SigmaWay Blog

401(k) is a retirement savings plan sponsored by an employer. It is found that retirement planning and wealth management firms are upgrading themselves with client segmentation. Nowadays, segmentation and predictive analytics projects are important to organizations. Segmentation is an important as it help firms continue to add resources. Firms are also trying to progress with the help of big data. For more read the article written by John Sullivan : http://401kspecialistmag.com/segmentation-critical-fully-understand-clients-across-channels-march-2016-boston-new-research-cerulli-associates-global-analytics-firm-finds-firms-approaching-client-segmentat/

Prescriptive analytics is considered the third wave of the Big Data revolution after descriptive analytics and predictive analytics. Prescriptive analytics add a third layer of technology by evaluating possible actions in response to the data and produce a desired outcome. Combination of predictive and prescriptive analytics can be helpful for organizations which wants to do more in less time. Combining prescriptive and predictive analytics add more features into the equation, such as the responsiveness of a prospect to your outreach. Effective prescriptive analytics deliver more transparency and control. For more read: http://insidebigdata.com/2016/03/03/how-prescriptive-analytics-puts-complex-decision-making-on-rails/

Nowadays, computers solve crimes, drive cars, cure sickness and accurately predict political races. But the problem is, it's not enough to just store, access and process data. Machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms are divided into two factors: huge quantities of timely and accurate data. There are four typical methods to be used to acquire data. They are -1. Required self-declared data,2. Self-declared or observed data 3. Volunteered self-declared data, 4. Crowdsourced observed data. For more read the article link written by David Elkington: http://techcrunch.com/2016/03/01/getting-predictive-about-politics-and-everything-else/

Big data analytics are helping organizations connect their data and use it to identify new opportunities. Big data analytics examines large amounts of data to uncover hidden patterns, correlations and other insights. Here are some sectors where big data are making an impressive impact-: 

# 1. Healthcare 

Big Data Analytics in the healthcare sector helps patients and the healthcare ecosystem to be aware of the appropriate treatments and measures to be taken.

#2. Retail

In the retail sector, analytic solution offers insights to understand and respond to changing customer experience.

#3. Banking

The financial sector has to deal with vast volumes of data. This sector poses higher vulnerabilities to fraud and financial crimes.

#4. Manufacturing

In manufacturing, operations managers can use advanced analytics to dig historical data to study and improve production.

To know more, please read the article by Arya MM (Writer at infotechlead) -: http://www.infotechlead.com/big-data-2/biz-booms-investment-big-data-analytics-38700

Wearables are more than a fitness tracker. Life Insurance providers are now using this gadget to track their customers' heart rate, sleep patterns and physical activity and reward policy takers with policy discounts and movie tickets. It is also being used to redefine traumatic medical events like heart attacks and claims correspond to that. To know more, please read the article by Ruth Liew (Reporter at ‘ The Sydney Morning Herald’ ) -: http://www.smh.com.au/business/wearable-tech-the-future-of-life-insurance-20160309-gnf60l.html

Image source -:http://www.healthworkscollective.com/veer-gidwaney/163271/how-wearables-will-transform-health-insurance-game

 Lee Sedol, The champion Go player, ranked 5th in the world, has beaten Google's AlphaGo artificial intelligence program in their fourth of five matches in Seoul, South Korea. AlphaGo is an ultra-complex abstract strategy game. This particular game requires a high level of human intuitions & higher perceptions and is slightly more difficult than chess. At the match when AlphaGo made a mistake, there was a question mark on its quick response ability.

Read more at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2016/03/14/human-go-champion-beats-google-alphago-ai-fourth-match/#655b1699292e 

Instagram is a social platform that offers a great opportunity for content marketers to increase their impact. Instagram has an engagement ratio that is eight times the average of the other four social platforms. Instagram continues to expand its ad platform. Recently, it was found that the growth in the number of brands posting video content on Instagram has outpaced growth in the number of brands posting photos (139% versus 91%). The average number of Instagram pictures posted per brand increased by 11%, while the average number of Instagram videos posted per brand grew 29%.

To read more, follow: http://www.business2community.com/instagram/4-instagram-tips-conquer-recent-shifts-digital-marketing-01459035#MFZ8abxaaPP5AZlf.97

Pharmaceutical firms use social media to educate, market, listen to and connect with customers, patients and physicians. Some approaches include: - 1. Education- Firm offers disease specific educational aimed at consumers. Its aim is to help patients to understand their disease, so that they may engage with their healthcare providers to improve outcomes.
2. Connecting with customers/patients and physicians - The industry can use social media to create patient support groups and communities.
To know more, follow: http://www.toprankblog.com/2011/01/social-media-marketing-pharma/

In today's world, digital marketing is important for any business. But there are some measure that can be taken to maximize your business. Some precautionary measures that can be taken are as follows. Identify target audience and segment your marketing techniques accordingly.

1.       Digital marketing relies on “tactics” and “techniques” rather than on strategies and goals.

2.       Mobile search optimization and web app development is the most important parameter.

3.       SEO is the key method of success but not everything

4.       Figure out what your audience wants, identify where they are, and adopt a strategy to reach them.

5.       Use all available social media platform to reach your customer.

6.       Keep a close look on your followers and pay attention to their demands and satisfaction.

7.       Content marketing should form the core of any digital marketing strategy and link building.

8.       Manage a proper funding for digital marketing and should evaluate the real time results.

To know more, read: http://www.forbes.com/sites/neilpatel/2016/03/10/12-things-not-to-do-when-using-digital-marketing-in-2016/#68f176633ac2

Cover image courtesy: www.brickwin.com

Many countries are reflecting on its continuous improvement strategies. It is important to make modification which are both specific and measurable .Continuous Improvement, if carefully planned, will remove waste in any existing process, and prevent waste in future procedures.
To know more, please read the article by Rhea Haley (News journalist at Gasworld)
http://www.gasworld.com/air-products-sa-rolls-out-continuous-improvement-programme/2010050.article

Well, nobody is perfect; we make mistakes, learn from them and make ourselves better; Right? But mistakes do waste most of the time. So what can be wiser than learning from other's mistakes rather than making your own? So here are few mistakes which Scrum Team tends to make –

·         Increasing the level of multitasking exponentially.

