analytics Archives | Datafloq https://datafloq.com/tag/analytics/ Data and Technology Insights Wed, 19 Jul 2023 06:06:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://datafloq.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/cropped-favicon-32x32.png analytics Archives | Datafloq https://datafloq.com/tag/analytics/ 32 32 Harnessing the Power of Big Data with Python and Customer Experience Analytics https://datafloq.com/read/harnessing-the-power-of-big-data-with-python-and-customer-experience-analytics/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 04:52:09 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=1028751 In the digital era, the term ‘Big Data' has become a buzzword, and for a good reason. It refers to the vast volumes of structured and unstructured data that businesses […]

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In the digital era, the term ‘Big Data' has become a buzzword, and for a good reason. It refers to the vast volumes of structured and unstructured data that businesses generate every day. This data, when harnessed correctly, can provide valuable insights that can drive business growth and improve customer experience. In this blog, we will explore how learning Python can be useful in managing and analysing big data, and how customer experience analytics can be enhanced using these insights.

The Big Data Revolution

Big data is more than just a large amount of data. It's a concept that encompasses the collection, processing, and use of massive datasets that traditional data processing software can't handle. The data comes from various sources, including business transactions, social media, and information from sensor or machine-to-machine data.

The three Vs characterize big data: Volume, Velocity, and Variety. Volume refers to the sheer amount of data, Velocity to the speed at which new data is generated and processed, and Variety to the different types of data available. More recently, two more Vs have been added: Veracity, referring to the quality and accuracy of data, and Value, which emphasizes the importance of turning data into useful insights.

Python: The Big Data Tutor

Python has emerged as a leading player in the big data space due to its simplicity and versatility. It's an excellent tutor for anyone looking to dive into big data analysis. Python's syntax is clear and intuitive, making it an excellent choice for beginners. Moreover, it's a high-level language, which means it abstracts many complicated details of the computer, allowing the programmer to focus on the logic and data analysis rather than the intricacies of machine language.

Python also boasts a rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks that are specifically designed for data analysis, such as Pandas, NumPy, and SciPy for numerical computations, and Matplotlib and Seaborn for data visualization. For big data processing, PySpark, Dask, and Pydoop stand out, allowing Python programmers to handle large datasets that can't fit into memory.

Enhancing Customer Experience Analytics with Big Data

Customer experience analytics is a method of tracking and analyzing customer behavior to gain insights into their needs, preferences, and expectations. It involves collecting data from various customer touchpoints and analyzing it to understand the customer journey better and improve the overall customer experience.

Big data plays a crucial role in enhancing customer experience analytics. With the vast amount of data available, businesses can gain a 360-degree view of their customers. This holistic view enables businesses to personalize their offerings, predict future behavior, and identify areas where they can improve the customer experience.

For example, by analyzing customer behavior data, a business can identify patterns and trends that can help predict future purchases. This information can be used to personalize marketing messages and product recommendations, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Python, with its data analysis and machine learning libraries like scikit-learn and TensorFlow, can be used to build predictive models that can forecast customer behavior. These models can be trained on large datasets, making them more accurate and reliable.

Conclusion

Big data, Python, and customer experience analytics are three pillars that can support and drive business growth in the digital era. Python, acting as a tutor, simplifies the process of big data analysis, making it accessible to anyone willing to learn. On the other hand, big data provides the raw material that, when processed and analyzed, can enhance customer experience analytics, leading to improved customer satisfaction and business success.

In the end, it's not just about having big data; it's about understanding it and using it to make informed decisions. With Python and customer experience analytics, businesses can unlock the full potential of big data, leading to more personalized experiences, improved customer satisfaction, and ultimately, increased business success.

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How to Use Marketing Analytics for SaaS to Increase Conversions https://datafloq.com/read/marketing-analytic-saas-increase-conversions/ Mon, 12 Jun 2023 09:34:40 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=1012815 If you are a SaaS product manager or marketing manager, then one of your prime responsibilities would be to increase conversions. SaaS, being a highly competitive market, it is difficult […]

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If you are a SaaS product manager or marketing manager, then one of your prime responsibilities would be to increase conversions.

SaaS, being a highly competitive market, it is difficult to acquire new customers. Unless you aren't analyzing how people are interacting with your product, you won't be able to make it far.

Here, the role of marketing analytics, such as tracking the number of unique visitors, dwell time, and bounce rate from each campaign, is crucial for enabling SaaS growth.

