Act before the market
ith the E-commerce Intelligence Platform (EIP), we have set out on one of our most ambitious data and analytics ventures yet: to authenticate and catalog every webshop globally, defining product categories, individual products, and the delivery infrastructure. Our aim is to build the most expansive and current e-commerce database, one that can proactively empower webshops, carriers & delivery providers, and suppliers to navigate through the dynamic, ever-expanding market.
EIP was first introduced in Denmark in 2021 and has since extended its reach to Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. To date, we systematically and repeatedly index, validate and analyze over 200,000 webshops, classifying them into different product categories.
So, why embark on this colossal task?
The objective behind EIP is to provide the industry with unparalleled Market Intelligence. To achieve this, it was imperative for us to go beyond the surface-level offerings and gain a deep understanding of the last-mile delivery mechanics, the various providers involved, and the pricing structures.
All webshops in one place
EIP offers a comprehensive market overview, identifying and validating every operational webshop, while discarding inactive ones. We have established a direct link between each webshop and its owner, detailing ownership, headquarters, and financial figures. By evaluating the webshops' offerings and categorizing their products, we understand the technological platforms utilized and the delivery services provided, including pricing and export capabilities.
Our "Market Scrape" equips users with a detailed snapshot of all webshops in a specific market. For deeper insights, particularly into the largest, custom-built webshops, our "Custom Scrape" service offers an in-depth analysis.
Checkout monitoring
Understanding the last-mile market, we monitor each delivery checkout on all webshops, gathering information about providers and their position on the list of delivery options, delivery methods and prices, free-delivery threshold, and green delivery options – giving us comprehensive view of the shipping market and how it evolves from a public perspective.
We keep a pulse on the last-mile delivery market by continuously monitoring checkout processes across webshops. This monitoring captures data on delivery providers, their ranking in delivery options, pricing strategies, thresholds for free delivery, and eco-friendly shipping options, thereby offering an overview of the evolving shipping landscape.
Decision-ready Market Intelligence
Merging our data with metrics like order volumes allows last-mile delivery providers to proactively respond to changes in their checkout positioning, preventing potential revenue drops.
“Prior to Tembi, identifying a lost position at a store’s checkout could take up to six weeks, during which we would lose about 64% of order volumes. With EIP's immediate updates, we can swiftly address the issue, preventing significant revenue losses”
Webshop integration manager
Let us say you charge €3,0 per delivered package and expect 100 packages per day (on average). The daily revenue is €300. Losing 64% of the volume equals to a loss of €192 per day. During six weeks that loss amounts to €8.064.
With EIP, as soon as a positioned is lost, you are notified, and can talk to the store, and manage your delivery operations immediately.
From a strategic perspective, both as a webshop owner, as well as delivery provider, you can track which delivery methods are popular, what are the market prices, and where is the market developing, both on your own market, but also abroad.
Automated lead generation
Understanding the supplier network of providers for webshops within different fields - delivery, payments, and technology - opens an overview of who works with whom. Giving providers competitive intelligence and a perfect data set for lead generation and prospecting.
As a delivery provider, being able to see all your clients in one simple overview with metadata, you will equally see where you are not present. By understanding previous relationships and solutions used, you can improve your sales pitch and competitive edge.
There are multiple ways to use EIP and the data. Here are a couple of examples.
EIP for Account Managers
See what technologies your clients are using, and which providers they work with. If you work with last-mile delivery, you can see your position in each check-out and follow your client's business and get the latest data before your check-up.
EIP for prospecting
Whether you work with professional services for webshops or selling software, you can find each webshop on your market and find precisely the type of webshop you are looking for with our filters.
EIP for Business Development
See and follow market trends, track your competitors and always be up to date.
EIP for Customer Success
From the moment you have a new client, follow the implementation and results. Track critical changes and get access to detailed customer business information.
EIP for Analysts and Business Intelligence
Via our API you can extract all our data to your own system and combine external data with your internal data to track correlations, get a full competitor, and market overview.
“A dynamic market requires ongoing data collection.”
Christian Mejlvang, head of product at Tembi
Our data foundation is robust, encompassing over five billion data points, which include both real-time and historical data collected from 2021. We augment this repository daily with over one million data points to guarantee not only the high quality of our data but its relevance as well.
