In Depth
In Depth
Business intelligence software
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Data: the golden thread of military defence
Information has been the lifeblood of warfare for centuries and modern data strategies are no different. From frontline fighters to logistics, manufacturing, R&D, and recruitment, data is crucial Continue Reading
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ERP’s storage requirements and options in the cloud
We look under the hood at ERP and its databases, the storage needed to support ERP’s I/O requirements, block, file and object storage and ERP in an era of hybrid cloud Continue Reading
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How generative AI is put to work in business applications
Generative AI has kicked up a storm in 2023. We look the opportunities and challenges for businesses, highlighting a range of live applications Continue Reading
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Industry 5.0: What is it and what does its future hold?
As Industry 5.0 becomes a more popular topic of conversation in the business tech world, critics have come out to question its legitimacy as a revolution instead of a progression Continue Reading
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HR software and strategies to combat staff attrition
While there is no simple technological solution to the problem of staff attrition, a combination of management strategies and business applications can improve engagement and retention Continue Reading
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How to assess and stem digital transformation failures
Digital transformation projects have bred a litany of failure. How can this tendency be reversed? Continue Reading
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Why low code/no code opens doors but no panacea for skills shortages
Citizen development is not without risk but it has a bright future in the enterprise, especially as a way to handle skills gaps Continue Reading
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How sustainability software bears broad benefits beyond cost savings
The imperative for organisations to do a better sustainability job is clear. There is business software that can help, with data at its core, and smart companies are acting now Continue Reading
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How APCOA is using big data to reinvent car parks
Car park operator APCOA is using big data to transform traditional car parks into mobility hubs that will offer electric vehicle charging, space for small businesses and depots for delivery companies Continue Reading
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Culture eats technology in digital transformation
Digital transformation without culture change is an empty phrase, but get the balance right and you can reap rewards Continue Reading
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Software enables new business model for Sweden-headquartered car manufacturer
One of the many things software now does with cars is to enable ‘mobility as a service’, a new business model that provides people with freedom of movement, without the cost and hassle of ownership Continue Reading
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Unstructured data and the storage it needs
We look at unstructured and semi-structured data and find increasing amounts of production workloads that have their own storage hardware – file and object – needs, including flash Continue Reading
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The importance of improving data quality at source
Data replication crises have struck government and scientific data quality efforts. A lack of scrutiny over data being used at source has led to oversights from national statistics to financial auditing Continue Reading
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How to get structure from unstructured data
We look at how to gain structure from unstructured data, via AI/ML analytics to create new records, selecting object data via SQL and storing unstructured files in NoSQL formats Continue Reading
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Computer simulation at work for the future of nuclear fusion
Nuclear fusion works, just not yet well enough. Learn how software simulations running on modern supercomputers and data science are lighting up possible paths forward Continue Reading
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High data quality key to reducing supply chain disruption
What could be the role of data quality enhancement in reducing the supply chain disruption that has beset the UK economy because of Brexit, Covid, and war in Europe? Continue Reading
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What do the US’s new software security rules mean for UK organisations?
The White House announced recently that all software supplied to the US government and its agencies needs to be secure, so what does this mean for the UK and EU security sectors? Continue Reading
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How to design a data architecture for business success
To gain business value from data, enterprises need to get their data architecture right – and the right business leadership and culture is critical to that Continue Reading
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Bfloat16: What it is and how it impacts storage
Bfloat16 is an emerging way to handle very large numbers, developed by Google for its machine and neural learning and prediction. We look at what it means for IT and storage Continue Reading
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Embedded analytics emerges to offer new level of business intelligence
Analytics suppliers are increasingly offering embedded analytics – based inside applications, often real-time, and driven by APIs – as a way to get to the next level of business intelligence Continue Reading
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How IoT and digital twins could help CIOs meet ESG pledges
Many local authorities have set ambitious net-zero targets. Can IoT technology, allied to digital twinning, help CIOs hit them? Continue Reading
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Tech sector efforts to root out forced labour are failing
Digitally mapping supply chains to identify forced labour and slavery is no longer a technology problem for the IT sector, but a lack of government enforcement and corporate inaction are major barriers to effective change Continue Reading
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How to track greenhouse gas emissions
Companies from a range of sectors, as well as public authorities, are using software and data analytics to track greenhouse gas emissions, partly to meet new regulatory demands Continue Reading
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How algorithmic automation could manage workers ethically
Managing workers by algorithm and automated process has generated ethical problems aplenty. Can such means be pressed into the service for a more ethical mode of worker management? We find out Continue Reading
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Storage requirements for AI, ML and analytics in 2022
We look at what is needed for artificial intelligence and machine learning, and the pros and cons of block, file and object storage to store and access very large amounts of often unstructured data Continue Reading
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How data analytics drives wind turbine power generation
Data analytics and related software lies behind the burgeoning wind turbine industry, with predictive maintenance to the fore. We find out how Continue Reading
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Christal Bemont, Talend CEO: Show up as yourself
Christal Bemont, CEO of data management firm Talend, reflects on coming through difficult times in solidarity with co-workers, and how data quality assumes a heightened significance in the digital era Continue Reading
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Evolving a data integration strategy
Linking IT systems together is never going away, but the approach CIOs adopt is key to ensuring relevant data feeds the decision-making process Continue Reading
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Retail’s staff engagement and happiness problem – can tech help?