In this article, you are going to learn how you can use data from marketing analytics to convert more customers and increase your revenue. I'll be covering:

  • Concept of marketing analytics w.r.t. to SaaS
  • Importance of marketing analytics for SaaS
  • Key metrics to track for SaaS
  • Leveraging marketing analytics to drive more conversions

This article will help you in making use of marketing analytics in a much more productive way. Let's start.

Understanding Marketing Analytics for SaaS

SaaS marketing analytics is about measuring all marketing efforts for a SaaS product with the objective of assessing the data points that show the effectiveness of each marketing activity.

It can be done by measuring organic and paid traffic, the journey or the path that users take after landing on the website or the product, no. of leads generated, lead qualification no. of leads converted, and how many of them can be up-sold.

It establishes a feedback cycle that keeps marketing teams informed about the performance, potency, and loopholes in their strategies.

Why is Marketing Analytics for SaaS Important?

In each given category, there are hundreds of SaaS products competing with each other. For e.g. in marketing automation only, there are 368 listings on G2.

Source: G2

This makes understanding SaaS marketing analytics even more necessary. Here are key reasons how marketing analytics help:

  • Data-driven decision-making: With accurate data, you can make informed decisions about your marketing strategies and tactics, ensuring they are effective and efficient in attracting and converting leads.
  • Optimizing marketing spend: By analyzing your marketing performance, you can identify which channels and campaigns are generating the highest ROI and allocate resources accordingly.
  • Improving user experience: Analyzing user behavior and engagement can help you identify areas for improvement in your website, app, or platform, ultimately enhancing the user experience and driving conversions.
  • Personalization and targeting: With insights gleaned from marketing analytics, you can better understand your audience and create personalized, targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with potential customers.
  • Continuous improvement: As your SaaS business grows and evolves, so should your marketing efforts. Marketing analytics enables you to analyze and adjust your strategies for optimal results.

Components of Marketing Analytics for SaaS

To fully leverage marketing analytics for your SaaS business, you need to consider several components:

  • Data collection: There are different sources from where SaaS marketers collect data. It can be done through Google Analytics, CRM, product analytics and social media. All of these platforms have the ability to export data and generate reports.
  • Data analysis: Analyze the collected data using various analytical techniques (e.g., descriptive, predictive, prescriptive) to uncover trends, patterns, and insights. But here's the catch. One common challenge for every marketer is to consolidate of this data for a comprehensive analysis. Instead of analyzing data in silos, marketers can look for ways to transform their data, and assemble into one single database.
  • Data visualization: Present the data in easy-to-understand formats (e.g., charts, graphs, dashboards) to facilitate decision-making.
  • Data-driven strategy: Use the insights gained from the analysis to develop and implement data-driven marketing strategies that boost your conversions.

Key Metrics and KPIs for SaaS Marketing Analytics

SaaS marketers are bombarded with tons of data. In such a case, it becomes important for them to focus on what's necessary.

They must sift, classify, and categorize only the relevant data points of key metrics and ignore the rest.

Here, we shall look into the most important metrics that are relevant to improve SaaS conversions.

Acquisition Metrics

  • Traffic sources: Identify the channels (e.g., organic search, paid search, social media) driving traffic to your website or app.
    New and returning visitors: Monitor the ratio of new vs. returning visitors to gauge the effectiveness of your marketing efforts in attracting and retaining potential customers.
  • Cost per acquisition (CPA): Calculate the average amount spent on acquiring a new customer through your marketing efforts.
  • Conversion rate: Track the percentage of visitors who complete a desired action (e.g., signing up for a trial, making a purchase).

Engagement Metrics

Time on site: Measure the average time spent by visitors on your website or app to evaluate user engagement.
Bounce rate: Monitor the percentage of visitors who leave your website without interacting with any content, indicating a lack of engagement or relevance.
Pages per visit: Track the average number of pages viewed by visitors during a session to gauge content engagement.
User actions: Analyze specific actions taken by users within your app or platform (e.g., feature usage, content downloads) to assess product engagement.

Retention Metrics

Churn rate: Calculate the percentage of customers who cancel their subscription or discontinue using your service within a given time frame.
Customer lifetime value (CLTV): Estimate the total revenue generated by a customer throughout their entire relationship with your business.
Net promoter score (NPS): Measure customer satisfaction and loyalty by asking customers how likely they are to recommend your product or service to others.