Utilizing diverse machine learning techniques such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), NLP (Natural Language Processing), LLM, and image recognition, we convert raw data into actionable intelligence, aligning with our commitment to transforming data into insight. This data undergoes a process of enrichment, contextualization, and multi-level automated verification to ensure its integrity. We categorize our data into three tiers of quality—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—and it is only the Gold-standard data that is displayed on the EIP platform, reflecting our dedication to the highest standards of excellence.
Our data acquisition strategy is multifaceted: 1) sourcing open data, 2) procuring datasets from various providers, 3) deploying our proprietary scrapers to gather exclusive data, and 4) generating novel data through analytical methods applied to the data we have. This fourth approach underpins our Predictive Market Intelligence service.
We employ a combination of econometric and predictive machine learning models to create proprietary datasets. These are instrumental in our analysis of market trends and trajectories, providing an innovative perspective on market dynamics.
Interested in knowing more about EIP? Contact us.
here are many “intelligences” in the world of business. Besides the cognitive ability of a business’s staff, it refers to the information that has been gathered, analysed, and presented in a way that is useful for decision-making. It is not just raw data; intelligence is actionable information that provides insight into a particular subject, such as a competitor’s activities or internal business capabilities. "Intelligence" is a multifaceted term that usually denotes a high level of understanding, awareness, or information processing, whether by humans, collectives (like organizations), or technology.
What type of intelligence is needed often depends on what strategic decision you are looking to make, what type of resources you have, and the amount of data. Here are the ten most common ones:
Business Intelligence is a technology-driven process for analysing data, presenting actionable information to help executives, managers, and other corporate end users make informed business decisions. BI encompasses a variety of tools, applications, and methodologies that enable organizations to collect data from internal systems and external sources, prepare it for analysis, develop and run queries against the data, and create reports, dashboards, and data visualizations. This process offers comprehensive business metrics, often in real-time, to support better decision-making. With BI, businesses can focus on data-driven strategies to address weaknesses and capitalize on strengths.
Market Intelligence is the gathering of relevant data about the entirety of a company's market space. It covers broad spectrums such as understanding industry trends, identifying market opportunities, and detailed insights into competitors and customers. This intelligence is crucial for forming market entry strategies, pricing models, business development and sales & marketing initiatives. It aids businesses in anticipating market shifts and consumer needs, enabling proactive rather than reactive strategies. The insight gained from market intelligence informs various strategic decisions, such as market opportunity assessment, market penetration strategy, and market development.
Marketing Intelligence is the practice of collecting data from a variety of sources about the market environment a business operates in. It includes the analysis of consumer behaviour patterns, campaign outreach, and purchase triggers. The focus is to understand the success of marketing efforts and to gauge the sentiment and preferences of current and potential customers. It influences tactical marketing decisions and helps businesses adapt their strategies to better meet consumer expectations, enhance brand loyalty, and optimize return on marketing investment.
Competitive Intelligence refers to the systematic collection and analysis of information about competitors and the competitive environment. CI aims to provide a complete picture of the marketplace and the forces at work within it, encompassing aspects such as competitors' strategies, market developments, new entrants, and technological advancements. Effective CI provides a legal and ethical means to anticipate competitive moves and stay ahead of industry trends, supporting strategic planning and risk management.
Customer Intelligence (CI) is a sophisticated analysis of customer data designed to create comprehensive portraits of ideal customers to better understand and predict their behaviour. It is an advanced step beyond basic customer service, seeking not just to address customer needs but to anticipate them. CI combines demographic and psychographic data with transactional and behavioural insights to paint a detailed picture of current and potential customers. This intelligence helps in personalizing marketing strategies, enhancing customer experiences, and boosting customer loyalty. In the age of big data, companies leverage machine learning and AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms to process vast amounts of information, providing a deep dive into customer preferences, pain points, and potential opportunities for cross-selling and up-selling.
Financial Intelligence combines understanding a company's financial health with the savvy to use this data in making robust decisions. It involves the analysis of financial data like cash flow statements, balance sheets, and income statements to grasp a company's financial condition and forecast its future performance. It is not just about number crunching; it also includes reading between the lines of financial statements to identify the underlying performance factors, assessing the company's fiscal policies, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Financial Intelligence helps in capital budgeting, financial planning, and aligning financial goals with corporate strategy.
