks and how to avoid them. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Jul 2019
morphological analysis
Morphological analysis is the process of examining possible resolutions to unquantifiable, complex problems involving many factors. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Jul 2019
AI acquisitions lead to consolidation
Analytics and AI startups emerge regularly and grow quickly. Frequent acquisitions, however, seem to be creating a more consolidated industry, cementing some vendors at the top. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Jun 2019
Social media analytics best practices tempered by privacy laws
Social media provides a fertile landscape of information and insight into consumer behavior, but collecting and analyzing that data carries all sorts of privacy pitfalls. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Apr 2019
A future data scientist needs business, deep learning skills
As automation grows, data scientists will focus more on business needs, strategic oversight and deep learning and less on model creation and other routine tasks. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Apr 2019
Most in-demand data science skills include ML, Python
Experts detail the skills employers want most in data scientists -- notably machine learning and programming languages -- and why often the most valuable expertise comes with time. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Apr 2019
AARRR metrics
AARRR metrics are a measured performance analysis of a startup businesses statistics centered around the response of customers. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Apr 2019
How modern business intelligence shapes up to big data
Business intelligence and analytics strategies have evolved in recent years in the face of big data. Here, we get a supplier CEO perspective, some analyst counsel, and testimony from Nationwide, Schroders and King Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2019
Big data management practices gain attention amid risks
Many data professionals have yet to solidify traditional data management practices, but they have a new set of challenges to overcome to ensure data privacy and avoid misuse. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Feb 2019
Expert urges data pros to hone data science skills
IT expert William McKnight shares job tips for data professionals looking to prosper in a changing enterprise. His first piece of advice: continually foster data science skills. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jan 2019
5 tips for migrating to BI in the cloud without overpaying
Moving BI and analytics to the cloud requires a strategy to avoid excessive costs. Get tips from experts and IT pros on what to watch out for and what to address. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2019
Data.gov shutdown shows limits of open data
The Data.gov shutdown shows that, as open data can be turned off, data professionals may need to consider alternative sources for the kinds of data the government offers. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Dec 2018
How to make a self-service BI tools deployment less painful
Self-service BI can be a big change for everyone in an organization. Expert Rick Sherman offers three principles to keep in mind that could make things easier. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Dec 2018
Bolster citizen data scientists with support, training
As more citizen data scientists take on work traditionally tasked to business analysts, organizations must consider how to support them. Start with a centralized data team. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Nov 2018
What data management challenges do analytics programs face?
Expert Anne Marie Smith shares five reasons why organizations' analytics programs might fail and how a data management framework and other programs can help. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Oct 2018
10 tips for implementing visualization for big data projects
Organizations need to keep users and design at the forefront when launching data visualization efforts, according to experts. Find out why colors and sizing matter. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Oct 2018
Data science teams use business ties to boost data knowledge
To ensure that advanced analytics applications are relevant to business operations, data scientists are collaborating with workers who are experts on business data. Continue Reading
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Infographic
01 Oct 2018
Automated predictive analytics tools spawn wannabe scientists
They don't own the same depth of data science skills, but automated predictive analytics tools hatch a new breed of 'data scientists' who can produce actionable predictive models. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Jul 2018
Reskilling the analytics team: Math, science and creativity
Technical skills are a must for data scientists. But to make analytics teams successful, they also need to think creatively, work in harmony and be good communicators. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jul 2018
Streamlining predictive analytics in retail marketing
Online flash-sale retailer Zulily uses BigQuery and Tableau to help power its predictive analytics, which, in turn, boosts its marketing efforts and ability to manage incoming data. Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2018
Airbnb, Univision highlight best practices in BI
At the Real Business Intelligence conference, Airbnb and Univision execs presented some of the BI strategies their organizations use to help drive growth and cut costs. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jun 2018
Building a data science team in today's data-centric climate
Finding and training data scientists to build a data science team can be challenging. But in a recent webinar, a Gartner analyst offered tips on how to do it. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
18 May 2018
Ten KPI templates for your dashboards
KPIs help companies gauge success, but how do you choose the right metrics to create useful reports? Here you'll find 10 KPI examples to inspire your executive dashboards. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 May 2018
Seven good data visualization practices for visual integrity
Data visualizations need visual integrity to ensure that the data they present can be interpreted correctly. Follow these design steps to help make visualizations trustworthy. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Mar 2018
cost containment
Cost containment is a process of judiciously reducing costs in a business or limiting them to a constant level. Continue Reading
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News
23 Mar 2018
Cambridge Analytica-Facebook case shows need for ethical data mining
Ethical data collection practices are becoming even more important, as cases like Cambridge Analytica's misuse of Facebook data challenge consumer trust in enterprise analytics. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Mar 2018
Diversified data sets for analytics deliver top results
Analytics teams should focus on data diversity to ensure that their projects deliver the most meaningful insights -- but they must be wary of some stumbling blocks. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
15 Feb 2018
Slow to gain traction, AI apps on the verge of explosion
From chatbots ("Can I help you?") to killer bots ("I'll be back."), artificial intelligence runs the gamut of applications and emotions like no other technology. It's been nearly 70 years since AI first came into consciousness with humankind, yet only recently has it made serious inroads into business and consumer markets, mainly riding the coattails of its offshoot, machine learning.
AI's other offspring -- deep learning, cognitive computing, image recognition and natural language processing -- show plenty of promise but have barely left the womb. Yet market research and industry foot soldiers tell us AI is on the cusp of explosive growth in practically every major industry.