Leveraging Marketing Analytics to Optimize Conversion Rates

Now that you know which metrics to track, let's see how you can leverage SaaS marketing analytics and increase your conversions.

1. Identify and Focus on High-Performing Channels

By analyzing your traffic sources and conversion rates, you can identify the channels that are most effective in driving conversions. Focus your marketing efforts and budget on these high-performing channels to maximize your ROI and attract more qualified leads.

2. Optimize Your Website and App for Conversions

Use engagement metrics like time on site, bounce rate, and pages per visit to identify areas for improvement on your website or app. Implement changes to design, layout, navigation, or content to enhance the user experience and encourage conversions.

3. Personalize and Target Your Marketing Campaigns

Leverage data on your audience's behavior, preferences, and demographics to create personalized, targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with potential customers. This could include segmenting your email list, tailoring ad messaging, or customizing content recommendations.

4. Test, Analyze, and Iterate

Continuously test different elements of your marketing strategies (e.g., ad copy, email subject lines, landing page design) to optimize performance. Analyze the results, make adjustments, and retest to ensure your marketing efforts are consistently driving conversions.

Final Words

As a SaaS marketer, marketing analytics is inevitable to understand your marketing performance, optimize your strategies, and ultimately increase conversions.

By focusing on key metrics and KPIs, leveraging data-driven insights, and continually testing and iterating your marketing efforts, you can convert more customers and boost your revenue.

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5th Middle East Enterprise AI and Analytics Summit 2023 https://datafloq.com/meet/5th-middle-east-enterprise-ai-analytics-summit-2023/ Wed, 04 Oct 2023 22:00:00 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?post_type=tribe_events&p=1004719 To thrive in today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations have no choice but to adapt to the emerging AI technologies for improved data-driven decision making, increased operational efficiency, customer personalization, […]

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To thrive in today's rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations have no choice but to adapt to the emerging AI technologies for improved data-driven decision making, increased operational efficiency, customer personalization, process automation and transition to an AI future.'

In line with Qatar's National AI Strategy, the 5th Middle East Enterprise AI & Analytics Summit is designed to foster open discussions and collaborations for application of AI and analytics within enterprises to gain valuable insights, and optimize business processes leading to new ideas, partnerships, and innovations.'

MEEAI summit addresses the market needs by facilitating B2B collaborations to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability when using AI to avoid biases and negative impacts.'

At MEEAI platform, professionals can engage with peers & relevant solution providers who share similar interests and challenges in integrating AI and analytics into their work by sharing first-hand information, experiences, use cases and framework for responsible AI adoption.'

 

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6th Middle East Enterprise AI & Analytics Summit 2023 https://datafloq.com/meet/6th-middle-east-enterprise-ai-analytics-summit-2023/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 23:00:00 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?post_type=tribe_events&p=1004718 The potential of AI to drive innovation, economic growth, and societal development has been realised by the UAE government through national initiatives such as the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence […]

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The potential of AI to drive innovation, economic growth, and societal development has been realised by the UAE government through national initiatives such as the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031. This strategy aims to position the UAE as a global hub for AI and promote its integration across key sectors, including healthcare, transportation, finance, education, real-estate, retail, manufacturing and government services.

Leveraging game-changing AI platforms is no more an option rather a necessity for organizations to survive & thrive in today's rapidly evolving business landscape. Improved data-driven decision making, increased operational efficiency, enhanced customer experience, process automation and transition to an AI future are just the tip of the iceberg.

At MEEAI platform, professionals can engage with peers & relevant solution providers who share similar interests and challenges in integrating AI and analytics into their work by sharing first-hand information, experiences, use cases and framework for responsible AI adoption.

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What Data Science Can Learn From Blacksmiths https://datafloq.com/read/what-data-science-can-learn-from-blacksmiths/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 14:41:27 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=975703 It is widely accepted that newly graduated analytics and data science students require substantial investment from their first employer to become productive. While new graduates will always require more handholding […]

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It is widely accepted that newly graduated analytics and data science students require substantial investment from their first employer to become productive. While new graduates will always require more handholding than experienced employees, I've always felt that there had to be a way to better prepare students for the workforce than how we do it today. 

Now that I've gotten a much closer look at how universities and their partnerships with the private sector work, I've come to believe that there are changes that can be made to university degree programs, as well as how companies invest in talent, to make analytics and data science students more ready for the workforce. Note that this blog's concepts should also be directly relevant to other applied fields with technical academic programs such as computer science, engineering, etc.

