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Using Data-Driven Marketing Strategies to Grow Business in a Fast-Changing Market

In the current era use data helps organisations gain actionable insights and develop marketing strategies to enhance the customer experience. 

So what are the different data-driven marketing strategies that can help you stay relevant in a fast paced market?

Data has immense power to make marketing accurate and precise but it is the marketer to efficiently gather, analyze, and leverage this to reach the target market at the right time. 

Digital marketing has become specifically more necessary in times of pandemic where the world is not the same anymore and snap lockdowns are expected anytime! Let’s explore the top 5 data intrinsic marketing strategies to stay attuned with the pandemic-driven challenges.

  1. Hyper-Personalization

Hyper-personalization utilizes refined algorithms and big data to infer vital information about their customers’ needs & wants. It facilitates them to capture new audiences, speculate behavior, enhance precision targeting, and build stronger relationships by making the best use of implicit data (ascertained from within data streams), explicit data (provided by the visitor), social media engagement & response, CRM, customer surveys, and more.

How to adopt hyper-personalization marketing strategy?

  • Personalized Marketing Ads: Companies can use data outcomes at the right time to personalize ad content, discounts, loyalty rewards, etc. for the customers. A buyer’s journey consists of many potential personalised touchpoints like devices they use, interactive channels they engage with, time of the day when customers are the most active, etc. 
  • Active Support & Query Resolution: Today’s customer expects personalised service even while using an auto live chat. There are many such tools like tawk.to, livechat, zendesk, zoho, etc that can help in combining real-time experience and human relationships. There are many brands that leverage such technology to replicate their in-store experience online through live chat and exponentiate their sales. 
  1. Predictive Data Analysis

“Forecasting” future trends is the key! In a fast paced market understanding the ever-changing trends, is the need of the hour. Today, predictive data analysis plays a major role in facilitating the best customer experience. This strategy allows brands to build targeted promotions and loyalty programs, efficiently optimize campaigns, forecast & foresee demand, and adopt profitable replenishment strategies.  

  1. Data-Oriented Budget Optimization

Under & Over budgeting is a disaster for any business planning & strategy. Budget is the fuel of marketing campaigning and data backed budget could further boost the effectiveness of any marketer running these campaigns. There are two primary data-driven approaches:

  • Marketing mix model: Uses past performance data to measure the effectiveness of digital and offline channels while controlling for external factors to optimize marketing and spend efficiently. 
  • Multi-touch attribution: Uses data at an individual-level from identified channels to numerate and allocate fractional credit to different marketing touchpoints through a consumer journey. This enables marketers to routinely enhance ongoing campaigns with the most accurate, up-to-date metrics.
  1. Powering the Business Landscape with AI

AI has proven to be the “mainstream technology” for companies by facilitating revenue growth, more informed decisions and enhanced customer experiences.   

AI systems continually work in the background of popular products and services such as Amazon, Netflix and undoubtedly Google. 

Few areas that can be inspected for leveraging AI are: 

  • AI-Powered Ads: AI-powered systems help marketers inspect more ad platforms and streamline target audiences. Companies can leverage this opportunity by using third-party or even by developing their own customised AI tools where ML (Machine Learning) algorithms can learn new ways for optimizing the advertisement campaign that requires little human involvement with AI analysis, management, and optimization of paid ad campaigns. 
  • AI-Generated Content: AI-generated content is backed by data insights and written rules & formats that serve best for your brand. Organizations can leverage this natural language for generation of email content, customised reports, customer engagement, or social media post content. There are AI-powered marketing tools that can efficiently suggest fresh social media content that your brand’s followers are likely to engage with. 
  • Churn Prediction: Understanding the business’s churn ML algorithms could create effective content for the disengaged users that are about to churn. AI can help build a predictive model to identify the point of churning life cycle of an existing customer, giving an early indication to the company to retain the customer.  
  1. Human-to-Human Marketing

COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped every individual’s perceptions about life, let alone a brand. They are adamant about their expectations which are higher than before. Being distant due to online presence as the only option at some stage of the pandemic, has created many obstacles for businesses to develop interpersonal relationships with their customers while bearing the pangs of pandemic.   

So why not use technology to establish an interpersonal relationship with customers?

  • Humanized chat bots: People always want personalized services when they are spending money. The online chat bots could be trained to ‘humanize’ by using easy and conversational language. Also, giving the bot an identity with a name and a face could help achieve this personal touch.
  • Friendly agents: Ensuring casual yet respectful response from agents when responding to a customer could help build a relationship and fill that gap.. 
  • Social media engagement: Be funky and friendly.This side of your business can attract social media followers, Use comments, live chats, innovative content, etc. on a regular basis. 

