The right tools for (structured) BIG DATA handling
Here's the scenario: you are a business analyst charged with providing reporting and basic analytics on more data than you know how to handle - and you need to do it without the combined resources of...
View ArticleThe right tools for (structured) BIG DATA handling (update)
A couple of weeks ago, I ran a somewhat rough benchmark to show just how much faster large database queries can run if you use better tools. The right tools for (structured) BIG DATA handling Here's...
View ArticleBusiness Analytics - finding the balance between complexity and readability
In this blog I try to present analytic material for a non-analytic audience. I focus on point of sale and supply chain analytics: it's a complex area and frankly, it's far too easy whether writing for...
View ArticleBack to blogging on "Better Business Analytics"
It's been quite a while, just over 12 months in fact since my last blog post. In that time, I've been hard at work developing analytic applications for the Orchestro DSR. (Orchestro's off-shelf...
View ArticleThe Next-Generation DSR
CPGs have had access to Point of Sale (POS) data now for many years and many of them use a Demand Signal Repository (DSR) to gather, clean and report on this data. (Actually most of them use a number...
View ArticleNext-Generation DSRs (data handling)
This post continues my look at the Next Generation DSR. A DSR (Demand Signal Repository) holds data, typically Point of Sale data, and that data volume is big, not Google-search-engine big, but...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs (data handling update)
Last week, I posted my thoughts on how new technology enables a simpler and faster database to support your DSR applications.Next Generations DSRs (data handling). Over the next few posts I'll extend...
View ArticleData Visualization - enabling action
I'll be speaking next week at the Supply Chain Management Research Center Conference at the University of Arkansas on how data-visualization enables action. The basic premise (and one I firmly...
View ArticleData Visualization - are pie-charts evil ?
I'll be speaking next week at the Supply Chain Management Conference at the University of Arkansas on how data-visualization enables action. Good visualization is fairly easy, unfortunately,...
View ArticleThe right tools for (structured) BIG DATA handling - columnar, mpp and cloud...
Today, I'm coming back a little closer to the series of promised posts on the Next Generation DSR to look at some benchmark results for the Amazon Redshift database. Some time ago I wrote a couple of...
View ArticleNext-Generation DSRs (multi-retailer)
This post continues my look at the Next Generation DSR. Demand Signal Repositories collect, clean, report-on and analyze Point of Sale data to help CPGs drive increased revenues and reduce costs....
View ArticleRecommended Reading: The Definitive Guide To Inventory Management
A little over 15 years go now, I was set the task to model how much inventory was needed for all of our, 3000 or so, products at every distribution center. Prior to this point, inventory targets had...
View ArticleVisualizing Forecast Accuracy. When not to use the "start at zero" rule ?
I recently joined a discussion on Kaiser Fung's blog Junk Charts , When to use the start-at-zero rule concerning when charts should force a 0 into the Y-axis. BTW - If you have not done so, add his...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs - it's all about speed !
Recently, I have been working with a new-to-me BI tool that has reminded me just how much speed matters. I'm not mentioning any names here, and it's not a truly bad tool, it's just too slow and that's...
View ArticleThe right tools for (structured) BIG DATA handling - more Redshift
In my recent post on The right tools (structured) BIG DATA handling, I looked at using AWS Redshift to generate summaries from a large fact table and compared it to previous benchmark results using a...
View ArticleAverages work ! (At least for ensemble methods)
After an early start, I was sitting at breakfast downtown enjoying a burrito and an excellent book on "ensemble methods". (Yes, I do that sometimes... don't judge) 1. Ensemble Methods in Data Mining:...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs - data blending
Over the last few months I've written a series of posts on Demand Signal Repositories. These are the specialized database and reporting tools primarily used by CPGs for reporting against retail Point...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs - data blending (part 2)
My most recent post on Demand Signal Repositories bemoaned their general lack of ability to rapidly ingest new and interesting data sources (e.g.: promotions, Twitter feeds, Sentiment analysis, Google...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs - Reporting is NOT analytics
I've written a number of posts now on the next generation of Demand Signal Repositories. DSRs are the specialized database and reporting tools primarily used by CPGs for retail Point of Sale data. So...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs - Analytic power !
To handle real Analytics (see my recent post Reporting is NOT Analytics) you need real Analytic power. BI tools are based on the language they use to interrogate the database (typically SQL) and with...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs - An Analytic name is not enough
You need not always build your analytic tools, sometimes you should buy in. If the chosen application does what you need that often makes good economic sense... as long as you know what you are...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs - Analytic Freedom !
Current Demand Signal Repositories don't play well with others. Their data is locked away behind layers of security and you can only access it through the shackles of their chosen front-end for...
View ArticleNext Generation DSRs - Bring the Analytics to the data
Under old world analytics, you move data from the DSR to your analytic server, build models, then write results (sometimes models too) back out for integration into the DSR. Now, consider this: DSR...
View ArticleAnalytics are for everyone !
Analytics are for everyone! Well, not building analytics, no. That needs a high level of expertise in statistics, machine-learning, optimization, programming, database skills, a healthy does of domain...
View ArticleNext Generation Point of Sale Analytics
Over the last few months I've been exploring the features I want to see in a next generation platform for point of sale analytics: It's simpler, faster and cheaper, supports rapid blending of new data...
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