Operational Intelligence (OI) is the real-time dynamic, business analytics that delivers visibility and insight into data, streaming events, and business operations. OI solutions run query analysis on live feeds and event data to deliver real-time operational insights. It involves understanding and optimizing labour productivity, machinery performance, and other operational sectors. By integrating and analysing data from various operations, businesses can quickly identify and address inefficiencies, ensuring the smooth functioning of processes and supporting continuous improvement.
Sales Intelligence refers to technologies, applications, and practices for the collection, integration, analysis, and presentation of information to help salespeople keep up to date with clients, prospect data, and drive business. It includes a range of activities, such as tracking customer data and interactions, social media monitoring, and sales forecasts. With accurate and insightful sales intelligence, sales teams can enhance their productivity, improve lead generation and conversion rates, and drive increased sales and profitability.
Product Intelligence involves collecting and analysing data concerning one's products and those of competitors. It is pivotal in understanding how a product performs across its lifecycle, which features resonate with customers, and what improvements should be prioritized. This intelligence is crucial for product development, management, and innovation, informing companies about user feedback, product usage patterns, and market demands. By leveraging product intelligence, businesses can tailor their product offerings to better meet customer needs and stay competitive in the market.
Technological Intelligence is the systematic gathering and analysis of information about the technological environment of a business to aid decision-making. It includes tracking trends in technology advancements, research and development within the industry, patent filings, and regulatory changes. With a solid technological intelligence strategy, a company can foresee technological disruptions, identify new business opportunities, innovate, and maintain a competitive edge. This intelligence is vital for strategic planning, particularly in industries where technology evolves rapidly and is a key differentiator.
Many types of intelligences are not exhaustive and often overlap. Businesses typically leverage a combination of these intelligence types to inform various functional and strategic areas within their organizations.
aking a decision is easy but knowing how to make the right decision at the moment of choice, now that is tricky. As the outcomes and consequences are only known after the decision has been made, we try hard to mitigate the risk of making a wrong one.
Like a game of probability, we weigh different information and data, and play out the possible outcomes against each other to narrow down our choices, and, well, make a bet. Given the vast amount of information and data available, gathering the needed and relevant information can be a challenge. For the human mind it is impossible to grasp all inputs and data at once. And it is practically impossible. Additionally, as we learn new information, we may create new connections and gain new insights that open new possibilities. Which often leads to the question, "What if...?"
Lastly, before executing the decision, we weigh our options and evidence, and filter it through the personal and/or corporate value filter. By repeating this process, and adding a decision-review step, we learn how to make better decisions. The more we know, the more experience we have, the better our chances of making the best possible choice. And that is how it has been for the last ten of thousands of years.
While we have evolved our ability to gather and access information with software, and made the analytical part simpler and more accessible, machine-assisted decision making and execution is about to change the decision-making process.
The human brain can process 11 million bits of information per second, but our conscious minds can handle only 40 to 50 bits per second. And while we do not always forget, retrieving the right information at the right time is not straightforward.
Our ability to gather and analyse data is limited by our knowledge, time, and “computational power.” However, if we know what information we need, there are now thousands of tools that can help us gather the data and connect it with other data sources to uncover new insights and patterns.
Predicting the future based on historical patterns is not a complicated science, but rarely a trustworthy one. Machine learning algorithms have increased the accuracy and given us a better foresight of how decisions and events might unfold, making it possible to simulate different scenarios and study decision consequences without having to execute a decision. The possibility of setting up “What-if” scenarios and playing them against each other, pushes us closer of being able to make the right, rational decision.
Building on the previous point about the importance of good data, let us talk about the challenge of data diversity. Machine learning models are only as good as the data they are trained on. If you train a model on a narrow dataset, it will only be able to make predictions that are relevant to that dataset. For example, an automated script writer that is only trained on movies and books written by Quentin Tarantino will always produce scripts that are similar to Tarantino's work. The same thing happens if you run your analytics only based on your company's internal data without considering external data such as market and competitor data.
Powerful and accurate models combine data from a variety of sources to reduce bias, improve generalisation, and identify new patterns and insights. For example, a company that is developing a model to predict customer churn could combine data from its internal CRM system with data from external sources such as social media and customer reviews. This would help the company to identify patterns and insights that it would not be able to see by looking at its internal data alone.
