2016 Conference in Review

Three individuals pose near a banner for the Wharton Customer Analytics Initiative from the University of Pennsylvania, highlighting business transformation through customer data.

AI and Analytics for Business (AIAB) conference held on April 29 in Philadelphia showcased how data and analytics is vital to every organization and industry. Analytics leaders from such varied companies as American Apparel, Comcast Spectacor, Google, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, and Microsoft shared detailed insights on how to maximize sales, customer retention, and returns on marketing investments with the well-informed use of analytics.Read More

Working with AIAB: Eli Bernstein

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When I first started working as a Research Assistant for AI and Analytics for Business (AIAB), I had no idea what I was getting myself into. At the time, I needed an extra work-study position and when I saw a Wharton research center – and an analytics center, at that — was looking for students to hire, I did not hesitate to interview.Read More

Why Smarter Data is Better Data

A person in business attire is speaking in front of a sign that reads "Wharton Customer Analytics Initiative."

AI and Analytics for Business, together with Teradata, co-sponsored an event that gathered an intimate crowd of high-level industry practitioners to discuss why smarter, smaller datasets should be one of the highest priorities behind a company’s customer analytics best practices.Read More

The MBA Data Science Toolkit

The image shows three line graphs with different patterns, each representing data trends over time. Each graph has two lines, one darker and one lighter, indicating comparisons or changes.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking on a few panels about analytics to my fellow MBA students and alumni, as well as many Penn undergrads. After these talks, I’ve been asked for my advice on what the best resources are for someone coming from the business world (i.e., non-technical) who wants to develop the skills to become an effective data scientist.Read More

The Existing Power of Customer Lifetime Value

A panel discussion featuring five individuals seated in chairs, engaged in conversation. A person on the left gestures while speaking.

It’s no secret that Pete Fader has been touting the power of CLV long before companies thought it was cool. To many companies, the idea of assigning a specific value to each individual customer is a bit outlandish. However, the actionable insights available from such a practice are invaluable to any organization.Read More

2015 AIAB Buxton Data Challenge Recap

Four people stand in a classroom setting, with two of them wearing conference-style nametag shirts. They are holding a large check, indicating a presentation or award event.

Buxton, a leading customer analytics provider, and AI and Analytics for Business (AIAB) at the University of Pennsylvania, partnered again to offer the Buxton Challenge, a student case study competition on the use of analytics for retail site selection. The final judging for this year’s challenge took place on October 16.Read More