Data & Analytics

Data Contracts: Hype, Reality, and Practical Value

Over the past few years, data contracts have surged in popularity—touted as the missing link between data producers and consumers. Yet as with most trends in data architecture, hype often outpaces practical value. Let’s break down where data contracts truly shine, where they fall short, and how to think about them in the broader context of building scalable, trustworthy data platforms—and enabling effective data governance at scale. What Are Data Contracts, Really? At their core, data contracts …

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AI Is More Than Just Generative: A Strategic Primer for Executives

AI is dominating headlines, boardroom agendas, and vendor pitches. But most of the attention is focused on generative AI — tools like ChatGPT that can create text, summarize documents, or even write code. These tools are impressive. But they’re just one part of a much broader AI landscape. For years, companies have used AI to forecast demand, detect fraud, personalize marketing, and reduce churn. These traditional AI applications may not trend on social media, but …

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40 Retail Analytics Use Cases Every Data Leader Should Know

Retail analytics is one of the most dynamic and mature domains in data. It sits at the crossroads of customer behavior, real-time operations, and constant decision-making. But here’s the truth: while the retail context is unique, the analytics patterns it relies on are highly transferable. Whether you’re in fintech, education, manufacturing, or SaaS, the tactics used in retail analytics—segmentation, forecasting, personalization, optimization—are universally applicable. Retail’s dynamic environment—marked by real-time customer behavior, high transaction volumes, and …

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What Every Industry Needs in Their Marketing Stack (Even If They Call It Something Else)

Tools Change, Needs Don’t This is Part 3 in my Marketing Patterns That Work Everywhere series. In the earlier posts (Part 1 | Part 2), I shared how core marketing principles—like conversion, personalization, and attribution—show up across fintech, edtech, supply chain, manufacturing, and automotive. I know what you really want to know – what tech stack should be powering this. Simply put… you don’t need 20 tools. You need tools to support one clear loop: Track behavior → Store it …

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What Car Shopping Taught Me About Marketing Funnels

This is Part 2 of my series on universal marketing patterns that work across industries. In Part 1, I shared five core patterns—lead generation, customer journeys, next best action, conversion, and attribution—and why they matter no matter what space you’re in. Lessons Travel Well Some of the best marketing strategies don’t start in a boardroom—they start in the field, solving real problems. What works in one industry often works in another, once you strip away the …

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