The one type of analytics that will profoundly change our decision-making process, and profoundly change how we work, is prescriptive analytics.
Prescriptive analytics is (currently) the final stage in the analytics spectrum, which includes descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Descriptive analytics answers the question "What happened?", diagnostic analytics explain “Why it happened!”, predictive analytics addresses "What might happen?", and prescriptive analytics tackles "What should we do about it?", including all former analytics in its process.
When we make decisions, all these analyses happen naturally in our brain and are part of our decision process. The extent of how much we analyse depends on the time we have, the number of people involved, and the consequences of the decision. If we have little time or the stakes are low, we may make a quick decision with minimal analysis. However, if we have more time or the stakes are high, we will spend more time trying to analyse the situation and considering our (imagined) options.
If we turn to machine-assisted decision making powered by prescriptive analytics many of parts of decision process become automated. Using machine learning, algorithms, and computational modelling, prescriptive analytics provide insights, simulates different scenarios, and suggest actionable steps in response to a predicted outcome or scenario.
For example, in supply chain management, prescriptive analytics might suggest optimal routes for delivery based on predicted weather conditions, anticipated traffic patterns, and historical accident data. Or, in finance, it could recommend investment strategies based on a forecasted economic downturn.
A step-by-step decision-making process includes most commonly these seven parts:
Imagine that you have a data foundation that gathers all your data in one place, both external open data (market, competitors etc.) and internal. You have billions of rows of present and historical data, cleaned, enriched, and contextualised. You are a Business Development Manager at a Last-Mile delivery company, and you are tasked with expanding sales to a new area. Where do you start?
1. Identify the decision
In which geographical area can we increase our revenue the most?
2. Gather information
Where are our competitors present?
What are our competitors' prices?
Where are our terminals?
How much are we today delivering in each area?
What delivery options are the most popular in which area?
What investment will be needed for each area?
Etc.
3. Identify alternatives
All areas and options are listed. Business cases are presented.
4. Weigh the evidence
Alternatives are weighed against each other. Pros and cons are discussed.
5. Choose among the alternatives
Once you have weighed all the evidence, you are ready to select the alternative that seems best for the company. You may even choose a combination of alternatives.
6. Take action
You implement the chosen alternative. It is time for execution.
7. Review the decision
You review the results of the decision and see how your expansion plan is working out and iterate.
With prescriptive intelligence in place, the machine assisted decision-making process is similar, but at the same quite different as the effort lies in the beginning, and not the collection of information. We assume here you have access to a tool that combines market data with internal data.
1. Identify the decision
In which geographical area can we increase our revenue the most?
2. Goal formulation (prompting)
What are the results that you are looking to achieve and through what means. List interesting areas for exploration and factors you think are relevant.
3. Scenario evaluation
Alternatives and scenarios are simulated and presented by the AI describing the steps needed to reach formulated goal. Costs and risks are listed based on data that is available. You have the possibility to deep dive into areas to expand your analysis or follow the recommended path.
4. Weigh the scenarios
Recommendation is weighed against the other scenarios.
5. Scenario implementation
You implement the chosen scenario and measure against milestones and goals set by the AI.
6. Review the chosen scenario
The decision and chosen scenario are evaluated in real time with the AI to ensure ongoing learning and optimisation.
If we look past the fact that much of the decision-making process is automated, we move from hypothetical discussions around outcomes and consequences to an evaluation of the proposed steps to reach the decision and set goal. The proposed scenario is not unbiased and unemotional, it is guiding force explaining how to reach that goal with what is available.
Science fiction?
Prescriptive intelligence is not something we imagine anymore, it is being worked on today, and there are already solutions in the market for specific use cases. Our decision-making process will not only be faster (timewise), but we will also be able to be much more accurate in understanding outcomes and the decisions in between we need to make to reach a certain goal.
If everyone can afford the same tools and have access to the same data, isn't there a risk that we will all pull towards the same goals in our respective fields? Isn’t it all about increasing profit through expansion or decreasing costs?
The chances of that scenario are limited.
Not one company has the same data as another one. We can acquire datasets, predictions, but in the end how we operate, they people we employ, the decision we made, and our assets and business models are not the same. Each company has its own strategy, so even if we all access the same market intelligence, the outcome will be different. But just as generative AI has shown with ChatGPT and Midjourney, the playfield has become much more even.
