Thursday, March 28, 2024

Analytics specialists discuss profit oriented data strategies

Posted by Elena del Valle on June 29, 2017

Monetizing Your Data

Monetizing Your Data

Photos: Andrew Roman Wells, Kathy Williams Chiang

The more advanced our technology becomes the more data managers can gather and store. But once they have it what can they do with it? What should they do to gain an advantage for their business and how should they do it? Managers wondering what to do with all the data their company gathers on customers and prospective customers may be interested in a new book that addresses many data use related questions, Monetizing Your Data: A Guide to Turning Data into Profit-Driving Strategies and Solutions (Wiley, $49.95) by analytics specialists Andrew Roman Wells and Kathy Williams Chiang.

Kathy Chiang, author, Monetizing Your Data

Kathy Chiang, author, Monetizing Your Data

“The target audience for the book primarily includes entry-level to mid-level managers in medium to large sized businesses working in the areas of business analysis, marketing analytics, data science, business intelligence, strategy and business planning,” the authors replied by email via their publishing company when asked about potential readers.

The 344-page hardcover book published March of this year was written in an academic style with tables and charts. It is divided into six main sections titled as follows: Introduction, Decision Analysis, Monetization Strategy, Agile Analysis, Enablement, and Case Study. The authors promise a step-by-step process, Decision Architecture Methodology, to monetize data assets. The authors begin with an explanation of the analytical cycle, striving to guide readers through the process of developing practical strategies. They offer templates, checklists, and examples in a companion website, monetizingyourdata.com.

The biggest challenge to writing and publishing their book, which required 18 months from idea to publication, was that, “Because we are both active practitioners in the field, finding quality time to write and collaborate was a big challenge.” They declined to answer a question about the legal and ethical issues related to monetizing data. 

Andrew Wells, author, Monetizing Your Data

Andrew Wells, author, Monetizing Your Data

“Data is the transactional record of the activity of the business,” the authors replied when asked for a definition of data as it relates to their book. “It captures both internal business activity, such as production of products and services, and external activity such as customer orders, reviews, complaints. It can come in many different forms such as a number, a date, a word, a paragraph, a recorded message, or even an entire document.”

When asked if the data they refer to in the book is different from Big Data, they said, “Big Data at this time does not have a consensus definition but the term is generally used to refer to unstructured data such as social media posts and/or highly granular transactional data of the business characterized by large volume, high velocity and broad variety. The data we speak of in the book covers all types of business data from large to small, such as traditional business reporting metrics such as may be found in financial reporting, customer survey data found in market research, and the large volumes of transactional data that can be thought of as Big Data.”

According to his biography, Wells, chief executive officer, Aspirent, a management-consulting firm focused on analytics, has extensive experience building Analytical Solutions. He also has experience as a hands-on consultant. In Silicon Valley, he worked on customer analytics and the use of predictive methods to drive performance for two start-ups. Wells has also held executive roles as director of Business Intelligence at Capital One and consulted for Coca-Cola, IHG, The Home Depot, Capital One, Wells Fargo, HP, Time Warner, Merrill Lynch, and Applied Materials.

Chiang has expertise in guided analytics, analytic data mart development and business planning. Prior to her current position as vice president, Business Insights, Wunderman Data Management, she consulted with Aspirent on numerous analytic projects for several multinational clients including IHG and Coca-Cola. She has worked for Telecommunications Systems of Trinidad and Tobago, Acuity Brands Lighting, BellSouth International and Portman Overseas.


Monetizing Your Data

Click to buy Monetizing Your Data


French company offers unique font design software

Posted by Elena del Valle on June 21, 2017

Yann Guillet, marketing director, Prototypo

Yann Guillet, marketing director, Prototypo

Photo: Prototypo

Following a Kickstarter campaign in 2014 that gave the concept worldwide exposure and a following, in October 2015 Yannick Mathey established Prototypo (111, Boulevard de la Croix-Rousse, 69004 Lyon, France, https://www.prototypo.io/, contact@prototypo.io) in Lyon, France. The company offers customers a web application through which graphic designers and type fans may create unique fonts. Prototypo mainly targets graphic designers. Other users include communication agencies, design agencies and marketing and communication departments.

“The web application Prototypo allows graphic designers and type lovers to create unique fonts in a few clicks,” Yann Guillet, marketing director, said by email when asked about the company. “This innovative approach to type design offers users the opportunity to create stronger visual identities thanks to original and exclusive fonts.”

Prototypo employs seven and is available to domestic and international users. A free version of the software offers a limited parameter range and no font export capability. Subscribers pay $15 a month ($1 for the first month) or $99 for an annual plan. According to Guillet, the company has 25,000 users in 130 countries.

“We’ve got three parametric font templates on the application: Prototypo Fell, Prototypo Grotesk and Prototypo Elzevir,” he said. “We’ll add four more by the end of the year (a new one will be out in two weeks). Our users come from over 130 countries, most of them from USA, France, UK, Germany, Spain and Brazil.”

According to their website, their software is compatible with Chrome, Firefox and Opera. It does not support cursive font templates.

Listen to podcast with Lara Pizzorno, lead author, Your bones, about why your bones need strontium

Posted by Elena del Valle on June 12, 2017

Lara Pizzorno, author, Your Bones

Lara Pizzorno, author, Your Bones

Photo: Lara Pizzorno

A podcast interview with Lara Pizzorno, author, Your Bones, is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, she discusses why your bones need strontium with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

A member of the American Medical Writers Association for more than 25 years, Lara is the editor of Longevity Medicine Review, and senior medical editor for Salugenecists, Inc., and Integrative Medicine Advisors, LLC. She regularly writes review articles for physicians on issues related to healthy aging for Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal, covers the breaking research on bone health via video clips and blogs available at AlgaeCal.com, and edits The World’s Healthiest Foods weekly newsletter. A member of the American College of Nutrition, she is a contributing author to the Textbook of Functional Medicine, the Textbook of Natural Medicine, and Integrative Therapies for Depression; co-author of The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, and lead author of Natural Medicine Instructions for Patients and of Your Bones: How You Can Prevent Osteoporosis & Have Strong Bones for Life, Naturally, first and second editions, which has been translated into German and Polish.

To listen to the interview, click on the play button below, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Lara Pizzorno” and click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home from the RSS feed. Some software will not allow flash, which may be necessary for the play button and podcast player. If that is your case, you will need to download the file to play it. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the June 2017 section of the podcast archive.

Listen to podcast with Robin Lynch, owner, Regenerative Design Studios about beautifying America’s cities

Posted by Elena del Valle on June 5, 2017

Robin Lynch, owner, Regenerative Design Studios

Photo: Regenerative Design Studios

A podcast interview with Robin Lynch, owner, Regenerative Design Studios is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, she discusses beautifying America’s cities with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Robin, a third generation landscape designer and horticulturalist who studied Landscape Architecture, Consultation, Project Management and Construction Administration. She is the daughter of Richard Lynch, one of the original founding presidents of the Palos Verdes Rhododendron Society and an avid and highly skilled garden designer and noted lecturer, and granddaughter of Robert Jack Lynch, the author of The Encyclopedia of Gardening. Robin is a full member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), as well as a licensed landscape contractor.

To listen to the interview, click on the play button below, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Robin Lynch” and click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home from the RSS feed. Some software will not allow flash, which may be necessary for the play button and podcast player. If that is your case, you will need to download the file to play it. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the June 2017 section of the podcast archive.