Keeping staff engaged, motivated, connected and content is no easy task for retailers, but the industry is exploring new tools and techniques to improve the workplace Continue Reading
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Finland brings cryostats and other cool things to quantum computing
Not only is Finland the clear leader in refrigeration technology for quantum computers, but it also leads in fundamental research into the underlying quantum information theory Continue Reading
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How to make AI greener and more efficient
Artificial intelligence promises both to combat the ill effects of climate change and to make the emergency worse with excessive energy use. How can AI be made greener? Continue Reading
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How to create a sustainable continuous learning culture
How can organisations create a continuous learning culture that will militate against the so-called great resignation? We explore, using Vodafone and Deutsche Bank as cases in point Continue Reading
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SMEs step up e-commerce ventures under shadow of Covid
A raft of smaller retailers have stepped up their e-commerce businesses during the pandemic, ranging from books to candles, rugs to togs Continue Reading
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Retailers as tech firms: Next, The Very Group and others see power in the platform
Gap and Reiss are set to utilise Next’s end-to-end e-commerce service, Total Platform, in 2022, as more retailers carve out a future as part tech company Continue Reading
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Mining for intelligence: Why business process intelligence makes for agility
Business process improvement is a never-ending quest for betterment that can be lit up by a new generation of process mining software. We take a deep dive Continue Reading
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How software can help clean up emission-intensive industries
The potential to reduce emissions by making heavy industries and commercial buildings more efficient using software is immense. We explore the field Continue Reading
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What lies beyond the data warehouse?
Has the traditional data warehouse finally reached the end of its life? If so, what will follow it? Will it be a hybrid? We find out Continue Reading
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AI more likely to complement than replace predictive analytics
The discipline of predictive analytics is likely to increase in importance as it is complemented by artificial intelligence. NHS and National Express case studies prove the point Continue Reading
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APAC buyer’s guide to robotic process automation
In this buyer’s guide on RPA, we look at where the technology fits into the broader automation landscape, and other purchase and implementation considerations Continue Reading
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Oracle Fusion cloud applications pathways tend towards pragmatic
Oracle’s full suite of cloud applications can be a pragmatic step-by-step journey for customers – we look at some examples Continue Reading
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Lakehouse concept aims to merge data lake and data warehouse
Data lakes are big, amorphous and difficult to access, while data warehouses are costly and aimed at structured data. The data lakehouse aims at analytics in an age of unstructured data Continue Reading
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Computational storage: What is it? Why now, what for, who from?
Computational storage is an emerging architecture category, in which compute is put near storage to address I/O bottlenecks resulting from large volumes of data Continue Reading
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Deploying productivity monitoring software ethically
While software that tracks the activities of staff can be helpful to companies with a remote workforce, managers must consider employees’ concerns and privacy Continue Reading
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How AI and automation drive better customer service
Forrester analysts explore the benefits of combining artificial intelligence with automation Continue Reading
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Data warehouse storage: Has cloud made on-premise obsolete?