Along those lines, the February issue of Business Information opens with our editor's note, which provides a good dose of common sense and advice for businesses not to throw caution to the whirlwind of hyperbole surrounding AI. Companies anxious to apply AI, particularly machine learning, to their operations for fear they'll fall behind the competition, must first do their homework and separate fact from fiction, all the while keeping in mind that implementing AI apps is difficult and requires time, expense and the right kind of data.
Our cover story takes the issue of good data one step further and examines the very real dangers that bias in machine learning data sets can create. Data scientists have their work cut out for them identifying and pinpointing bias, especially since nearly all data inherently contains bias. In another feature, we look at the usefulness of today's AI tools, which, except for some niche AI apps, are not very useful, but they come with a whole lot of promise as a soon-to-be transformative force in business operations.
Also in this issue, a major components manufacturer uses AI apps to transform its assembly line process, cognitive computing can help improve a doctor's bedside manner, the benefits of AI and machine learning entice healthcare organizations to move to the cloud and humankind's range of reactions to AI's unlimited potential parallel those of the atomic age.
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Feature
15 Feb 2018
Big data throws bias in machine learning data sets
AI holds massive potential for good, but it also amplifies negative outcomes if data scientists don't recognize data biases and correct them in machine learning data sets. Continue Reading
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Opinion
15 Feb 2018
AI technologies have come far, but the road is long
Machine learning and other artificial intelligence technologies are poised to offer businesses big benefits, but companies have to walk before they run with AI. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2018
Data analytics architecture must break down higher ed silos
Siloed data isn't only a problem for businesses. It's also a big issue for many large universities -- one that their data infrastructures need to resolve for effective analytics. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jan 2018
How predictive analytics techniques and processes work
Predictive analytics is no longer confined to highly skilled data scientists. But other users need to understand what it involves before they start building models. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Jan 2018
How to use machine learning to build a predictive algorithm
Machine learning is an invaluable tool for solving business problems, but don't jump into it for predictive analytics without understanding these important factors. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Nov 2017
Hiring vs. training data scientists: The case for each approach
Hiring data scientists is easier said than done -- so should you try to train current employees in data science skills? That depends on your company's needs, writes one analytics expert. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Aug 2017
Ten steps to start using predictive analytics algorithms effectively
A successful predictive analytics program involves more than deploying software and running algorithms to analyze data. This set of steps can help you put a solid analytics foundation in place. Continue Reading
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News
14 Mar 2017
Derbyshire NHS Trust takes simple BI approach to secure patient safety
Derbyshire NHS Foundation Trust opts for a simple, clinician and business-led approach to business intelligence to secure patient safety, using MicroStrategy Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2017
Three measures for capturing the value of data-driven decisions
Here's advice on how to track not just the amount of use of the analytics team's data and insights, but the value of the analytics they bring to the entire organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jul 2016
Three ways to import Power BI data into SharePoint
Whether you want to import raw data, use a URL or analyze data with Excel, here's the how-to on bringing Microsoft Power BI data into SharePoint. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jun 2016
How to connect Power BI with SharePoint
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to connect Power BI with SharePoint team sites without uploading files, allowing you to export and analyze data much more seamlessly. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Jan 2016
Examining the pros and cons of Microsoft Power BI tools
Power BI is a suite of business intelligence tools that targets user-friendly analysis and reporting. But what are users getting for their money, and how is it potentially useful? Continue Reading
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Answer
19 Feb 2015
Five steps to implementing an MDM program
Instituting a master data management program involves discovery, analysis, construction, implementation and sustainment processes, according to MDM expert Anne Marie Smith. Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2015
Self-service BI, data integration top information management issues
Self-service business intelligence and data integration top information management challenges for IT and finance professionals Continue Reading
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News
10 Sep 2014
Accenture: 48% of UK survey respondents fail to find big data talent
An Accenture survey has found that nearly half of UK respondents are struggling to find enough skilled data management professional Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Jun 2014
Design a business intelligence system properly -- for business users
Rick Sherman explains how to avoid common mistakes when planning and designing BI systems, saying that the varying needs of different business users must be front and center. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Dec 2013
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
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News
17 Dec 2013
NHS clinical research body uses QlikView to forward open data
The clinical research delivery arm of the NHS is developing an open data platform using QlikView Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2013
C-level executives cry out for data scientists
Board level executives are putting pressure on their IT organisations to find data scientists, according to Teradata research Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2013
Self-service BI: A maturity test for BI programs
TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson shares the key points from a webcast panel discussion he led on self-service business intelligence. His conclusion: It's not as easy as you might think. Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2013
A critical BI challenge: Reconciling opposites
Business intelligence managers are often faced with seemingly contradictory demands, writes TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson -- and that calls for an open mind, not a rigid approach. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Aug 2013
Coca-Cola overcomes challenges to seize BI opportunities
The Coca-Cola Co. understands that analytics challenges can be overcome and that a team approach helps businesses take advantage of BI opportunities. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Jun 2013
BI program rescue strategy: Breaking the rules
If business users are losing faith in a business intelligence team, it might be time to throw out the BI rule book and do what needs to be done, writes TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 May 2013
Six steps to creating a BI competency center
TechTarget's Wayne Eckerson lays out a roadmap for setting up a successful business intelligence competency center, and breaking down BI silos, in a decentralized company. Continue Reading
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News
29 Apr 2013
Case study: Telefonica Ireland uses business intelligence to reduce churn
O2 Ireland, part of Telefonica, has been using Teradata’s data warehousing and Cognos BI to stop customers leaving and entice them with location-based offers Continue Reading