In this highly competitive business environment for customers’ engagement, hyper-personalization using big data analytics has proven to be magical and provides a distinct competitive edge to the companies.

Advertisers must use a perfect mix of strategy while engaging with their customers on multiple touchpoints. This is achieved by ensuring transparency and maintaining compliance with privacy laws by not misusing the data in any manner. This behavior will make a brand reliable and relevant in the long term through constant evolution. @CloudPloys we offer reliable advice and SEO services to give your business that extra boost to outgrow itself to greater heights. 

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Programming Languages

There are quite a few programming languages in the tech world! But the most tricky part is to know how and where you use these different languages? 

In this article you will get a quick insight of a couple of different programming languages and what are the key characteristics of each:

PHP – a general purpose scripting language known for its accelerated learning curve. It is super beginner-friendly, and to top it all, it supports a large pool of all the websites out there, with a popular one being WordPress!

Python – a less beginner-friendly programming language as compared to PHP. But fairly popular with its usage in web-development. Also, it is widely used at university level and this is due to its compatibility with mathematical algorithms & machine learning.

Rust / Elixir – a fancy and impressive one to add to your programming language skills. This is a considerably new programming language and one of those ones that emerges every day but takes the entire community by surprise. Rust/Elixir’s original approach to solving problems is quite appealing to a lot of potential users, primarily because of their simplicity & effectiveness.

JavaScript + CSS + HTML – a blessing in the world of front-end development. Massively popular in the developers world, with an expanding community dedicated to improving the front end space, along with a large number of potential newbies joining each day.

So if you are not really into a programming language, then it is not the end of the world! 

The programming world offers a variety of other subjects as well for you to consider like “Databases” & “Big Data Analysis”, and in fact both these subjects are dearly important in the IT community. 

These languages need some matter to develop on and this is where these other subjects come in place. All this data has to be analyzed, manipulated and computed in order for anyone to have something concrete to develop further on or even use the programming languages to derive results. 

Another thing to consider is the type of data, agenda of its usage and the ultimate output that plays a big role in deciding the most efficient languages to use when conducting the analysis. This discretion comes with time & experience, so even if you lack it then it does not deprive you of reaping it’s benefits just reach out to us because @CloudPloys we have it all!

Power BI

What’s Microsoft Power BI?

Power BI is a Microsoft Office 365 tool. An intelligence business insight platform that provides business users with various data representations & techniques like aggregating, analyzing, visualizing and sharing data in an easily comprehensive format. Power BI’s user interface is simplistic and familiar with Excel, its knitted integration with other Microsoft products makes it a very dynamic platform that requires little training to use.

It’s subscription is scaled at different levels wherein, a free version is intended for small to midsize businesses. An upscaled professional version than that of the free one is called Power BI Plus which is available for a monthly subscription fee. There is also a downloadable application for Windows 10, called Power BI Desktop. Furthermore, there are native mobile apps for Windows, Android and iOS devices.

Common uses of Microsoft Power BI

Power BI can connect diverse data sets, transform and organize the data into an appropriate data model and create charts or graphs to provide visuals of the data to find intuitive insights within an organization’s data. This is easily shareable with other authorised Power BI users of the organisation.

The data compilations can be used for telling logical stories through charts & visualizations and examining “What If” scenarios within the data. These reports are also dynamic in nature and can answer questions in real time and help with forecasting to help a business meet its key milestones. 

These reports can also be extended to provide executive dashboards for administrators or managers, giving them a streamlined & tailored insight into each department. 

About Power BI key users

Even though using Power BI requires little training, the platform is mostly handled by data analysts and business intelligence professionals who create logical data models upfront before distributing reports throughout the organization. However, those without an analytical background can still navigate Power BI and create reports based on their data understanding.

Some useful reports and forecasts can be created to aid sales and marketing personnel, while also providing management data on department and employee progression toward their key metrics, along with an admin portal for administrators to configure the implementation of Power BI, as well as monitor usage and licenses status.

