Why Predictive Analytics is Essential for Your Business

If you are looking to jump ahead of the competition, your customers are supplying the solution – and that’s not just with their trade. This solution, in fact, is the data they provide.

With this data at your disposal, you can begin to gain an insight into the future with predictive analytics. This information can then be used to enhance the overall efficiency and productivity of your business.

It might be surprising to know, but predictive analytics has actually been around for decades. Yet this concept has gained renewed relevance in recent years for various reasons. First of all, specialist predictive tools have become more prevalent and affordable. Secondly, this form of analytics has a number of benefits for organizations.

For a closer look at why you need to implement this system, here is why predictive analytics is essential for your business.

How predictive analytics is utilized by businesses

Due to the wide range of uses that data can provide, predictive analytics has different functions for different industries. In general, the system can be used to solve complex problems, discover new opportunities, reduce risks, and enhance revenue.

One of the most common uses of predictive analytics is to optimize marketing campaigns. The data collected can help with everything from setting optimum prices to understanding customer behavior patterns — the end result: the ability to retain customers and attract new ones.

As for how predictive analytics works, the process takes on this general form:

• Data collection: Before any analytics take place, data needs to be gathered and prepared. This is best done by obtaining the data from multiple first and third-party sources.
• Reporting: The data then goes through a process where it is prepped and presented via reports, ensuring it is in a format that makes it easy for analysis.
• Data analysis: Data is analyzed to find beneficial information that can be used by the business.
• Implementation: Once opportunities have been spotted through the data analysis, these are implemented with the expectation they will improve the company.

The advantages of predictive analytics

Now you know a little more about predictive analytics and how it is used, it’s time to look at the selling points of this system. In that regard, there are several different advantages when it comes to using this method of analytics.

Optimize digital marketing strategy

Putting together an effective digital marketing scheme can be tricky. There are many different ways in which you can promote your business, and the best tactics for each are constantly changing. Due to the way in which these changes happen on a frequent basis, it pays off to take a glimpse into the future with predictive analytics.

Plus, due to the various different methods for marketing, as mentioned, this expands the scope in terms of how analytics can be utilized. Here are a few ways in which it can deliver assistance:

• Predict the behavior of targeted customers: By using predictive analytics, you can explore everything from the purchasing to search habits of targeted customers. By being able to predict these forms of behavior, you can better tailor your marketing efforts and product line.
• Improve search engine optimization: When you gain an insight into what customers are searching for, you can create specialized SEO content, which will help draw in new customers.
• The price is right: When you analyze pricing trends throughout the year, you can gain a greater grasp of what prices are best for your products and services. In addition, you will know when to use the optimum price for products at the right time of year.

Increase sales

When running an e-commerce store, predictive analytics can play a big role in improving sale numbers.

To start with, you can examine the data to better understand and anticipate the needs of customers. This can be done by looking at their behavior while browsing your website, as well as based on the purchases they may have made.

This information is also useful when it comes to identifying the right target market. You can view the consumer behavior of your current customers, see what is grabbing their attention, and use this to zoom in on targeted customers who will make purchases from your store.

Reduce risk

There are various ways in which your business can be affected by nefarious activity. This includes fraud and those who default on purchases. However, analyzing data trends and patterns can assist in reducing these types of risks.

By enhancing the ability to detect patterns, you can avert criminal behavior. You can take a real-time look at actions committed on a network, spot any abnormalities that point towards fraud and other suspicious activities, and quickly remove them from becoming a serious issue.

As for threats such as default purchases, a credit score is a well-known example when it comes to predictive analysis. By analyzing their credit score – which includes all relevant data to formulate an individual’s creditworthiness – this helps to illustrate if they are likely to complete their purchases or not.

Improve operations

With predictive analytics, you can improve the efficiency of your entire company. For instance, you can better manage resources and forecast inventory levels with the right information.

While this has obvious advantages for, say, online retailers that carry stock, it’s also beneficial for other businesses. As an example, a hotel will attempt to maximize room occupancy by predicting how many guests it will feature on any given night.

How to improve your predictive analytics approach

When you consider the advantages available, it makes sense to try and improve your approach to predictive analytics as much as possible. To do this, there are a number of directions you can take as detailed below.

Use more data

When it comes to predictive analytics, you can never have too much data. The more data you have at your disposal, the more accurate any predictions will be – there won’t be any need to rely on frail correlations or assumptions.

Thankfully, there are many different methods in which you can gain data. This will ultimately depend on the purpose of your predictive analytics. However, the following points will highlight ways in which you can collect data:

• Surveys
• Transactional data tracking
• Online tracking
• Online marketing analytics
• Third-party information
• Social media monitoring

Implement the right tools

Predictive tools not only continue to become more sophisticated and feature-packed, but their availability is also becoming widespread. This means that any business, both big and small, can use specialist predictive analytic systems.

While this is good news in one sense, the amount of software available makes it a tricky choice to settle on the right one. Thankfully, this predictive tools guide spotlights the best systems for specific uses and industries.

Gain an education

Learning on-the-job has its obvious advantages, but enrolling onto a predictive analytics course is arguably even more beneficial. You will learn all of the intricate details about the subject, as well as staying up-to-date with the latest developments about predictive analytics.

There’s just one issue: how can you find the time to study while running a business at the same time?

Well, this problem can be circumvented with one useful solution: online learning. Instead of needing to attend classes at a standard brick-and-mortar establishment, you can complete your education across the internet. Not only does this mean you can work your course around your business and personal commitments, but you can also acquire a degree in a relatively speedy fashion – especially when compared to traditional educational platforms.

Thanks to the never-ending advancements in technology, the number of colleges and universities providing online courses continues to grow. This is why it is entirely possible to study for an online masters in predictive analytics.

Hire an expert

If your budget can stretch to employing a specialist in predictive analytics, then you should go for it. By going this route, you’re going to instantly improve this aspect of your company. An expert will be able to review your current processes, understand what you’re doing right and wrong, and figure out a way of better utilizing collected data.

Plus, you don’t necessarily have to bring in an employee full-time. You could gain assistance from a specialist on a freelance basis. Then once you have gained a suitable amount of expertise and insight, you can go it alone with this foundation in place.

Why your business needs predictive analytics

If the above points haven’t convinced you yet, this section will hopefully surmise the importance of predictive analytics for your company.

The business world is one that never stands still. Trends that were working yesterday might not work today. Due to this, it’s imperative you don’t get caught out and stuck in the past. You need to stick with the latest movements to stop the competition from gaining an advantage.

This is where predictive analytics comes into play. You might not be able to predict the future entirely, but this analytics concept is the next best thing. By utilizing your precious data with predictive analytics, you can solve issues, uncover opportunities, and refine your entire business operation.