Market analysis and expensive data is becoming less expensive and available to a larger extent of companies, and not only the big ones.
A general prescriptive analytics platform is still a couple of years in the future. At Tembi, we have built the data foundation for it, and are constantly working on adding new machine learning based prediction and econometric models to create better insights and foresights for our clients based on open data.
While companies have their internal data, we provide extensive access to open data, and ready-to-go-analytics – or market intelligence – that provide actionable insights to the decision-making process. Many of our clients use our API to connect their data with our data to examine and understand (i.e.) volume fluctuations (revenue drivers) with external events, and hence be able to understand how external factors impact their business, mitigate risk, or uncover new business possibilities.
The more we connect the world's Information the better we will understand the future, and the more impact our decisions will have. And that is why we work here at Tembi. Until we provide a general prescriptive intelligence platform for executing successful business decisions, we focus on providing market intelligence that is beyond what can be seen by a person online. We combine data from multiple industries and build market predictions models based on changes across different industries.
n today's data-driven world, the abundance of information and the advancement of analytical tools have sparked a competitive quest for insights. As data becomes more affordable and accessible, the ability to use this data effectively becomes a decisive factor in staying ahead. But having data is one thing; making sense of it to predict the future is quite another. It is a complex task that goes beyond just crunching numbers—it is about weaving together diverse parts of information, both old and new, to form a clear picture of what lies ahead.
This article aims to untangle the concept of Predictive Market Intelligence, demonstrating how it operates and its value in a business context. We will look at how this approach to data can lead to smarter decisions and how it is shaping the way companies move forward.
Predictive Market Intelligence (PMI) stands at the confluence where big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and advanced market research meet. It is the art and science of collecting vast amounts of open data - from (i.e.) market trends, company behaviour, to global economic indicators - and analysing them to forecast future market conditions. The aim of PMI is not only to investigate information based on past market performance – historical data – but to forecast the evolution of markets, specific industries, or companies, by employing diverse analytical methods and algorithms.
Unlike traditional market research, Predictive Market Intelligence is dynamic, constantly refining its insights with a steady stream of real-time data. This process enables businesses to not just interpret the present but also to anticipate and prepare for future market developments, gaining foresight and deepening their understanding of potential future scenarios.
If companies can use Predictive Market Intelligence to gain foresight, can PMI be applied everywhere, or are there particular interesting applications of this approach to market analysis and strategy? Here are a couple of examples:
Retrieving Market Intelligence is a question of gathering data from various sources, organising the gathered data, and applying different technologies to validate, enrich and put the data into context. The last step is to apply different analytical models depending what outcome one is looking for. So, where the first step is about gathering (open) data, the second analytical step is the creation of synthetic data (programmatically generated data).
Each step of the process, from open data to intelligence, uses different technologies. Each plays a unique role and function, but applied together, collectively, these technologies can create incredibly precise projections. Let us dive into a couple of them.
Central to Predictive Market Intelligence is the process of data mining and aggregation. This involves the meticulous gathering of vast volumes of data from a multitude of sources like public information, financial reports, and for example websites. The objective is to amass a comprehensive dataset that encapsulates the diverse aspects of the market and company behaviors. This rich tapestry of data forms the foundation upon which further analysis is built.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) stand at the core of Predictive Market Intelligence, processing and interpreting the extensive data collected. AI algorithms are adept at discerning complex patterns and relationships within the data, which are often imperceptible to the human eye. Simultaneously, ML models, with their ability to learn and improve from the data, continuously refine their insights, ensuring they remain relevant and accurate in a rapidly changing market.
A key component in understanding context is Natural Language Processing (NLP). NLP technologies delve into text-based data, analysing news articles, pdfs, and websites. They are particularly effective in understanding the context of the written text, and being able to synthesis substantial amounts of data and help verify what the data is
Predictive analytics brings a forward-looking perspective to Predictive Market Intelligence. By employing statistical and econometric models as well as forecasting algorithms, it anticipates future market behaviors, trends, and company needs. This facet of Predictive Market Intelligence is instrumental in risk assessment and scenario planning, allowing businesses to prepare for various future market scenarios.