Power BI’s key features

Microsoft has added a substantial number of data analytics features to Power BI since its discovery, and continues to do so. Some of the most important features include:

  • Artificial Intelligence – accessibility of image recognition and text analytics, creation of machine learning models via automated capabilities and integration with Azure Machine Learning.
  • Hybrid Deployment – embedded connectors that support Power BI tools to connect with a range of data sources from Microsoft, Salesforce and others.
  • Snap Insights – This feature allows users to create subsets of data and automatically apply analytics to that information.
  • Standardised Data Modelling – It supports common data modelling by easily enabling the use of a standardised and extendable collection of data schemas like entities, attributes and relationships.
  • Cortana – Cortana Micrisoft’s digital assistant. Its integration is especially popular in mobile devices allowing users to verbally query data using natural language and access results.
  • Customisation – enables developers to play around with the appearance of default visualization and reporting tools. Also, they can import new tools into the platform, as required.
  • APIs – presents developers with sample code and ‘Application Performance Interfaces’ (APIs) for embedding the Power BI dashboard in other software products.
  • Self Data Prep – Power Query enables business analysts to import, transform, integrate and optimise big data into the Power BI web service. Imported data can be shared across multiple Power BI models, reports and dashboards.
  • Modeling Visualisation – enables users to segregate complex data models by subject area into different diagrams, choose multiple data objects & denote common properties, view & modify properties in the properties pane, and set display folders for simpler accessibility of complex data models.

Key Components of Power BI 

There are some key components of Power BI that enable users to create and share business insights in a tailored manner to suit the users purpose.

These key components are:

  • Power Query- Data mashup & transformation tool
  • Power Pivot- Memory tabular data modeling tool
  • Power View- Data visualization tool
  • Power Map- 3D geospatial data visualization tool
  • Power Q&A- Natural language question & answering engine

Power BI is indeed extremely powerful but its amazing features can only give results if the tool is in the right hands. So if your business is looking for unanswered questions about your key business insights & performance then reach out to us because @Cloudploys we have data experts who can derive logical patterns for your business and provide you with a comprehensive analytical report.

Scrum

What is a Scrum Framework?

Scrum is a framework, agile in nature, for developing, delivering and sustaining complex adaptive business problems, while efficiently and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value. This framework can be elongated to any field from research, marketing and much more. However, this was primarily developed to assist with management of software development and advanced technologies.

It is more of a framework wherein processes and methodologies can be set up rather than building of products. This framework clearly highlights the effectiveness of a business’s product management & development practices and flags a need for improvement.

Key points about Scrum: 

  • The Scrum framework consists of “Scrum Teams”. Along with associated roles, events, artifacts, and rules. 
  • Each defined role within the framework has a precise agenda and its implementation is absolutely critical to Scrum’s success and usage.
  • The rules of Scrum hold the events, roles, and artifacts together while supervising the relationships and interaction between them. 
  • Listed events are used to create regularity. All events have a deadline. 
  • FYI – there is a widely believed misconception that Scrum = no documentation, scrum team consists of only developers, and so on. But this is not entirely true!

In Scrum what is Sprint?

Sprint is the most vital aspect of scrum framework. It’s a timeline of two weeks or one month during which a feasibly deliverable product progress is created. 

It is a simultaneous process wherein a new Sprint starts immediately after the closure of the previous one. 

Sprints consist of: 

  • Sprint planning – The work to be performed in the Sprint is planned cohesively by the Scrum Team.
  • Daily Scrum – 15-minute meeting for the Scrum Team to align the activities and create a plan for that day.
  • The development work – Actions of the Sprint plans are performed
  • A Sprint Review – An end of day meeting, to inspect the progress and make the needed changes to the Product Backlog.
  • The Sprint Retrospective – Occurs after the Sprint Review and before the next Sprint Planning. Here, the Scrum Team reflects on itself and creates an improved plan for the following Sprint.

To sum it up, Scrum is a process framework that outlines certain rules, events, and roles to bring a cyclical workflow. It is flexible & dynamic and can be adapted by any organization, based on their needs, keeping in mind that the basic scrum rules are not compromised in order to get efficient results out of it.

But, it is easier said & read than done, theory often undermines practicality! And that’s when you reach out to @CloudPloys and seek advice from our management experts with experience in diverse fields to build the right Scrum Sprint for your company.

WFH

Permanent Work From Home – New HR Contract Model

The most trending HR employee contract model now includes “Work from ANYWHERE” apart from the usual “Permanent |  Full-Time | Causal | Part-Time | etc.” This model essentially allows employees to choose whether they want to be full time at the Office | Home | Office and Home.

Spotify is the latest tech company which has recently adapted this model. The company will adhere to implementing extreme flexibility even around locations, giving employees the freedom to even choose the country and city where they would like to work from. The company has decided to provide co-working space memberships for its employees who choose to work remotely and at the same time desire for a dedicated workspace. Hence, giving them the best of both worlds!!!

