--- title: "Opera Solutions' Blog: The Hottest Spot for Practical AI and Big Data Science | Marketing" description: Marketing | Opera Solutions is the largest independent predictive analytics company in the world, providing Practical AI and Big Data Analytics as an ongoing service to blue-chip clients across the globe. --- [![](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Opera_Solutions_Logo_Standard_RGB-72.png?width=369&height=202&name=Opera_Solutions_Logo_Standard_RGB-72.png "Opera_Solutions_Logo_Standard_RGB-72.png")](https://www.operasolutions.com/) ![Blog_Header-4](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Header-4.png?width=3377&name=Blog_Header-4.png "Blog_Header-4") [![Blog_Banner_v3](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Banner_v3.png?width=3713&name=Blog_Banner_v3.png "Blog_Banner_v3")](https://blog.operasolutions.com) ## [Decreased Attention Spans: A New Reason to Perfect Personalization](https://blog.operasolutions.com/decreased-attention-spans-a-new-reason-to-perfect-personalization) Posted by [Laks Srinivasan](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/laks-srinivasan) on Wed, Jan 10, 2018 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![LightBulb_Blog_NEW-02-1.png](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/LightBulb_Blog_NEW-02-1.png)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/decreased-attention-spans-a-new-reason-to-perfect-personalization) *Online shoppers are getting antsy. They’re spending less time thinking about purchases before buying — or leaving a site — and drastically shrinking marketers’ opportunity time. We explore the latest trends in online personalization — and how to keep up.* We spend a lot of time talking about personalization in marketing. That’s because it’s both the most profitable way for our customers to leverage artificial intelligence and the most challenging. A new paper by Seth Earley, published in IEEE’s November/December issue of [*IT Professional*](https://www.computer.org/csdl/mags/it/2017/06/mit2017060074-abs.html), lays out some of these challenges and addresses how best to overcome them.[“AI-Driven Analytics at Scale: The Personalization Problem”](https://info.operasolutions.com/experts-agree-ai-driven-analytics-enhance-personalization) touches on many of the issues our customers face every day, including maximizing data scientists’ time, developing use cases in a timely fashion, and even using a Signal Layer to help expedite the process. It also cites a new study that examines exactly how much time companies must apply their personalization insights in a real-time setting. [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/decreased-attention-spans-a-new-reason-to-perfect-personalization) Topics: [Big Data](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data), [Analytics](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/analytics), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing), [Artificial Intelligence](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/artificial-intelligence) ## [The Data-Driven CMO: 7 Steps to Overcome Data Pains in Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/the-data-driven-cmo-7-steps-to-overcome-data-pains-in-marketing) Posted by [Sarah Anderson](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/sarah-anderson) on Tue, Jul 18, 2017 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/Blogs/blog_LaQuinta.jpg)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/the-data-driven-cmo-7-steps-to-overcome-data-pains-in-marketing) In our new podcast series, *The Data-Driven CMO,* Opera Solutions Senior Vice President John Kelly interviews Julie Cary, CMO of La Quinta Inns and Suites, who has developed a strong reputation as both a traditional and digital marketer in her dde-long tenure with the company. She discusses the steps taken to integrate Big Data and data science into La Quinta’s everyday marketing operations. Julie shares how she balanced marketing, technology, data science, and IT and secured the necessary budgets to develop a robust digital marketing environment with tangible marketing results. [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/the-data-driven-cmo-7-steps-to-overcome-data-pains-in-marketing) Topics: [Data Science](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/data-science), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) ## [The Data-Driven CMO: Opera Solutions Announces New Podcast Series](https://blog.operasolutions.com/the-data-driven-cmo-opera-solutions-announces-new-podcast-series) Posted by [Sarah Anderson](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/sarah-anderson) on Tue, May 09, 2017 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Podcast_JohnKelly_podcast.jpg](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/Podcast_JohnKelly_podcast.jpg)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/the-data-driven-cmo-opera-solutions-announces-new-podcast-series) --- Opera Solutions is pleased to announce its new podcast series, the Data-Driven CMO. With an increasing focus on technology and Big Data, the marketing profession must rapidly learn how to use such technologies as predictive analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.  At Opera Solutions, we have helped several global companies transform their marketing using our predictive analytics software. However, technology and products are only part of the story, and we wanted to bring the organizational and human perspective on this transformative shift to light. Our new podcast series opens the discourse through direct conversations with some of the most technically adept marketing leaders.  [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/the-data-driven-cmo-opera-solutions-announces-new-podcast-series) Topics: [Big Data](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data), [Analytics](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/analytics), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) ## [Why Retailers Must Win Millennials — And How to Do It](https://blog.operasolutions.com/why-retailers-must-win-millennials-and-how-to-do-it) Posted by [Sarah Anderson](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/sarah-anderson) on Wed, Apr 12, 2017 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/Blogs/blog_millennials-01.jpg)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/why-retailers-must-win-millennials-and-how-to-do-it) *What’s the big deal about Millennials? For starters, they’re now the biggest demographic in America. But their needs are unlike any generation before them. Here’s what retailers must know to succeed in marketing to this 80-million–strong population.* Millennials are now the largest living generation in the United States, according to the [US Census Bureau](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2015/cb15-113.html). Defined loosely as those born from the early 80s to the early 2000s, Millennials account for roughly 25% of the US population at 83.1 million, exceeding the 75.4 million Baby Boomers in the country. They grew up with household computers, cell phones, and myriad other forms of technology, and they entered the work force during the Great Recession, which has made them price-conscious, tech-savvy shoppers — and [robust savers](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160107005704/en/America%E2%80%99s-Savings-Rate-Improves-Fidelity%C2%AE-Study-Finds). About half of them still live at home, and they’ve [taken over the work force](http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/05/11/millennials-surpass-gen-xers-as-the-largest-generation-in-u-s-labor-force/). While most are holding off on marriage, [nearly 40% have children](http://www.gallup.com/poll/191462/gallup-analysis-millennials-marriage-family.aspx) and 9% live with domestic partners, indicating that they’re starting families and establishing households (i.e. shopping and spending). Perhaps the most telling stats come from a study from [FutureCast](http://www.thedrum.com/news/2016/04/25/millennial-behavior-influences-older-generations-according-study), which says that Millennials’ purchases are most influenced by their social circles and that they’re the first generation to influence older generations. [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/why-retailers-must-win-millennials-and-how-to-do-it) Topics: [Big Data](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data), [Data Science](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/data-science), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) ## [How to Transform Marketing with the Membership Economy and Advanced Analytics](https://blog.operasolutions.com/how-to-transform-marketing-with-the-membership-economy-and-advanced-analytics) Posted by [John Mack and Sarah Anderson](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/john-mack-and-sarah-anderson) on Wed, Nov 30, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![membership economy_blog.jpg](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/membership%20economy_blog.jpg)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/how-to-transform-marketing-with-the-membership-economy-and-advanced-analytics) --- *Everyone wants to belong. But how can that basic human need coexist with the commercial needs of a business so that both the customer and the business find the relationship beneficial? Big Data analytics makes it possible while also opening new possibilities.* History is replete with examples of human beings finding ways to connect with one another. We form tribes, congregations, clubs, and entire societies. We develop communications channels and pass specialized content through those channels. Even efforts to divide these groups and disrupt these channels simply engender new ones and actually help strengthen our identity as individuals. This pattern has continued to evolve with the advent of the digital age and extends to peoples’ relationships with products and services. Are you loyal to Mac or PC? Do you use Facebook or Instagram? Are you enrolled in Amazon Prime? Are you a Netflix subscriber? This need to identify one’s self with a larger group is a primal human instinct no matter how contemporary the group. [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/how-to-transform-marketing-with-the-membership-economy-and-advanced-analytics) Topics: [Big Data](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data), [Analytics](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/analytics), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) ## [CLV and Clumpy Customers: Why Clumpy Behavior Is Changing the Customer Lifetime Value Equation](https://blog.operasolutions.com/clv-and-clumpy-customers-why-clumpy-behavior-is-changing-the-clv-equation) Posted by [Michael Turon](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/michael-turon) on Fri, Sep 23, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Binge.png](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/Binge.png)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/clv-and-clumpy-customers-why-clumpy-behavior-is-changing-the-clv-equation) --- *Calculating customer lifetime value has been a critical part of the marketing process for years, but new technologies are changing consumer behavior, and marketing professionals need to catch up*. Ever have a weekend where you just can’t stop spending money? Maybe you’re using some free time to stock up, or you’re decorating a room or planning a party. Or maybe you’re not spending more but just consuming more — a good television or movie series or, for example, plowing through a good book on your Kindle. This kind of behavior is called “clumpiness.” And while