How Things Used To Be Done

When I went through college and graduate school, it was considered a good thing to take part in an internship during the summer. However, there weren't many formal programs to support that effort. Further, the universities I attended, while very large and established, didn't put much emphasis on getting real world experience. Students of my generation regularly graduated without ever setting foot outside the halls of academiaThat approach leads to situations where students have a lot of theoretical knowledge and book smarts but are unable to apply that knowledge effectively in a practical, real world business setting. I discussed this concern in a prior blog and it is bad for both students and their future employers. 

Where We Are Today

Today, many university programs require internships or other work experience to be obtained as part of a degree program, and most of the rest at least heavily encourage it and attempt to facilitate it. Similarly, many companies have formal internship, co-op, and university partnership programs to try to recruit new talent while simultaneously helping to develop that talent. Universities also often offer, if not require, applied project courses which focus students on the application of their knowledge to real problems. 

All those programs are aimed at making students better prepared, and forward-thinking universities and companies have embraced this model alongside motivated students. However, there is more that can be done to make graduates ready for what they'll face in their jobs and to enable employers to get more productivity, faster, from fresh graduate hires.

What Blacksmiths Did Right

Back in the day, if one wanted to be a blacksmith, it wasn't a matter of taking some courses and then getting a job. A core part of becoming a blacksmith was a formal apprenticeship under a highly experienced blacksmith. This mentor would help the apprentice understand how everything worked and slowly move them from shoveling coal while watching the blacksmith do all the work, to helping the blacksmith do the work. Many other hands-on careers followed the same model. I recall hearing that it used to take seven years as an apprentice to become an official Japanese hibachi grill chef! 

The point is that, especially for trade jobs, the thought of someone just taking classes in a classroom and then getting to work is unfathomable – and rightly so. There is a lot more to hammering out a horseshoe than simply reading about how to do it. There is a lot more to being a master carpenter than reading about the techniques a master carpenter uses. The best way to learn a trade is to watch and then mimic and practice what was seen to build up one's skills.

How Data Science Can Borrow From Blacksmithing

If we really want our educational system to make students ready for the workplace, we need to consider some radical changes. Internships are fine. Co-ops are even a further step in the right direction. However, it would be even better if getting an analytics and data science degree required substantive work experience as part of the degree. In other words … an apprenticeship. 

This could mean adjusting coursework requirements to make room for a year or more of focused apprenticeship. It might also mean extending a degree's timeline. The assumption is that students will be paid during an apprenticeship so that they won't need to worry about funding and running up student debt. An apprenticeship model will also require a change in how corporations make use of students. Assigning an employee to be a formal mentor to an apprentice for six months to a year necessitates modifying current approaches to working with students.

Why Should An Apprentice Model Be Adopted?

Data science is a dynamic, rapidly changing field. The courses taught at universities can be years behind the latest tools and approaches being used in the workplace. The only way to get skills up to date is to work in the real world and merge the reality of the workplace with the necessary underlying theory being learned in school. At the same time, if students start working while they are still in school, they'll be better able to target their coursework to what they like best and will be able to put the academic theory they are learning into a real-world context even as they initially learn it. 

Even if an apprenticeship approach is adopted, it won't be a one and done endeavor. Data scientists will continuously need to learn the latest tools and techniques to stay relevant. I've discussed in the past that there is a difference between having outdated skills and having an outdated mindset. Top data scientists endeavor to continually learn on their own and from their peers. They'll also be eager to give back by mentoring a young apprentice to follow in their footsteps. 

Without a concerted effort from both the university and the corporate communities, however, we'll remain trapped in the cycle of largely graduating smart, motivated students who are well versed in the theory of data science, but who have learned little about how to apply that knowledge in a way that will keep them employed. Agree? Disagree? Feel free to comment!

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Advancing Construction Analytics 2023 https://datafloq.com/meet/advancing-construction-analytics-2023/ Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:00:00 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?post_type=tribe_events&p=946843 Advancing Construction Analytics returns for the 5th year to unite Data, Analytics, IT and Business Leaders from across the construction industry on a mission to enhance the power of advanced […]

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Advancing Construction Analytics returns for the 5th year to unite Data, Analytics, IT and Business Leaders from across the construction industry on a mission to enhance the power of advanced analytics for their firms. Understand how to better gather, integrate, structure, and utilize vast amounts of data to provide more valuable business insights and track better KPIs for predictive decision-making. This is the must attend conference in 2023 for any technical or business leader looking to enhance their analytics capabilities and infrastructure, and bring valuable insights to their teams to make more informed decisions that will supercharge business success.'

