All Things Data

Business Needs Data and Data Needs Dashboards

Today more than ever, running a business requires the use of data.  That data needs to be put into the hands of all who manage.  It needs to be readily available and crafted so it is easily viewed and understood.  Data Dashboards are one of the important tools available to help visualize and consume data.

There are several software programs available to create dashboards.  With Microsoft Excel so widely available, for those just getting started with dashboards, we recommend looking at Excel’s dash boarding, along with Excel’s pivot tables and charting capabilities.  If more advanced functionality is needed there are advanced tools available.

Fundamental to all dash boarding, as well as any analytical reporting needs, is the data behind the dashboard.  It is imperative to have data properly identified, correlated, organized, cleaned, rationalized and prioritized for effective analysis and actions.

Often the needed data resides in several sources.  Data sources can include CRM systems, purchase, billing systems, marketing activities lead database, online system, and customer service incidents.

Data can include

• individual contact and company data
• demographic and firmographic data
• transaction data facts as well as derived transaction data categorizations and indicators, over time periods, including
  • Purchase history over time
  • Marketing actions, such as webinar attendance, email campaigns, inquiries
  • Loyalty programs
  • Customer service incidents
  • Training participation
  • Conference attendance

Preparing and organizing data is essential for systematic and effective analysis in a dashboard.  We recommend developing an ongoing updated Data Framework for analysis and action.  This data framework should include all pertinent data facts and data derivations.  It can be updated on a practical and usable frequency.

All Things Data has produced an introductory video about dash boarding and the data behind the dashboards.  Here is a link to the video, "Business Needs Data and Data Needs Dashboards".

Get the data right in order for the dashboard to be right!

Data Framework for Business Analysis and Customer Insight

The need for Customer and Member Insight

Understanding customer or member behavior is a most important business priority.  All functions in a business, especially marketing, need customer insight to professionally manage the business and to set and reach organizational goals.

Information in multiple data sources

Much of the data for analysis will reside in one or more data systems that are part of running the business.  These systems may include internal data systems such as Billing, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Customer Service, Registration, Online Ordering, and Marketing Leads (inquiries, web site visitors, white paper downloads, webinar attendees, and conference attendees).  Also important data often resides in external data sources, such as purchased marketing data, social media data, and marketing partner lists.

Data Framework for business analysis and actions

Building and maintaining an analysis Data Framework based on all pertinent data sources can provide profound value for business analysis and action steps.  Transaction and purchase history is an essential part of the Data Framework.

With properly developed and configured data, powerful insights can be derived.  The Data Framework can be queried to answer a myriad of questions as to who, what, where, when, and how much.  The Data Framework can also be used with predictive analysis tools to understand the why of things.

Coordinate data sources, link key reported & derived data facts

The Data Framework should be built around customer or member contact and organizational data correlated from all data sources. The data should include reported data facts, along with derived data and indicators.

Reported data facts are details about individual customers, members and prospects, including the organizations with whom they are affiliated.  This includes names, addresses, geographic codes, customer/member type, industry codes, job function and organizational relationships.

Derived data comprises calculated data based on “rolled up” transaction activity, including transaction activity over time.  This includes activity indicators for example such as Customer/Member 2016, 2015, 2014 (and so on) indicators or Annual Conference participation 2016, 2015, 2014, (and so on) indicators.  Tracking a customer’s activity over time is helpful in determining “loyalty”.  Also volume indicators over time, such as the number (and $ amount) of purchases 2016, 2015, 2014 (and so on) are essential in quantifying the analysis.

Start simple, plan for growth

The initial Data Framework may start out simple.  That is fine, because it is important to start building it and using it.  The framework should be frequently updated.  Also, the Data Framework should be built with the understanding that it will be expanded over time.

Empower Your Organization

From the Data Framework, meaningful standard and ad hoc reports and analyses can be produced.  All on your business team, with the need to know, can be working with the same consistent data.  Also, helpful extracts from the Data Framework can provide highly useful outreach lists for customer research and customer contact.

