Imarticus Analytics Newsletter Q1 2016

EDITION - IV Newsletter ANALYTICS Q1, 2016

IN THIS ISSUE 03 04THE OPENING BELL 06Editorial 09Nikhil Barshikar - Managing Director, Imarticus Learning 11TRENDINGImpact of Blockchain on the Financial Services IndustryHari SaravanabhavanSenior Director – Advanced Analytics and Data Sciences, CognizantOPINIONInsights on Next Best Offer Analytics, HR Analytics& Data VisualizationMr. R. Raghavendra - HPAmit Mathur - KPMGVinay Ranjan - GramenerWHAT’S BREWING?Imarticus Goes OnlineUNWINDImarticus Good Reads

EDITORIAL 03 THE OPENING BELL Nikhil Barshikar Managing Director – Imarticus LearningDear Reader, guesswork out of talent decisions. Likewise, Next Best Offer Analytics helps online retailers better connect withVolatility in global business, the specter of sporadic their customers and cross-sell products for a steadyeconomic recessions, and real-time operational metrics revenue stream.make analytics essential in any business environment. It isclear that any disruptive innovation will have to be data- The applications of Analytics really are endless, evendriven to meet the needs of the future. though general awareness may be low. Over the past few months, Imarticus has invited business leaders from manyEveryone is talking about blockchain, the new technology organizations such as HP Enterprise, KPMG and Gramenerthat has energized the financial services industry globally. to conduct open webinars which have seen strongMany startups are building their businesses around the participation from the general public. In this issue, weblockchain technology, and consequently, VC firms like present some of the key insights we discovered from theseKPCB are showing interest in investing in these startups. experts. We thank all of you for your continued supportWhile startups like Coinometrics gather data and research and look forward to more!on qualitative and quantitative behaviors on blockchains,there are others like BTCJam who provide bitcoin-based General awareness about Analytics trends andloans. applications will only get you so far though. One of the perpetual issues we hear about from both HR andAs the bitcoin industry started to gain more attention from business leaders is the dearth of trained and qualifiedregulatory agencies, alongside its increased consumer talent at their disposal. Training your entry leveladoption and investor interest, we are seeing financial employees–particularly if they are geographicallycompliance authorities like Juan Llanos recruited to head dispersed–can be facilitated through an online or ablockchain analytics firms like Coinalytics. These hirings blended learning methodology, saving you cost as well ascome at a time when blockchain analytics platforms are ensuring a consistent training experience for allgaining momentum, with Barclays partnering with concerned. In this issue, we present a small case study on aChainalysis in October and Coinalytics raising a $1.1m comprehensive suite of online training modules weseed round in September. recently developed for a Bangalore-based Analytics firm, transforming the way they train their employees.We are delighted to have Hari Saravanabhavan, Director atCognizant, highlight the impact of blockchain technology As we start FY 2016, it is time we reflect on ouron the financial services sector. Read more about it in this achievements and areas of improvement. Our hard workissue. has culminated in several awards such as the Best Data Analytics Institute award from the National Awards in ITHowever, blockchains bring new trade-offs for data and Excellence. Imarticus is now the preferred training partneranalytics systems to address. The cryptographic nature of to most of the top Indian and global Analytics firms, with ablockchain platforms, decentralized network of P2P data client roster of over 75 clients. We have grownmanagement and the varying levels of anonymity they exponentially to a talented team of 120 employees spreadprovide will impede the easy leverage of data-driven across six cities in India. Our corporate training businessintelligence that we have experienced so far. Big Data, as has also grown by 50% over the last year, and we would likewe have seen it grow and thrive, will have to adapt to to thank you for your continued trust and belief inblockchains’ ways of accessing, analyzing and managing Imarticus, our capabilities and our potential.data. We are very excited about what FY 2016 will entail – amongInnovation has always been a key driving force for other things, we are excited about setting up a newtransforming business and society. Increasingly, corporate office and an office in Delhi. Please do get ininnovation happens as a result of aggregating and touch with us at [email protected] foranalyzing data to create new products and services. any requirements or suggestions to serve you better.Companies are analyzing their employee data withworkforce analytics to answer a variety of critical Best Wishes Always,questions: Why does one sales person outperform hispeers? How long does it take for new employees to be Nikhilproductive? This is where HR Analytics comes in, taking the