Big Data Analytics provides the muscle to process and analyze the immense datasets characteristic of Predictive Market Intelligence. It offers real-time analysis and sophisticated data visualization tools, making complex data understandable and actionable. Complementing this is cloud computing, which offers the necessary infrastructure for data storage and analysis. Its scalability ensures that businesses can adapt to varying data demands, while also offering cost-effective solutions compared to traditional in-house data centers.
Predictive Market Intelligence is not only for experts. With platforms such as Tembi, PMI is today accessible for everyone, regardless of analytical skill set. While there are use-cases that require tailormade algorithms, predictions such as company growth, market trends and econometric forecasts are already available. And with decision-ready market insights, companies can quickly adapt to a data-driven decision process without heavy investments.
For the expert, Predictive Market Intelligence serves as an advanced tool that complements and elevates their analytical skills. PMI can be used to validate hypotheses, refine models, and conduct in-depth analyses that underpin robust, strategic decisions.
The technology used in Predictive Market Intelligence lets experts quickly sort through and understand huge amounts of data. This means they can get a clear picture of how markets are changing, what competitors are doing, and how companies are behaving. With this kind of intelligence, experienced professionals can make accurate predictions and find new business opportunities before anyone else does.
For those new to Predictive Market Intelligence, it can seem both exciting and a bit overwhelming at first. But this technology simplifies the process of understanding the market by turning complicated ideas into clear insights. It provides easy-to-use tools and clear visuals that help make sense of complex data.
With Predictive Market Intelligence, even those just starting out can get a complete view of the market. They'll learn to spot the important signs that show changes in what consumers want or in the economy. This technology is like having a guide and a coach in one, helping new users think strategically and make decisions based on data.
Predictive Market Intelligence acts as a bridge between theory and practice, enabling a fluid exchange of knowledge across all levels of expertise. It is a field that values the knowledge of the expert and nurtures the growth of the newcomer. By fostering an environment where learning is continuous and insights are accessible, Predictive Market Intelligence ensures that all users, regardless of their level of expertise, can contribute to and benefit from the intelligence it provides.
The future of Predictive Market Intelligence looks particularly promising as cloud computing costs, which have been a significant factor in the past, are expected to continue their trend towards more economical and efficient services. As the price-performance ratio of technologies like GPUs improves, companies can leverage more powerful analytical capabilities at a lower cost. This could further democratize PMI, allowing smaller businesses to engage with what was only accessible to larger corporations. The integration of emerging technologies such as distributed cloud and advanced AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms will further enhance PMI's accuracy and speed, offering businesses of all sizes the predictive insights needed to stay ahead in an increasingly data-centric world.
What will be key, as always with the development of analytics and AI, is the quality and the amount of data. With a democratization of technology, the winners will be the ones that invest in good data gathering processes – both internal and external open data – and have solid data partnerships in place.
One thing is sure, we have only touched the very beginning of this approach. But already today, it is evident that companies that utilize external data in their decision process, have far better chances of making better decisions. Giving them a better competitive edge.
ith our E-commerceMarket Intelligence Report, we have taken a deep dive into the e-commerce industry in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway to better understand delivery price differences, who are the dominant delivery providers and i.e. which technology providers power all the webshops.
The report is packed with data & insights to give the reader a better understanding of the market as well as the competitive landscape.
The nordic e-commerce is growing fast, with a market size of over €38 billion distributed over 76.000 webshops. Out of the regions 27 million people, more than 19.5million are online shoppers. It's also an exciting place for startups — over the past three months, 4,848 new webshops have opened up online.
All data in this report comes from Tembi’s E-commerce Intelligence Platform (EIP).
We don’t talk about consumer data in this report. We only focus on the businesses in thee-commerce industry, such as webshops, delivery providers, and technology providers.
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he amounts of available data is growing in an overwhelming speed, on one hand presenting an increased difficulty to collect and access the data, on the other hand an increased opportunity to better understand markets and competitors.
With continuously increased computing power and a steadily growing democratisation of access to advanced analytics, the way we approach decision-making is evolving. What has been historically a process of intuition and experience is now increasingly guided by data-driven insights. This transformation is enabling companies to not only understand past and present trends but also to predict and shape future outcomes.
Let’s dive into how data and analytics are reshaping business decision-making, from traditional methods to the advanced analytics techniques of the future.
Traditionally, business decisions were often made based on intuition, experience, and a limited set of data. Executives relied heavily on their gut feelings or the historical knowledge of their industry. While this approach worked in the past, it more than often led to suboptimal outcomes due to the lack of comprehensive information and understanding of the market.