it’s not necessarily new, new technologies — particularly in the world of digital content — have shed light on this type of behavior for all industries. The problem is that it hasn’t been included in the formula marketers have been using for decades. [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/clv-and-clumpy-customers-why-clumpy-behavior-is-changing-the-clv-equation) Topics: [Signal Hub Technologies](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/signal-hub-technologies), [Analytics](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/analytics), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) ## [How to Nurture Existing Customer Relationships to Drive Revenue Growth](https://blog.operasolutions.com/how-to-nurture-existing-customer-relationships-to-drive-revenue-growth) Posted by [John Mack](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/john-mack) on Tue, Jul 26, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![ThinkstockPhotos-533556620_300w.jpg](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/ThinkstockPhotos-533556620_300w.jpg)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/how-to-nurture-existing-customer-relationships-to-drive-revenue-growth) --- **PART 4 of 4: Grow Revenue from Your Existing Customers: How Big Data Analytics Can Help** *This post is the fourth in a four-part series. The third installment, “[Existing Customers vs. New Customers — Exploring the Road Less Traveled,](https://blog.operasolutions.com/existing-customers-vs.-new-customers-exploring-the-road-less-traveled)” discussed aspirational value and Big Data analytics’ role in attaining it. Here, we’ll discuss how all the elements described in this series fit together to drive revenue growth.* Businesses that overemphasize or exclusively focus on new business development to drive revenue growth are missing a substantial opportunity: their existing customers. Information about a business’ existing customers already resides in multiple areas of the overall corporate database, not just on a business development list. These customers’ profile information, consisting of demographic and psychographic details, preferences, and behaviors is there, offering a data picture that is far richer than the picture associated with prospective customers. [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/how-to-nurture-existing-customer-relationships-to-drive-revenue-growth) Topics: [Big Data](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data), [Signal Hub Technologies](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/signal-hub-technologies), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) ## [Flipping the Model: Successful Retailers Tailor Campaigns to Each Customer's Needs](https://blog.operasolutions.com/flipping-the-model-successful-retailers-tailor-campaigns-to-each-customers-needs) Posted by [John Mack](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/john-mack) on Tue, Jul 19, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![hand-retail.jpg](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/hand-retail.jpg)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/flipping-the-model-successful-retailers-tailor-campaigns-to-each-customers-needs) --- With 2016 already halfway over, retail marketers are deep into their 2016 campaigns, which are intended to acquire and retain customers, drive sales, and improve overall customer loyalty. But what are marketers doing differently to make 2016 better than 2015? Last year, the Commerce Department recorded only a 2.1% increase in retail sales (excluding automotive) over 2014 — marking the worst such performance since 20091 and a far cry from the 4.1% increase that the NRF projected2. If retailers haven’t changed the way they approach marketing, are we in for more of the same? [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/flipping-the-model-successful-retailers-tailor-campaigns-to-each-customers-needs) Topics: [Big Data](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) ## [Existing Customers vs. New Customers — Exploring the Road Less Traveled](https://blog.operasolutions.com/existing-customers-vs.-new-customers-exploring-the-road-less-traveled) Posted by [John Mack](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/john-mack) on Tue, Jul 12, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![ThinkstockPhotos-94219767.jpg](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/ThinkstockPhotos-94219767.jpg)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/existing-customers-vs.-new-customers-exploring-the-road-less-traveled) --- **Part 3 of 4: Grow Revenue from Your Existing Customers: How Big Data Analytics Can Help** *This post is the third in a four-part series. The second installment, “[Big Data Analytics: Necessary but Not Sufficient](https://blog.operasolutions.com/big-data-analytics-necessary-but-not-sufficient),” discussed three new ways companies can use Big Data analytics to improve a business’ ability to consistently improve revenue growth from existing customers. Here, we’ll discuss aspirational value and Big Data analytics’ role in attaining it.* People sometimes fail to notice opportunities that later seem obvious. Even when we do identify such opportunities, we may neglect to pursue them, or we may take an ineffective approach to pursuing them. One example of this phenomenon is how businesses think about driving revenue growth. [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/existing-customers-vs.