There once was no alternative to building a data warehouse on-premise, but with cloud providers targeting analytics, building data warehouses on-site is looking obsolete Continue Reading
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Anti-money laundering technology must operate in a collaborative ecosystem
With new technologies making it easier for banks to spot money laundering activity, we look at why the problem persists at scale, finding that ecosystems and collaborative processes need to be built Continue Reading
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Covid-19 and the art and science of data visualisation
The pandemic has seen political leaders and civil servants using data visualisation like never before – but there is more to the art than meets the eye Continue Reading
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Gaurav Dhillon: Silicon Valley is poised to grow up to seize a more spiritual future
Gaurav Dhillon, co-founder of Informatica and founder CEO at SnapLogic, comes from a generation of Silicon Valley Indian immigrants who followed a scholarship route and have helped to shape the area’s tech companies. Here he reflects on his career ... Continue Reading
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Patching: Balancing technical requirements with business considerations
With an increasing reliance on subscription models alongside the regular patching of software, updates have become an essential part of modern business practices. However, care needs to be taken to ensure the optimum patching process is implemented Continue Reading
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Covid crisis shifts supply chain management from efficiency to resilience
Supply chain management seems to be changing profoundly as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds, possibly shifting from an economy of efficiency to resilience, harnessing trading networks, machine learning and robotic process automation Continue Reading
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APAC buyer’s guide to BI and analytics
In this buyer’s guide, we look at the state of adoption of business intelligence and analytics tools, common use cases and other technology and business considerations Continue Reading
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How business software can stay clear of digital addiction
Consumer software is notoriously and deliberately addictive. Should companies and B2B IT emulate that or take the high ground of avoiding the spread of user digital addiction? Continue Reading
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Decision points in storage for artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data
Artificial intelligence and machine learning storage is not one-size-fits-all. Analytics work differs, and has varied storage requirements for capacity, latency, throughput and IOPS. We look at key decision points Continue Reading
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Surveillance capitalism in the age of Covid-19
Could the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic further consolidate surveillance capitalist practices and enterprises? Author Shoshana Zuboff warns Computer Weekly it is possible Continue Reading
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Customer experience software can help companies weather the Covid-19 storm
Advanced customer experience software can help companies weather the current Covid-19 storm, as well as build resilience. Marks & Spencer is one firm exploring the technology Continue Reading
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Governing by data: Limits and opportunities
Governing by the use of data analytics may be fashionable, but what are its limits as well as its opportunities? Lessons from Estonia, Essex, and healthcare Continue Reading
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How HR robotics can be good for people
The automation of human resources processes, some of which uses robotic process automation, can benefit humans, as a clutch of Nordic and UK organisations show Continue Reading
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Fly by data: How service models drive data collaboration in aerospace
Rolls-Royce has added collaborative data sharing to its fundamental business model shift to servitisation Continue Reading
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McLaren COO Jonathan Neale on finding racing margins in IoT sensor data
Jonathan Neale, chief operating officer for the McLaren racing team, speaks about finding marginal advantages through sensor data analytics Continue Reading
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Building enterprise-grade AI: Sberbank and AI Telekom
Machine learning and artificial intelligence are growing beyond adolescence to prove business value. Practical applications at Sberbank and AI Telekom suggest getting machine learning data in one place, where data scientists can experiment Continue Reading
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Satellite firm SES saves millions with cloud project management tools
Discover how satellite firm SES modernised project management with a cloud-based system from Precursive, based on live data and tailored in its reporting to different managerial roles Continue Reading
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How companies can do the right thing with online reviews
TripAdvisor and Amazon have had to learn how to manage online reviews in ways that other companies can learn from Continue Reading
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A tale of two smart cities: Manchester and Australia’s Casey
How local government needs to focus on immediate returns, not pie in the sky, for a smart city agenda Continue Reading
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Universities use data analytics to tackle student mental health
UK universities turn to data analytics software to tackle student mental health. Are there duty of care lessons for other sectors? Continue Reading
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Facebook’s privacy game – how Zuckerberg backtracked on promises to protect personal data
Facebook promised its users privacy then quietly abandoned its promises in pursuit of profits. Now it faces antitrust regulation Continue Reading
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Unstructured data compliance: Obstacles and solutions
Stored unstructured data could be a black hole full of unknown risk. We look at the key dangers to compliance in unstructured data and some ways of mitigating the risks Continue Reading
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Norway’s autonomous ships point to new horizons
Norway is a pioneer in the autonomisation of shipping, which conveys environmental benefits as well as efficiency gains – but human mariners are likely to stay on board for a while yet Continue Reading
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Silicon Valley startups look to plug gaps in data value chain
A group of California-based startups and early-stage data management companies are promising CIOs ways to plug gaps in the data-to-insight value chain Continue Reading
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How modern business intelligence shapes up to big data
Business intelligence and analytics strategies have evolved in recent years in the face of big data. Here, we get a supplier CEO perspective, some analyst counsel, and testimony from Nationwide, Schroders and King Continue Reading
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How to find a much sought-after data scientist
Every organisation seems to be hunting for a data scientist, but securing the right people with the right skills is a challenge Continue Reading
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Can work allocation algorithms play fair?