With the industry now in a period of accelerating growth where contractors are fighting to increase their capacity, select the right projects, and build better client relationships, many of the industry's leading contractors are harnessing advanced analytics capabilities to help them understand why they are winning to win more! Be the change-agent who will lead your firm into a new age driven by evidence-based decision-making, enabled by data science, and further accelerated by AI and machine learning.

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People Analytics: A Critical Approach to Business Decision Making https://datafloq.com/read/people-analytics-a-critical-approach-to-business-decision-making/ Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:32:32 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=923373 At its core, human resources management is the practice of ensuring that your organization's most valuable asset, its people, are managed effectively and efficiently. However, increasingly complex technology and the […]

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At its core, human resources management is the practice of ensuring that your organization's most valuable asset, its people, are managed effectively and efficiently. However, increasingly complex technology and the ever-evolving nature of the global workforce have made the HR field more and more complex – somewhat taking away from the “human” element of propelling an organization forward.

Enter people analytics: a data-driven approach to HR decision-making that uses empirical evidence and analytics to evaluate, measure, and improve the effectiveness of personnel policies and programs. By leveraging people analytics, HR teams can ensure that their operations are in sync with the company's goals and objectives – thus giving companies a competitive edge by allowing them to make informed decisions backed up by reliable data and insights.

The Evolution of People Analytics

Believe it or not, people analytics has existed for decades, yet it is only in recent years that technology has become more sophisticated and commonplace. Going back to its roots, the evolution of people analytics began over two decades ago when companies started to rely on basic spreadsheet tools to monitor staff data. This enabled them to track and analyze employee trends, such as average tenure, diversity metrics, and the attrition rate within their organization – all of which remain key elements of people analytics today.

Fast forward to the present day, and people analytics has become much more sophisticated thanks to the introduction of big data and machine learning. Now, organizations are able to gather and analyze vast amounts of data about their employees and use it to make informed decisions such as which departments need more staff, how to optimize the onboarding process for new hires, and what can be done to improve employee retention.

The Benefits of People Analytics

People analytics is beneficial not only for HR departments but also for the success of the entire organization. Applying people data allows companies to remain well-prepared and agile in case of any unexpected shifts within their workforce while helping them to make the most of the resources that they have. Here are a few tangible benefits that come with employing people analytics strategies:

Employee retention

By utilizing people analytics, organizations can become aware of any potential issues that may be driving employees away and measure the effectiveness of new strategies. This way, not only do they keep their most talented staff members but also save on time and money spent training replacements for those who have left.

Increased productivity

By understanding the skills and abilities of employees, organizations can better match them to roles that will maximize their potential. This ensures that teams are properly staffed and that resources are used more efficiently.

Optimized Workforce Planning

People analytics can help organizations identify impending skill gaps and anticipate the future, optimizing their performance in all areas. In addition to improved efficiency, this strategy will save them time and money over the long term.

Improved Talent Acquisition

By using data to understand the needs of an organization, HR teams can make more informed hiring decisions, improve recruiting processes, and source talent that is better suited to the role. This can help to ensure that employees are more productive and engaged in their work.

Enhanced Employee Experience

By understanding employee data, organizations can create tailored experiences for their employees that are designed to meet their individual needs. For example, companies can use people analytics to provide employees with personalized benefits such as flexible working hours, career mentorship programs, and other perks – all of which can help to boost morale and job satisfaction.

Key Considerations for Implementing People Analytics

Do you want to make the most of people analytics but don't know where to start? Here are some key considerations that you should keep in mind when implementing people analytics in your organization:

Data Quality

The accuracy of employee data is essential for people analytics to be effective. If your facts are flawed, then so too may the decisions you make. Prioritize ensuring that all personnel information remains comprehensive and precise before delving into any analysis activities – this will allow you to trust in the results and take appropriate action from better-informed perspectives.

Privacy and Security

People analytics can provide a wealth of insights – however, there must be limits to how far organizations go in collecting and analyzing employee data. Companies should ensure that they comply with relevant privacy laws and have robust security measures in place to protect employee data from unauthorized access.

