Author: Basil Riley
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When AI Gives Good Advice That Is Wrong for Your Business
Artificial intelligence has become embedded in everyday business operations. From writing emails and analysing data to developing business plans and reviewing processes, AI can help people work through problems, explore ideas and make better use of their time. But there is a subtle risk that people using AI should understand, it does not have to…
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To AI or Not to AI: How to Get a Faster Horse
Every major technological change creates a familiar dilemma for businesses. Adopt something new too early and you risk wasting money, disrupting operations and introducing problems you didn’t have before. Wait too long and you could miss opportunities to improve how your business works. Artificial intelligence has brought that dilemma into sharp focus. New tools appear…
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The Numbers Your Business Will Wish It Started Tracking Earlier
Why Most Founders Don’t Think About Data Early On Most people start businesses because they have a product to sell, a service to deliver or an opportunity they want to pursue. Spending time analysing reports and building dashboards is rarely high on the list of priorities. In the early stages, it’s often possible to understand…
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Data Tools for Startups: Why More Tech Tools Don’t Mean Better Decisions
Most startups begin with relatively simple ways of managing information. An Excel spreadsheet or Google Sheet might track customers, revenue, expenses and the occasional marketing campaign. It isn’t particularly sophisticated, but it works because the business is small enough for someone to understand what’s happening. As the business grows, more software usually follows. A CRM…
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Understanding the Full Ecommerce Customer Journey and Why It Matters
What Changes When You Can See the Full Ecommerce Customer Journey An ecommerce business might know exactly how much it spends on advertising, how many visitors arrive at its website and how much revenue it generates each month. But can it identify which marketing activities attract its most profitable customers? Or whether customers acquired through…
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Big Data, Little Data, Cardboard Box Full of Junk Data
There’s something rather impressive about the phrase big data. It conjures up images of enormous computer systems, complicated dashboards and teams of analysts uncovering extraordinary patterns that nobody else could possibly understand. Meanwhile, back in the real world, a small business owner is trying to work out why the customer numbers in their spreadsheet don’t…