The emergence of data-driven decision-making marked a significant shift in this process. Businesses began to collect and analyse large internal and external datasets, to inform their strategies and tactics. A development that has been rapidly accelerated by the introduction of BI software. Decisions were no longer solely based on instinct but were supported by quantitative evidence.
As technology advanced, so did the decision-making process. We have now entered an era of analytics-driven decisions, where businesses use sophisticated analytical tools to forecast future trends (predictive analytics) and even prescribe specific actions to achieve desired outcomes (prescriptive analytics). For instance, Amazon uses predictive analytics to manage inventory, ensuring that products are in stock when customers want them while minimising storage costs. Our company, Tembi, has developed a beta product that uses prescriptive analytics to recommend development and construction companies what to build in certain locations to reach full capacity. And this is the only beginning of how data and analytics will assist us in making better decisions.
To understand the full impact of analytics on decision-making, it’s essential to explore the concept of the Analytics Value Escalator developed by Gartner. This model describes the progression of analytical methods, each offering increasing value and complexity.
1. Descriptive Analytics
Descriptive analytics answers the question, “What happened?” It involves summarising historical data to understand past performance. For example, sales reports, web analytics, and financial statements fall into this category. While descriptive analytics provides valuable insights, it is often limited to hindsight and does not explain the reasons behind the data.
2. Diagnostic Analytics
Diagnostic analytics delves deeper, addressing the question, “Why did it happen?” By identifying correlations and patterns within the data, businesses can uncover the root causes of specific outcomes. This method is more powerful than descriptive analytics but still focuses on past events.
3. Predictive Analytics
Moving up the escalator, predictive analytics answers the question, “What is likely to happen?” It uses historical data, machine learning algorithms, and statistical models to forecast future trends and behaviors. For example, retailers might use predictive analytics to anticipate customer demand or optimise inventory levels.
4. Prescriptive Analytics
At the top of the escalator is prescriptive analytics, which addresses the question, “What should we do?” This advanced method not only predicts future outcomes but also recommends specific actions to achieve the best possible results. For instance, a logistics company might use prescriptive analytics to determine the most efficient delivery routes, considering variables like traffic, weather, and fuel costs.
No matter how advanced the analytics methods are, their effectiveness is fundamentally dependent on the quality of the data they analyse. Poor quality data or analytics conducted on incomplete data-sets can lead to misleading conclusions and can hence create unreliable insights.
Common data issues include data silos, where information is trapped in isolated systems; inconsistent data formats; and incomplete or outdated data.
To ensure data quality, businesses must adopt best practices such as regular data cleaning, integration across departments, and robust data governance policies.
For instance, Procter & Gamble invested in a comprehensive data governance framework to ensure consistency and accuracy across its global operations, which has been crucial in maintaining the integrity of their analytics initiatives.
“We’re also now able to take our data analytics and AI to the next level because we have a solid, reliable base of product data that can be matched with external consumer data. That possibility gets our business leaders really excited!”
Laura Becker, President of Global Business Services at Procter & Gamble
Generative AI, a cutting-edge technology that enables machines to create new and original content, has revolutionised various industries by producing text, images, music, and even complex data patterns. Its ability to generate content that mimics human creativity has opened up exciting possibilities in fields like marketing, design, entertainment, and more. However, despite its remarkable capabilities, generative AI faces notable limitations, particularly in the context of business decision-making.
In business environments, decision-making often requires a deep understanding of nuanced contexts, the ability to interpret complex and sometimes ambiguous data, and the capacity to foresee the broader implications of certain choices. While generative AI can assist by providing insights, generating scenarios, or offering creative solutions, it lacks the human intuition and judgment needed to fully comprehend the strategic, ethical, and long-term consequences of business decisions.
Another significant limitation is the lack of transparency in how generative AI models arrive at their outputs. These models often function as "black boxes," where the decision-making processes are not easily interpretable or understandable, even to those with technical expertise. This opacity can be problematic in business settings, where leaders need to understand the rationale behind decisions and recommendations. Without transparency, it becomes challenging to trust and validate the AI's outputs, increasing the risk of relying on potentially flawed or biased information. For example, in finance, where decisions can have significant consequences, the lack of transparency in generative AI’s recommendations might lead to regulatory concerns.