Actionable Insights

People analytics is your key to unlocking powerful insights that can help you make informed decisions about your workforce. However, make sure you don't just focus on the obvious areas, but deep dive into uncovering trends and correlations in order to collect meaningful data-driven information. Remember: all of these efforts will be wasted if you don't take action on them – so make sure to use this data to your advantage.

Wrapping up

For the uninitiated, the idea of people analytics might feel daunting. But it doesn't have to be. Armed with a comprehensive approach, the right data metrics/technologies, and a dedication to actionable outcomes; you will be able to unlock your full potential and drive your organization to greater heights. Not only will this have an immense impact on business outcomes, but it'll also help you gain a competitive edge over your rivals.

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When Pristine Data Isn’t Pristine https://datafloq.com/read/when-pristine-data-isnt-pristine/ Mon, 16 Jan 2023 10:26:42 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?post_type=tribe_events&p=900131 The data that you consider pristine and absolutely perfect for its intended use can turn into an absolute mess overnight if the data is used in a different way. While […]

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The data that you consider pristine and absolutely perfect for its intended use can turn into an absolute mess overnight if the data is used in a different way. While it isn't common, there are cases where the current uses for data aren't impacted by a major underlying quality issue that, if not identified, can totally corrupt a new use of the data. No matter how clean you believe your data to be, you must always revisit that assumption when the data is put to new uses. This blog will explain how this can be and provide a real and very intuitive example.

The Data Was Fully Tested and Pristine…

My first major run-in with the issue of data quality varying by usage took place in the early 2000s. There was a team within my company working with a major retailer to implement some new analytical processes. At the time, transaction level data had only just become available for analysis. As a result, the analytics being implemented were the first for that retailer to use line-item detail instead of rolling up to store, product, timeframe, or some other dimension.

The retailer had a robust reporting environment that was well-tested. Business users could dive deep into sales by store or product type or timeframe or any combination thereof. The output of these reports had been validated both prior to implementation and also through the experience of users validating that the numbers in the reports matched exactly to what was expected based on other sources. All was well with the reporting and so when it was determined that some initial market basket affinity reports would be implemented, it was expected to be a pain-free process.

Then, things went off the rails.

…Until Suddenly It Wasn't!

The initial testing of the market basket data was going smoothly overall. However, there were some very odd results occurring in only some cases. For example, items from the deli seemed to have very unusual results that just didn't make sense. As a result, the project team dug more deeply into the data to see what was going on.

What they found was that some stores had only a single transaction involving deli items each day. At the end of the day, there was a single transaction that would have 10 lbs of American cheese, 20 lbs of salami, etc. These transactions clearly had unrealistic amounts of deli products. At first glance, this made absolutely no sense and was assumed to be an error of some sort. Then the team dug some more.

It ended up that, for some reason, some of the store locations had not yet integrated the deli's cash register with the core point of sale system. As a result, the deli manager would create a summary tally at the end of each day when the deli closed. The manager would then go to one of the front registers and enter a single transaction with the totals for each item from the day. The totals were actually valid and accurate!

The Implications of What Was Found

The team now knew that the odd deli data was correct. At the same time, the market basket analysis was not working properly. How could these both be true at once? The answer is that the scope of how the data was being analyzed had changed. For years, the company had only looked at aggregated sales across transactions. The manually entered deli end-of-day sales totals were 100% accurate if looking at sales by day or by store or by product. In the way the data had been used in the past, the data truly was pristine. The deli managers' workaround was ingenious.

The problem was that the new affinity analysis was looking a level lower and diving into each transaction. The large deli transactions weren't valid at the line-item level because they were, in fact, fake transactions even though the totals weren't fake. Each nightly deli “transaction” was really an aggregate being forced into a transactional structure. As a result, while the data was pristine when looking at aggregates, it was completely inaccurate for market basket analysis.

There was an easy solution to the problem. The team simply filtered out the deli transactions from the stores with the separate deli system. Once the false transactions were removed, the analysis started to work well and the issue was resolved.

Data Governance and Quality Procedures Aren't One and Done

The takeaway here is that you can never assume that data that has been checked and validated for one use will automatically be ok for others. It is necessary to validate that all is well anytime a new use is suggested. A more modern example might be a large set of images that have worked perfectly for building models that identify if one or more people are present in an image. The quality of the images might not be sufficient, however, if the goal is to identify specifically who is in each image instead of just identifying that some person is present.