The analysis Data Framework is fundamental to understanding the business, knowing the customer, and taking important actions to reach goals.

Single View of Business Organizations

B2B sales and B2B Marketing staff often need detailed information about their business customers and prospective customers. This business information is usually needed to be used in coordination with a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system or other marketing database.

Business data from multiple sources
All Things Data has introduced SingleView®, a comprehensive, powerful, free web data application that enables searching across multiple data sources to gain detailed knowledge about a business organization.

Business research is now made easier! Easy to understand an organization including details about their locations, activities, and people. Easy to acquire data that can be brought into a CRM system or other database application.

With a single search, detailed data about a business organization can be developed and presented in an easy to use form for sales, marketing, and business use.

SingleView currently searches these databases:

Employer Database
Organizations & their benefit plans that are submitted each year to the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department Of Labor.

US Contractor Registration Database
Organizations registered to do business with the US Federal government

EPA Discovery
Comprehensive information about facilities, sites or places subject to EPA regulations or of environmental interest.

Chemical Reports
Chemicals and manufacturers from EPA's Chemical Data Reporting System

Medical Device Manufacturers
Medical device manufacturers registered With the FDA

Federal Procurement Database
Database from Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), containing information on government contract actions over $3,000.

Non-Profit Organizations
Nonprofit charitable organizations that are exempt from income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Also other organizations that are exempt under Code Sections 501(c)(4)–(9).

Patents
Patents from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The database links inventors, their organizations, locations, and overall patenting activity using enhanced data from public USPTO data files. Patent information covers 2015 and 2016.

 

Enter an organization name
Enter an organization name and data is presented from these data sources that can be easily used.

All kinds of data available
Types of data include
* Organization locations, include addresses And phone numbers.
* Industry codes
* Organization size
* Contact information
* Activities conducted at location

Links to additional data
Several of the data results will have links to additional enriched data about an organization!

Easy to Use & Free
It's easy to use, and free!  Give it a try! SingleView

 

Business Information to Plan and Reach Business Goals

Today, more than ever, data is the lifeblood of business.  Marketers, sales executives, database administrators, researchers, and academics need business information to properly plan and accomplish their goals.  This includes having data for market potential, marketing contact lists, B2B prospect lists, CRM & database enhancement data, and detail company research.

All Things Data provides an extensive platform for free, downloadable, data to help business people develop plans and reach their goals.  Yes it’s free! … And quite powerful!

Here’s a listing of some of the free Data Applications currently available on AllThingsData.com.

Employer Database

Database derived from about 800,000 retirement and welfare benefit plans that are submitted each year to the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor.  Select lists of target companies based on industry, size and geographical criteria.

Bank Reports

Active and inactive FDIC banks, including main offices and branches, with selections by bank type, size and geography.  There is also a bank finder function included.  Find a current or former bank and see its history.

EPA Discovery

Organizations registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with specifics about the activities at these locations, including industry codes, contact names, areas of environmental interest, as well as links to EPA reports about locations.

Size My Market

Statistical size of market profiles based on industry, size, and geography selections.

Tax Exempt Organizations

Search for any IRS tax exempt company by name and state.  Details available include name, address, classification codes, 501 category, assets and income.

Medicare Suppliers

Search through the official Medicare Supplier datasets.  Details include names, addresses, and contact information for suppliers and the services or products they provide under the Medicare program.

National Science Foundation Grant Recipients

Detail reports on recipients of awards from The National Science Foundation and NASA, according to the Grants Management for the NSF Community.  Ability to search for organizations, individuals, as well as topics.

SEC Advisors

Search for information about investment advisers who are registered with the SEC or who are filing reports as Exempt Reporting Advisers with the SEC.  Can search by organization name or criteria search to develop a list of advisors.

Post-Secondary Institutions

Educational Institutions with details about enrollment, academic programs, degrees granted, athletic conference affiliations, and more.