Allocating work by algorithm might have advantages for workers as well as employers. Can it be done fairly and with respect for “human capital”? Continue Reading
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West Midlands Police turns to predictive analytics
Force is developing a system to identify potential perpetrators of violent crime and aims to target resources – but how viable is the system and what are the challenges? Continue Reading
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Tableau CEO Adam Selipsky talks strategy
Tableau’s CEO, Adam Selipsky, talks strategy and business intelligence trends with Computer Weekly. He asserts enterprise relevance for Tableau, predicts BI tools consolidation and a ubiquitous user base for analytics Continue Reading
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Southern Water’s centralised data team geared for silo busting
Southern Water has centralised its data specialists and overhauled its data management and business intelligence technology to support business decision-making at scale Continue Reading
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Storage 101: Structured data and its storage needs
Structured data is declining as a proportion of all data but its importance to business applications and its organised nature make its storage requirements very specific Continue Reading
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Managing digital change: The CIO challenge for 2019
As technology changes have an increasing impact on organisations, 2019 is the year when CIOs must adapt their teams to better manage digital disruption and business innovation Continue Reading
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Automation key to unravelling mysteries of the universe at CERN
How CERN is using enterprise asset management from Infor and ramping up the automation of its IT services to plumb the depths of the universe Continue Reading
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Trust and openness vital to get benefits from supply chain automation
Supply chain automation is benefiting from new technological developments, such as blockchain, 5G and machine learning – as companies such as Maersk, Opel and Nestlé are proving Continue Reading
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Lessons from GE’s flight to digital platforms
Examining the challenges industrial giant GE has encountered on its digital journey and the lessons learned for CIOs heading in the same direction Continue Reading
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AI elevates predictive maintenance for Kone and ThyssenKrupp
Kone and ThyssenKrupp are using artificial intelligence to improve predictive maintenance of their lifts and escalators Continue Reading
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Congolese health workers and patients benefit from Couchbase database
Belgian public health consulting firm AEDES has worked with a local partner in the Democratic Republic of Congo to deliver a health information management system based on Couchbase Continue Reading
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Siemens success sets the scene for growth in process mining
German industrial conglomerate Siemens has turned to process mining to reveal inefficiencies in the way it pays suppliers, organises logistics and runs order-to-cash processes Continue Reading
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Silicon Valley startups pitch in to the remaking of corporate IT
Enterprise IT is being remade by DevOps, cloud, containerisation and the incursion of AI. We look at one group of Silicon Valley-based suppliers attacking different vectors of new model IT Continue Reading
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Silicon Valley startups home in on pressing value from data
A slew of California-based startup and early-stage data analytics companies are promising CIOs better ways to get value from their investments in databases and analytics Continue Reading
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Customer analytics applications add artificial intelligence to reduce market ‘friction’
Customer analytics applications developers are seeking to add layers of intelligence to improve sellers’ interactions with buyers Continue Reading
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Machines delve deep into customer minds
Deep learning can help customer insight teams advance rapidly in their mission to understand their customers Continue Reading
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Put the customer first and reap the reward
How businesses can develop a granular understanding of their customers’ needs in a hyper-connected world Continue Reading
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Data Lab CEO Gillian Docherty on how data can boost Scottish economy
Gillian Docherty, CEO of The Data Lab, outlines the organisation’s mission to turn analytics and artificial intelligence to benefit Scotland’s economy Continue Reading
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Shell downstream CIO Craig Walker: Invest time in your team
Craig Walker, CIO for Shell’s global downstream business, says IT leaders need to invest time in their teams and take them and the business on any change journey Continue Reading
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Smart speakers open new windows into customer behaviour for CRM
Voice recognition has become a new frontier for customer relationship management. What does the new voice channel mean for understanding consumers and how will voice data integrate with existing customer intelligence? Continue Reading
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The death of the mainframe is greatly exaggerated, says CA
With mainframe software tools forming a key part of its overall growth strategy, CA Technologies remains proud of its mainframe heritage Continue Reading
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Automated decision making shows worrying signs of limitation
AI and data-driven decision making projects need to be handled with care – worrying limitations revealed in the law and healthcare Continue Reading
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Data management: What does the future hold?
We explore how firms are replacing transactional database management systems with new database architectures Continue Reading
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Côte banishes planning ‘pain and anguish’ from menu with Anaplan
Restaurant chain has replaced spreadsheets with Anaplan financial planning software as it seeks more strategic control over growth Continue Reading
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MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor speaks about ‘expanding universe’ of BI
Co-founder and CEO of MicroStrategy takes the long view on business intelligence and sees its universe expanding with mobile technologies Continue Reading
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Understanding analytics and storage performance
Analytics workloads place specific demands on storage. We take a look at the workload profiles of analytics use cases and the storage platforms available to support them Continue Reading
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Silicon Valley startups aim to make big data capture and prep slicker
A group of California-based startup and early-stage data analytics and management companies are bidding to make big data, including sensor data, more tractable for analysis Continue Reading
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SAP Hana storage 101
If you're starting down the road towards SAP Hana in-memory analytics you'll need to understand its storage requirements. Here are some basics to get you started Continue Reading
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CW@50: Spreadsheets and ERP – 50 years of software coding business
Business software has been a rich field for IT professionals over the past five decades, and we are on the cusp of a new era of customers rolling their own for competitive advantage Continue Reading
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NoSQL database technology finds use cases, but still minority sport
From managing water meter data, through Bitcoin and video data, to web publishing, NoSQL database technology is finding real use cases. But it's likely to be stuck at 10% of the market for some time Continue Reading