As data experts with both consulting and client-side experience, both Patrick Ezell of Bridgetown AI and Andrew Duffle of Data in the Raw are excited by how retailers and direct-to-consumer brands can leverage all the capabilities offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google and other emerging technologies to build a winning commerce strategy – if you embrace change and hire people passionate about data.

In this episode, we discuss:

The origins and focus of both Bridgetown AI and Data in the Raw, and how they differ from other offerings on the market

Key evolutionary improvements for data from a digital commerce perspective

Plummeting costs of data storage and compute with AWS and Google offerings

Rising demands for online privacy and rollout of GDPR and similar laws/regulations

Higher consumer expectations for a tailored and compelling online experience

The need to invest in smart, passionate data science talent to maximize the effectiveness of today’s tools and data capabilities

Finding/grooming data talent when you can’t afford, or find, PhD-level data scientists

The necessity for all digital commerce professionals to become data conversant, if not data fluent

Why it is imperative that brands (not platforms) own their own data

Where automation can be applied using data and related tools

Why, if you completed your last big BI initiative 5 years ago, you are now “generations” behind in what’s possible with data

Why the near future promises:

Massive growth in microservices, which will put pressure on expensive and monolithic legacy platforms as new, innovative players come to market

That more companies will bring all data in-house as solutions scale quickly and more cheaply

A more level data playing field, allowing smaller retailers to have the same insights and capabilities of the Fortune 100 enterprises