Chemicals Reports

Detailed data on chemicals and the organizations that produce those chemicals.

 

And More ...

More Data Apps are constantly being added.  If there is something you need that is not currently available, reach out to All Things Data and let them know.  Help is available to get you what you need.

Need to integrate this data or any other data into existing data systems? Ask All Things Data how this can be accomplished

Now in one place, extensive data is available to help business executives plan and reach their goals: All Things Data Applications .

NSF Database Enhancement

All Things Data’s National Science Foundation (NSF) Database has been enhanced!

Now you can search for the latest government funded research several ways:

1.  Recipient Organization Search

Search by Organization Name to determine the latest research undertaken by an organization.  This includes colleges, universities, research organizations, membership organizations, institutes, and other research oriented institution.

2.  Topic Search

Want to know the latest funded research in a topic of interest to you?  Now you can search the research abstract description of the grant to see the latest research in any topic of interest.

Just a few search topic samples:  Data Science, Big Data, Nano Technology, Climate Change, Spectrum Management, Bioengineering, Microplasma, Sustainability, Chemical Engineering, Nanofibers, Engineered Nanomaterials, Bioinformartics, Quantum Information and so on.  Search for your research topic of interest.

Now you can see the latest funded research for any topic of interest.  Just enter the term you would like to search and a listing of the latest research comes up.  You can then link to the NSF details.

3.  Principal Research Person at Recipient Organization

See who is doing what.  Who are the leading researchers and what is their latest research?

Researchers, scientists, marketers, engineers, educators and students now have a database tool that is easy to use and it’s free!  Take a look at the NSF Database!

This Application is part of All Things Data’s efforts to make valuable data easily accessible to the business public. If you need help integrating this data with your internal data, All Things Data’s SingleVision Data Integration Software can help get the job done. Just ask.

CMO Resources

All Things Data has provided a variety of resources that can help Marketing Executives reach their goals. These resources include Market Sizing Information, Data, "How to" Advice and Tools.

Recently we have been asked to re-highlight these resources for Chief Marketing Officers.

The following a listing of several of those resources, along with links to details.

Size My Market

Strategic & Tactical Business Data

Goals of a B2B Database 

B2B Data Matching & Linking

Analytical Data Framework

Data Consolidation for Mergers & Acquisitions

Harnessing Business Data to Create Marketing Personas

Informed Marketing Intuition

 

Data-Driven Chief Marketing Executives

Data is crucial and fundamental to Chief Marketing Executives, as well as to all marketing executives, in doing their jobs. 

Data Fundamental for Marketing

As Marketing Executives strive to gain insight, create plans, execute actions and evaluate results, data is a fundamental ingredient in marketing and management activities.  Data is the lifeblood for marketing analysis and action.

Data Framework

The challenge is to develop a useful, practical and timely data foundation, data framework to drive analysis, decision making and action.

Access all data sources

This framework should include access to data from all meaningful data sources available.  This includes internal data systems such as CRM, billing, customer service, marketing programs and marketing leads (inquiries, web site visitors, white paper downloads, webinar attendees, and conference attendees).  This also should include external data such as purchased marketing data, social media data, and marketing partner lists.   Transaction and purchase history data must be included.  The key is to start small and allow room for growth.

Coordinated & linked data, in the Cloud

Framework data can be both physical and virtual in the sense that useful data can be coordinated and linked for analysis and marketing actions.  This actionable data framework can also exist in the Cloud to enable Marketing to have access to important data anytime, anywhere, under proper supervision and controls.  All, with the need to know, can analyze the same consistent data.  Consider using the Microsoft database (SQL) and Excel tools, at least to start.  Chances are internal resources already exist in the organization that can be aided, as needed, with external assistance.

 

Expanded Strategic & Tactical Business Data

Recently AllThingsData.com announced the availability of several new free Data Applications.

AllThingsData.com has many more data resources that will be made available over time as Web Data Applications.