-new-customers-exploring-the-road-less-traveled) Topics: [Big Data](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data), [Signal Hub Technologies](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/signal-hub-technologies), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) ## [Grow Revenue by Using Big Data More Intelligently](https://blog.operasolutions.com/grow-revenue-by-using-big-data-more-intelligently) Posted by [John Mack](https://blog.operasolutions.com/author/john-mack) on Fri, Jun 17, 2016 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![ThinkstockPhotos-99717805.jpg](https://blog.operasolutions.com/hubfs/ThinkstockPhotos-99717805.jpg)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/grow-revenue-by-using-big-data-more-intelligently) #### **Go Beyond the Symptoms: How to Overcome Revenue Growth Challenges** **Part 1 of 4: Grow Revenue from Your Existing Customers: How Big Data Analytics Can Help** *This post is the first in a four-part series. Here, we discuss the key signs of slowing revenue growth and the first steps organizations can take to turn it around.* It isn't hard to Identify the symptoms of declining revenue growth. Often, more than one of the classic signs will be evident at any given time. A declining growth rate or a shortfall in revenue vs. the target level are perhaps the most obvious indicators. Operating expenses growing faster than revenue can be yet another strong harbinger of revenue growth challenges, as well as a potential indicator of a cost structure that is no longer aligned with the business’ sales capabilities. While they require more research and calculation to derive, declining market share or shrinking revenue growth rates vs. competitors are other telltale signs. [Read More](https://blog.operasolutions.com/grow-revenue-by-using-big-data-more-intelligently) Topics: [Big Data](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data), [Signal Hub Technologies](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/signal-hub-technologies), [Marketing](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) [All posts](https://blog.operasolutions.com/all) [Next](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing/page/2) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Big Data (75)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/big-data) - [Machine Learning (38)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/machine-learning) - [Data Science (32)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/data-science) - [Signal Hub Technologies (27)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/signal-hub-technologies) - [Analytics (26)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/analytics) - [Marketing (23)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/marketing) - [Press Releases (22)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/press-releases) - [Arnab Gupta (16)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/arnab-gupta) - [Events (10)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/events) - [Healthcare (10)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/healthcare) - [Signals (10)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/signals) - [Partners (8)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/partners) - [Artificial Intelligence (7)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/artificial-intelligence) - [Competitions (7)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/competitions) - [Supply Chain & Operations (7)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/supply-chain-operations) - [Videos (6)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/videos) - [Mobiuss (5)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/mobiuss) - [Security & Defense (4)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/security-defense) - [Data Equity (3)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/data-equity) - [Customer Yield Management (2)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/customer-yield-management) - [Hadoop (2)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/hadoop) - [OperaNotebook (2)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/operanotebook) - [Practical AI (2)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/practical-ai) - [SoftwareUpdates (2)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/softwareupdates) - [Spark (2)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/spark) - [Transformative AI (2)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/transformative-ai) - [CinemaAI (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/cinemaai) - [Data Management (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/data-management) - [Data Preparation (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/data-preparation) - [Data Quality (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/data-quality) - [EMR (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/emr) - [Integration (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/integration) - [MDM (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/mdm) - [Optimization (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/optimization) - [Payment Integrity (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/payment-integrity) - [Personalization (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/personalization) - [Revenue Commander (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/revenue-commander) - [Revenue Cycle AI (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/revenue-cycle-ai) - [SignalExpressionSyntax (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/signalexpressionsyntax) - [Telecommunications and Media (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/telecommunications-and-media) - [TravelAI (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/travelai) - [predictive analytics (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/predictive-analytics) - [revenue cycle management (1)](https://blog.operasolutions.com/topic/revenue-cycle-management) see all [![Opera Solutions](https://www.operasolutions.com/themes/opera/logo.svg)](http://operasolutions.com/) © Opera Solutions OpCo, LLC. 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