We are seeing more and more big-scale companies adopting the remote work model as a more permanent and concrete option due to adversities caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This framework will give more assurance to companies in leading a more persistent growth. 

With this dynamic shift in workplace concept, companies are at the forefront of reassessing their office spaces across the globe for increased perseverance, flexibility and prosperity to ensure that all of their operations, regardless of the situation, goes on unobstructedly, comfortably and efficiently. The main objective of this new employee roadmapping approach is to ensure that employees in the uncertain long-run have a permanent & backup place where they can perform with focus, collaborate without obstruction, innovate and recreate and the possibility of this should prevail whether at an office/home desk, in a conference room, a cafe or a co-working space.

Spotify is not the only tech company, there are other significant companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, Twitter, Square, etc. who have considered and implemented this dynamic employee contractual setting. Salesforce recently announced to let its employees choose whether they would consider coming into the office again? While Simultaneously emphasizing that the 9-to-5 workday routine is dead. Square and Twitter are letting employees work from home #wfh FOR GOOD! And lastly Microsoft also offered its workers high flexibility to work from home.

 

 

As evidently seen that we have a rising number of companies who are proactively considering remote work as a more permanent option due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I think it is time that all companies should prepare for the same and evolve with the changing time. The world is not the same anymore. In this world only the digitally adept will survive. @CloudPloys we help companies in upscaling and proofing their business against such adversities, so please reach out for a consultation and a relaxed discussion! 

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ZipPay VS Afterpay – How are the two different or similar?

When we talk about buying shares the two most trending shares these days are those of Zip and After pay. But the business models of both are similar that it is hard to identify a clear distinction between the two. The buyers often cannot make a clear comparison between the two.

So here we have listed out a few key features for both:

 ZipPayAfterpay
What does the company offer? Offers buyers an instant credit of $1000 for buying products. It can be redeemed in online or other purchases. The user has the flexibility to decide their instalment repayment plan. Most flexible! Offers buyers to buy now and pay later with four split payments in equal portions deducted fortnightly from the registered credit/debit card. Most convenient! 
Buying Limit Offers an instant shopping credit of $1000 without any need for an initial deposit at the time of purchase. For any order greater than the $1000 value the buyer needs to pay the difference upfront. Offers a total transaction of up to $1000 with the first quarter payment payable by the buyer at the time of purchase. 
Fees & Charges No fee incurred if instalment is paid on time. 0% interest & $0 set up. No fee incurred if instalment is paid on time. 0% interest & $0 set up.
Late or Missed Instalment ChargesCharges $5/month after the first month for any outstanding amount irrespective of how big or small the amount is. 
This means if you pay off before the end of the first month you will never be charged a fee!
Charges $10 for a late payment. However, they do send follow-up reminder emails ahead of time. 
This means if you pay on time you will never be charged a fee!
Summarised Distinction Flexible process, no deposit required Simpler process and get to pay off faster. 
User Eligibility Only available for Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents over 18 years old. Only available for Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents over 18 years old. 
Bank Card Requirements A user must have a valid debit card and be employed with a minimum salary of $300/wk A user must have a valid credit/debit card and sufficient funds to cover the first quarter instalment.

These are the few clear distinctions which might support you in decision making amongst two crucial companies. @CloudPloys enjoy exploring such exciting & enriching topics. So if you are someone like minded and enjoyed reading this blog then stay attuned for more topics yet to be explored! 

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Upgrading your technical acumen

COVID-19 came as an unexpected shock to many businesses placing their immediate future in serious jeopardy, and  no clue as to how long this crisis might last. For many businesses, suggested instructions by the governments to contain public health risks resulted in a sudden fall in demand for products, services, labour shortages and supply disruptions, Businesses must be willing to cooperate with the health authorities, as they advise people to stay home to contain the spread of COVID-19. This will result in people consuming less and purchasing in different ways. It has impacted staff availability, especially for businesses where employees cannot work remotely. As a risk management strategy there are a range of steps listed below that small businesses should consider taking now and accept COVID-19 as an ongoing situation.
  • Update technological infrastructure 
  • Perform IT health check 
  • Reboot systems & install upgrades 
  • Improve website integrations
  • Enhance online presence &  boost sales 
  • Talk to key suppliers & strengthen digital business relationships 
  • Train employees with critical skills or find alternate digital solution
  • Do a reality check on your business to ensure an outstanding virtual existence
  • If you find yourself in technical difficulty, reach out to CloudPloys