Here is a partial list of US data in the pipeline to be released in Web Apps:

• Grants, including National Science Foundation and NASA Grants
• Federal Government Contracts
• Federal Government Contractors
• Non Profit Organizations
• Physicians
• Medical Device Providers
• Nursing Home Operators
• Hospitals

If you would like access to this data before the Web Apps are available, please contact AllThingsData.com.  Selections, counts and extracts of the data are available.

Need to integrate this data into existing data systems?  Ask AllThingsData how this can be accomplished.

Reach Business Goals with Free Data

To help you reach your business goals, AllThingsData has expanded its free Data Applications. Now more data is available to be searched, selected, viewed and downloaded, all at no cost.

Researchers, marketers, sales executives, database administrators, academics … anybody who is interested in business location information and details about those locations can benefit from this powerful and free data resource.

AllThingsData is your first stop in your web search to get company research, marketing lists, market sizing reports and more.

AllThingsData Apps cover a wide range of data areas, providing details about business and organization locations. For example you can search, select, view and download data about:

• Organizations registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with specifics about the activities at these locations, including industry codes, contact names, areas of environmental interest, as well as links to EPA reports about locations.

• FDIC Bank Reports – active and inactive, including main offices and branches, with selections by bank type, size and geography.  There is also a bank finder function included.  Find a current or former bank and see its history.

• Organizations providing Employee Benefits, including the types of benefits and the number of participants in the benefit programs.

• Post-Secondary Educational Institutions with details about enrollment, academic programs, degrees granted, athletic conference affiliations, and more.

• Chemicals Reports - Detailed data on chemicals and the organizations that produce those chemicals.

• Size of Market, with ability to produce a statistical market profile based on industry, size, and geography selections.

Looking for something not covered in the existing data applications? Contact AllThingsData. Help is available to get you what you need.

Need to integrate this data or any other data into existing data systems? Ask AllThingsData how this can be accomplished.

AllThingsData Apps should be the first stop in your web research to find valuable information to get you started with your market sizing, test marketing lists, and detail company research. These free apps will help you select, view and download the data you need quickly. Also you can reach out to AllThingsData for advice as to how to use this data to meet your business goals.

Take a look!

Here’s the link to AllThingsData.com Applications: http://www.allthingsdata.com/Applications.aspx.

Harnessing Business Data to Create Marketing Personas

The use of Marketing Personas has grown considerably in recent times.  The fundamental idea is to create detailed, segmented definitions of the customer or member groups that comprise a customer or member base.  This is done to facilitate market understanding, analysis and action.

Personas can include characteristics such as age, education, gender, years as a member or customer, along with purchase preference activity and frequency.  Often Personas are given “names” to make them more human.  This can help everyone “visualize” a customer persona.

Personas help marketing and sales teams have a uniform understanding of the variety of individuals and organizations in their customer base and to more precisely create and focus marketing communications and product offerings to help retain, develop and grow relationships.

The data used to develop Personas must come from a variety of sources.  One essential data source is an organization’s internal data, including customer and member relationship data and transaction data.  It is of utmost importance to be able to harness this data and evaluate it to discern the characteristics that affect customer behavior.

Harnessing internal data for Marketing Persona creation involves 3 steps:

1. Identify all pertinent internal data resources, including any CRM, Member Relationship data system, website, order, billing and usage systems.
2. Organize this data into an ongoing Data Framework with customer/member data facts as well as derived transaction data.  Develop transaction data over time, to help determine attrition.  Keep this Data Framework up-to-date. 
3. Determine characteristics and attributes that indicate and correlate to behavior.  Several data tools are available to help determine correlations between and among data characteristics.  One effective database tool that can be used to create correlated analysis clusters is Microsoft Analysis Services.  Analysis Services is available as part of Microsoft’s SQL Server product.

If you would like to learn how to build a Data Framework for Marketing Persona development, analysis and action steps, please let us know.  Also, we would be pleased to show you how to use Microsoft Analysis Services clustering for Marketing Persona development.