Moreover, generative AI relies heavily on the quality and scope of the data it has been trained on. If the training data is biased, incomplete, or not representative of the current environment, the AI’s output may be flawed or misleading. This can be particularly problematic in business, where decisions based on inaccurate or biased data can lead to significant financial losses, reputational damage, or other unintended negative outcomes.
Looking ahead, prescriptive analytics is set to further transform how businesses make decisions, enabling them to be more proactive and confident in their choices. By processing large amounts of data—both historical and real-time—using advanced algorithms, prescriptive analytics not only analyses past events and predicts future trends but also recommends the best actions to take. This empowers everyone in an organisation, from managers to frontline employees, to make quicker and more informed decisions.
For example, industries like healthcare, finance, and supply chain management are already beginning to harness the power of prescriptive analytics. In healthcare, it can optimize treatment plans for patients by analyzing a wide range of factors, from medical history to genetic data. The Mayo Clinic is one institution exploring how prescriptive analytics can personalise treatments that hopefully can lead to better patient outcomes and reduced costs. By using simulations, companies can test different strategies in a virtual environment before implementing them, ensuring that decisions are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.
A key advantage of prescriptive analytics is its ability to combine internal data with external market intelligence. By integrating data from sources like customer feedback, industry trends, and competitive analysis, businesses can gain a more comprehensive view of the environment in which they operate. This broader perspective allows companies to better understand market dynamics, customer needs, and emerging opportunities. When internal data is enriched with external insights, businesses can make more informed decisions about where to allocate resources, how to optimise operations, and where to focus strategic efforts. This combination of internal and external data enhances the ability to deploy resources effectively, ensuring that efforts are aligned with both internal capabilities and market demands.
However, not every company will immediately or fully adopt prescriptive analytics. The extent to which businesses can leverage this technology depends on the quality of their data, the sophistication of their existing analytical capabilities, and their willingness to embrace advanced analytics. Companies with strong internal data and analytical resources will be the first to take full advantage of prescriptive analytics. In contrast, smaller businesses or those with less advanced data strategies may begin with specific applications and gradually expand its use. Alternatively, they can utilise Intelligence-as-a-Service providers such as Tembi to gain access to market data, analytics, and actionable insights, allowing them to benefit from advanced analytics without the need for extensive in-house capabilities.
The success of prescriptive analytics also hinges on the quality of internal data and the company’s analytical skills. To implement it effectively, businesses need to ensure their data is accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date, requiring investment in data management and infrastructure. Skilled data scientists and analysts are essential for developing and maintaining the models that drive prescriptive analytics. Moreover, fostering a data-driven culture within the organisation is crucial, so that decision-makers understand and trust the recommendations provided by these tools.
As prescriptive analytics becomes more widespread, companies must also consider the ethical implications of relying on these advanced technologies. The potential for algorithmic bias, the need for transparency in decision-making processes, and concerns around data privacy and security are all critical issues, especially in industries handling sensitive information. Businesses will need to strike a balance between leveraging the capabilities of prescriptive analytics and maintaining human oversight to ensure responsible and effective decision-making.
The journey from traditional decision-making to an analytics-driven approach represents an important evolution in the business world. As data and analytics continue to advance, businesses are better equipped than ever to make informed, strategic decisions. However, the effectiveness of these decisions depends on the quality of the data, the appropriate use of analytical methods, and a clear understanding of the limitations of emerging technologies like generative AI.
To navigate this new landscape, businesses should consider the following steps:
Audit your data quality: Ensure that your data is clean, integrated, and well-governed.
Invest in analytics training: Equip your team with the skills needed to leverage advanced analytics tools.
Balance AI with human judgment: Use AI tools like generative AI and prescriptive analytics wisely, keeping human oversight in place.
As we look to the future, prescriptive analytics offers a promising glimpse into how businesses can navigate an increasingly complex world with confidence and foresight. By embracing these tools and strategies, companies can stay ahead of the curve and achieve sustained success in a data-driven world.
For further reading, consider exploring the ethical challenges of AI in business or case studies on successful data-driven decision-making in various industries.
Invitation for Discussion: How are you incorporating analytics into your decision-making process? What challenges or successes have you experienced? Share your thoughts with us at mbu@tembi.io.
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