·         Behavior- oriented management; Foggy goals.

·          Making decisions without consulting teams.

·         Only efficiency focused mind set.

·          Centralize control.

·          No visualization.

·          Lack of team building activities.

·          No environment to ensure safe failure.

·          Ignoring quality.

Read the complete article here: https://www.scrumalliance.org/community/articles/2016/march/top-10-mistakes-scrum-teams-make

You started working in agile; everything was going fine and smooth. But did you ever crosscheck that, are you still in the Agile Mode? If any of the following questions answers in yes, then you are no more working in an agile mode –

·         Has your organization working on the same project for years and the agile team has not changed and the requirements are always changing?

·         Have you regularly missed daily scrums, redefined stories? Does your burn-down chart have revisions or do the rules change often?

·         Do you see a sudden increase in velocity?

·         Are the Definitions of Done being redefined?

Read the full article here: https://www.scrumalliance.org/community/articles/2016/march/are-you-really-working-in-agile-mode

Conducting daily scrum meetings is so easy when people are physically present at the location of scrum meeting. But what happens when the people are at a different geographical location and time zones. Here are some hacks to ease out the situation:

·         Choose the most possible convenient time zone for all teams.

·          Identify and attack blockers between scrums.

·          Use Agile planning tool to keep the team on the same page.

·          Mute telephones while another distributed team member is updating their status.

·          Take daily Scrum notes; Use chat tools to overcome the barrier of different language.

 Read the full article here: https://www.scrumalliance.org/community/articles/2016/march/effective-ways-of-conducting-daily-standup-meeting

In Cuba, by reviewing all stages of education (primary, secondary, and higher) and emphasizing the process of continuous improvement led to the creation of new institutions. Nowadays, the education ministry is updating the process which aims at a comprehensive, flexible, and participative curricular conception, which will play an important role in academic and civil formation. To know more, follow: - http://www.periodico26.cu/index.php/en/we-recommend/21773-continuous-improvement-of-cuban-education-highlighted

One of the most emerging trends in IT companies is the shift from traditional waterfall to Agile. Agile is dynamic and provides better results, but it does possess some limitations and challenges. Many organizations work on legacy systems where there are a lot of dependent systems that are operating under waterfall model. There is a need to find a way to support the client's demands for a major marketing push and enhancements within the given limitations. Read the complete article here: https://www.scrumalliance.org/community/articles/2016/march/rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day

According to Environmental Protection Agency CTO Greg Godbout, Agile development is not only about completing projects efficiently and cost effectively, but it's about urging the government to take new initiatives in planning and acquisition. He also said that it's all about the ability to learn more flexible ways to handle change in technology. It can be noted that managers resist change because they think it means to them that they have been doing it wrong. The push for agile is often met with resistance, but management eventually comes around. Read the full article here: https://fcw.com/articles/2016/03/02/agile-management-rockwell.aspx

Digital marketing needs continuous update. To sustain in this market, you need to channelize your business in complete digitalization. The main thing is to create an impression by launching an audio visual in the social networking site. Follow buzz marketing techniques to make it viral. Live streaming is the best way to gain market importance. With the rise of relationship marketing, there will be a rise in the cost of digital marketing. Marketing automation and virtual reality are the key process to enhance digital marketing. Moreover location search is gaining popularity than online presence.

To read, follow: http://www.forbes.com/sites/miketempleman/2016/03/08/your-guide-to-mobile-digital-marketing/#1de28212523c

With the increase in reports of urban women being abducted and assaulted, wearables are now also being designed for women's safety. The user of the device just has to click the device that is attached to the jewelry whenever she senses a threatening situation. The app will send an alert to the wearer's network. Family and friends will get the alert through the app on their phone. The App also has a GPS function through which you user can enter your location and time of your current destination and your family and friends can track your movement the entire time. To know more, please read the article by DNA WEB TEAM -: http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report-now-a-wearable-technology-for-safety-that-women-will-absolutely-love-2185044

Social media is a facilitator that we employ to engage in conversation with people who are around us, and to discover new connections. But it also an addiction. Social media often leads to unhealthy comparison, amplification of narcissistic tendencies and the blockage of honest and genuine communication. It not only can be a time killing thing, but it reinforces our need to put ourselves in a log.
To know more, please read the article by Jeffrey R. Smith (The Editor of Canadian Employment Law): -

http://www.hrreporter.com/blog/employment-law/archive/2016/02/29/the-social-media-trap

India needs to invest in human capital to take advantage of its demographic transition with increased spending on health, education and skills. A positive correlation between investment in maternal and early life, health and economic growth is observed. This approach is cheaper and easier than investing in older children. India has started looking into matters with programs like Swacch Bharat, but it needs to scale up its efforts. Quality of education must be next concern. It needs to shed fund in advanced healthcare technology. Read the article here: http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-editorials/india-must-step-up-public-investment-in-human-capital/