It will certainly be rare that a new usage of data will uncover a previously unimportant data quality issue, but it will happen. Having appropriate data governance protocols in place that ensure that someone is validating assumptions before a new use of data can head off unpleasant surprises down the road. After all, the grocer's data in the example truly was pristine for every use case it had ever been used for in the past. It was only when a new use from a different perspective was attempted that it was found to have a major flaw for the new purpose.

Originally published by the International Institute for Analytics

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Importance of Data Analytics for Product Managers https://datafloq.com/read/importance-of-data-analytics-for-product-managers-2/ Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:49:18 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?p=878917 Data analytics plays a major role in the success of product management. Often, product managers leverage data analytics to collect, analyze, and interpret data to make informed decisions. This also […]

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Data analytics plays a major role in the success of product management. Often, product managers leverage data analytics to collect, analyze, and interpret data to make informed decisions. This also helps frame product development, marketing, and sales strategies by using insights to make data-backed choices that can enhance their product.

Questionnaires and in-person consumer interviews were formerly the mainstays for product managers in collecting end-user feedback. These tactics helped product managers learn about their customers' experiences with their products. But now, they use a product management platform that integrates with product analytics tools to scoop key data about customer interactions.

Product managers leverage data to understand customer trends and preferences, optimize product performance and identify new growth opportunities. Another factor is data can be used to optimize product designs and features to improve customer experience. Data analytics can help measure product launch campaigns' success and track customer feedback trends.

Product managers use data analysis to get answers to questions like –

  • What happened to the product after its release?
  • What is the current state of the product?
  • Can this product be better?
  • Do users like the product? If not, what are their expectations?

Such descriptive answers require collecting data from multiple sources (tools, customer feedback, customer support team, etc.) and then summarizing it into useful metrics that provide insight into the current performance of the product.

Overall, 89% of marketers already leverage data analytics to make strategic decisions, which shows why data analytics is important for product management.

For more, let's dive in!

Track key metrics

Product managers may not involve themselves in collecting and poring every possible information they find. Doing so may overwhelm them and other team members to make sense of the data. Therefore, they can pick up the ethics of analytics and start identifying the necessary information that feeds the product enhancement actions.

Focus on key performance indicators that help save time and effort by restricting the search to the most relevant results.

Here are some of the most important indicators for a product manager to consider-

Engagement: Knowing how much the customers use your product can help plan a roadmap to enhance their experience. Collect key user information like how they found your product, what made them sign up, which features they often used (and seldom), and what kept them coming back. Such data can help fine-tune products to provide a large audience with the best possible user experience.

Customer churn: Keep tabs on customer churn to discover why customers stop using the product. It compels product managers to reconsider product features, customer service concerns, or pricing. This way, product managers will better understand where to put their efforts to reduce customer attrition.

Cost of new customers: This powerful metric feeds the marketing and sales team to streamline their efforts. It helps product managers calculate the cost of acquiring a new customer. The rise and fall observed in this metric help adjust marketing and product pricing strategies.

Customer lifetime value (CLV): This metric can help move beyond simply gauging the money customers spend buying the product. Knowing this helps you know the behavior of your valuable customers, based on which you can motivate them to continue with such behavior. Product managers must fine-tune aspects like onboarding experience, improving average order value, and long-lasting building relationships that drive loyalty.

Make informed decisions

First, data analytics plays a pivotal role in product management that helps managers make informed decisions and provide the direction to meet customer needs effectively. It begins with gaining insights into customer preferences and behaviour, which further propels identifying new product trends and opportunities.

And this way, product managers can measure existing product success, and if needed, they can refine the same.

The decision-making of product managers through data analysis includes (but is not limited to) the following –

Track product sales and performance: Data analytics help track the sales and performance of a particular product. This helps product managers decide where to allocate resources and how to promote products best to maximize profitability.

Identify trends in customer buying habits: With data analytics, product managers can identify trends in customer buying habits and use this information to develop new strategies for marketing campaigns or create more targeted promotions for specific customers or segments.

Customer satisfaction: Data analytics also provides valuable insight into customer satisfaction, enabling product managers to identify and analyze potential issues before they start hindering customer experience.

Understand the competitive landscape: Data analytics helps product managers better understand the competitive landscape by providing an in-depth look at competitors' offerings, pricing strategies, and promotional activities to stay ahead of the competition while keeping costs low effectively.

