How Big Data Can Help Your
Business
David Strom
NPMA Pestech Jan 2016
Slides available for download here:
http://slideshare.net/davidstrom

Our speaker
David Strom
Editor and speaker

Agenda
• What is Big Data and why you should care
• Vendor landscape
• Making maps and data dashboards
• Real world examples from exemplary retailers
• Some practical takeaways and next steps

What is Big Data?

Do you have to be a big business
to use big data?

Value of Big Data in retail is HUGE!

3 ways Big Data can help your business
• Make it more predictable
• Replicate your initial successes or trials
• Enhance customer engagement

What kinds of tools do I need to have?
• First, you need to know where your data lives
• Then how to store it properly
• Use cloud infrastructure to store it
• Finally, make use of various analytic tools to
process and visualize it (also cloud-based)

It is a Big new world!

What if I already use a “regular”
database?

You already have the RIGHT data
Now use it to your
advantage!

Unlock the value of your customer
database

Use third party and public data and
develop personnae

Build predictive models for identifying
high-potential prospects

Survey your current customers for
insights

Are you asking the right questions?

Let’s talk about maps and dashboards

The days pre-Big Data looked like this:

Isn’t this more meaningful?

Why maps work

Not all visualizations are helpful…

UPS’ ORION routing software

Build data dashboards

But how do I find good developers?

Mr Spock, first ‘big data’ officer
“When you
eliminate the
impossible,
whatever
remains,
however
improbable,
must be the
truth.”

Four skills for finding your own Spock
• Strategic data planning. Understand how data is
the new raw material for any modern business.
• Analytical skills. Act like a reporter! They have
always been smart about asking the right
questions and digging through the data.
• Technology skills. Embrace the technology and
make it a key part of your job.
• Communication skills. Tell others using social
media management tools.

Social media success tactics
• Be yourself
• Be helpful
• Post regular updates but don’t get crazy
• Listen to your customers constantly

Counter-examples

Or poor phone etiquette

Practical suggestions
• Start with little data first
• Find your inner map
• Become a data hoarder
• Find other retailers and copy their examples
• Attend a local hackathon or meetup to learn
more

Don’t forget about email!

Try this simple 5 step plan
• Don’t be shy about asking customers what
they think
• Define what you are trying to measure
• Take the time to analyze customer feedback
regularly
• Make it easy for your customers to provide
feedback
• Take action!

In summary, monitor things like:
• Truck routes, fuel consumption
• Chemical consumption
• Your most influential customers
• Your most problematic customers
• Delivery services with the highest profits
• What other retailers are doing

Stay in touch
• Copies of this presentation:
http://slideshare.net/davidstrom
• My blog: http://strominator.com
• Follow me on Twitter: @dstrom
• Old school: david@strom.com
http://strominator.com 63