Open inroads for A/B testing

A/B testing involves comparing two product versions (A and B) to determine which is more effective. This test involves identifying the most successful features in improving user engagement, satisfaction, and loyalty (some of which were discussed earlier).

For this, product managers must accurately understand how users interact with their products. And this is where data analytics comes in for A/B testing – leveraging metrics like user behaviour, usage patterns, and preferences.

Quickly identify changes that impact user engagement and other key metrics by implementing A/B tests for effective product management. Here, product managers can make small changes to a single product feature or element and measure its impact on user behaviour.

This approach simplifies identifying features that need improvement or product elements that no longer add value. Making such adjustments based on data-driven insights helps product managers ensure that they continuously improve their products by making the right decisions time and again.

Optimize pricing strategies

Pricing plays an integral role in determining the success or failure of a SaaS product. Therefore, product managers must implement an effective pricing strategy by leveraging data analytics tools that offer audience segmentation, cohort analysis, retention analysis, or other predictive modelling techniques.

Product managers can analyze customer segments or other factors like seasonality or competitors' pricing to optimize pricing strategies. This requires them to set prices that maximize profits while still being competitive in the marketplace.

Firstly, product managers collect necessary customer data (past purchases, successful upselling, etc.) and use advanced analytics and product management tools to analyze it. These tools allow businesses to uncover patterns in customer behavior and market trends that help make informed pricing decisions.

For example, product managers can use predictive analytics to forecast future demand for certain products or services based on past data. This helps adjust prices accordingly to capture the maximum profit while remaining competitive with competitors.

Wrapping up

A lot would depend on the data quality when using analytics for product management. It helps drive smarter decisions when developing new offerings, refining an existing product, or targeting a new market. Using data for making such crucial decisions can help optimize deliverables and ensure maximum profitability.

Product managers can leverage the power of data-driven insights to help teams gain visibility into user behavior patterns. This allows tailoring products to cater to customer needs and prove successful in target market segments. Also, product managers work to capitalize on new opportunities quickly before they become saturated with similar offerings, and this keeps the product relevant amidst the growing competition.

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Data & Leaders Exchange https://datafloq.com/meet/data-analytics-leaders-exchange/ Sun, 23 Apr 2023 20:30:00 +0000 https://datafloq.com/?post_type=tribe_events&p=869339 Quantifying and Qualifying the Value of D&A to the Organization Join the data & analytics community in Chicago, IL on April 23-25, 2023 for the Data & Analytics Leaders Exchange […]

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Quantifying and Qualifying the Value of D&A to the Organization

Join the data & analytics community in Chicago, IL on April 23-25, 2023 for the Data & Analytics Leaders Exchange – North America!'

We look forward to bringing together the data & analytics community to learn, connect and benchmark together, all while continuing to offer unmatched live speaker presentations from data & analytics leaders.'

An Exchange is a unique, invitation-only event driven by thought provoking conference sessions, executive roundtables, and innovative networking opportunities, resulting in three days of focused, structured business development and information exchange.'

Sponsorship Opportunities

The Data & Analytics Leaders Exchange: North America offers you the chance to do business with some of the most prestigious organizations in the world. The Data & Analytics Leaders Exchange: North America provides many different platforms for cutting-edge solution providers to increase their market share and awareness to their target audience through leveraging different sponsorship opportunities.'

We qualify all attendees based on job function, strategic responsibility and budgeting authority to ensure you're guaranteed to meet and engage with an elite group within the data & analytics space.'

Benefits of Sponsorship

  • Brand Exposure & Positioning: Promote your brand as a Data innovator and thought leader alongside the Data & Analytics Leaders Exchange
  • Thought Leadership: Get involved in the Data & Analytics Leaders Exchange in more ways than one. Our keynote, roundtable, and panel opportunities, to name a few, enable you to showcase your brand in front a recognized Data & Analytics Leaders from enterprise level organizations
  • One-On-One Consultations: No Expo hall here! Our 1:1 private consultations are what make an Exchange valuable for both sponsors and delegates. Save time and money by meeting only with delegates that need your specific solution to meet their current and future business needs
  • Networking: We want to make sure you get the most out of your Exchange participation. At one of our Exchanges you can take advantage of one of our many networking opportunities we've strategically built into each agenda


For more information on sponsoring the Data & Analytics Leaders Exchange please email us at spexchange@iqpc.com'

 

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