TRENDING 04IMPACT OF BLOCKCHAIN ON THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRYHari SaravanabhavanSenior Director – Advanced Analytics and Data Sciences, CognizantBig Data, cloud, robotics—we have heard it all. But BB B one technology that promises to change the Bnext decade of business is blockchain technology, Bthe shared database technology that has gainednotoriety as the platform for the crypto currency, BBitcoin. BBanks are now racing to harness the power of theblockchain technology, in a belief that it could cut up BBto $20 billion off costs and transform the way theindustry functions. Banks, insurers and companies Current payment systems ...but machine-to-machine payment usingranging from the top consulting organizations to require third-party the Bitcoin protocol could allow for directleading financial services firms are trying to work outhow they can adapt the technology that, in its intermediaries that often payment between individuals,simplest form, allows consumers and suppliers to charge high processing fees... as well as support micropayments.connect directly and form online networks, removingthe need for middlemen. In the present system, a central ledger is likely to act as the custodian of that information. But on aFor the financial services sector, it offers the opportu- blockchain, the information is transparently held in anity to overhaul existing banking infrastructure, shared database, without a single body acting as thespeed settlements and streamline stock exchanges, middleman. Advocates argue that trust is increasedalthough regulators will want to be assured that this among the parties, not by reputed intermediaries likecan be done securely. governments or banks, but by the technology. HOW A BLOCKCHAIN WORKS Let us illustrate how a blockchain works. A wants to send The transaction is money to B represented online as a ‘block’The developments potentially combine two of the Amost dynamic industries: the computing hub ofSilicon Valley and the money management of Wall Those in the network approve The block is broadcast toStreet and the City of London. Blockchains ensure the transaction is validtrust between unknown parties and the technology every party in the networkmakes it difficult to cheat. ??MASS COLLABORATION AND CLEVER CODEAt its core, a blockchain is a network of computers or The block then can be ??devices, open to anyone, all of which must approve a added to the chain whichtransaction has taken place before it is recorded, in a The money moves“chain” of computer code. provides an indelible & from A to B transparent record ofAs with bitcoin—the first application of the Btechnology, applied to mone—cryptography is used transactionsto keep transactions secure and costs are sharedamong those in the network. The details of thetransfer are recorded on a public ledger that anyoneon the network can see. Continued...

TRENDING 05The lack of a central authority is the very feature of Bitcoin’s open source blockchain, which is describedbitcoin that provoked anxiety among traditional as a “permission less” system, is decentralized andfinancial institutions, most of whom gave it a wide open to anyone. However, many in banking, wary ofberth. Yet, almost every major financial services losing their grip over operations or of upsettinginstitution has now overcome that initial suspicion. regulators, see the future in closed, or permissioned-And the technology is now being heralded as the first only, networks.native digital medium for value by dropping thetransaction costs and reducing the complexity of Almost two dozen of the world’s largest banks, havefinancial transactions. Imagine the impact in the thrown their weight behind R3 CEV, a start-updeveloping world with a huge unbanked population venture, to set up a private blockchain open only tothat seeks transparency, trust and ease of business. invited participants who between them maintain andWide scale adoption has begun seriously over the run the network. It forms part of an effort to build anpast year and the desire to succeed using this industry-wide platform to standardize use of thetechnology is huge. technology.BANKING ON THE FUTURE  While they understand its potential, many financial BLOCKCHAIN IS HERE TO STAY AND GOES BEYONDinstitutions are still trying to work out whether FINANCIAL SERVICESblockchain technology offers a cost-cutting Amid the fervour, there is a recognition that it will be aopportunity or represents a margin-eroding threat few years before real-world, practical applicationsthat could put them out of emerge. The technology will have to overcomebusiness. Banks are taking avariety of approaches in their serious hurdles to provesearch for answers. itself to be robust and secure and will need to win over regulatory concerns.Some have developed in-housemodels, such as Citigroup’s However, in the largercreation of Citicoin. Others have world, optimists arechosen to invest in a specialist: already betting on the useGoldman Sachs led a funding of blockchain technologyround for Circle Internet “Blockchain technology continues to to find its way into art,Financial, which aims to use redefine not only how the exchange music, IP and maybe evenbitcoin to handle consumer sector operates, but the global financial discoveries progressingpayments. A third route has economy as a whole.” on the distributed ledgerbeen to find a partner. concept and being openCommonwealth Bank of –  Bob Greifeld t o a n y o n e . I n o t h e rAustralia has teamed up with Chief Executive of NASDAQ words, sooner or lateropen source software provider there will be bigRipple to build a blockchain implications forsystem for payments between its subsidiaries. Some businesses and corporations in ensuring adoption tobanks are working with blockchain start-ups through this digital age technology.a technology incubator or accelerator program. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: HARI SARAVANABHAVAN Hari is a senior business leader with 20 + years of work experience and has spent the last 13 years in the field of business analytics both as a customer and a service provider. Hari leads the business function within Data Sciences at Cognizant under the Digital Works umbrella. Hari is passionate about topics on embedded analytics, digital analytics expansion and data science evangelization.

OPINION 06INSIGHTS ON NEXT BEST OFFER ANALYTICS, HR ANALYTICS ANDDATA VISUALIZATIONAt Imarticus Learning, we believe in collaborative learning. To this end, we conductfree online workshops for our students and the public at large as a means ofincreasing general awareness about Analytics.Imarticus Learning has over 300 corporate tie-ups and even more empanelled 70+trainers from Tier 1 Analytics firms. We leverage these connects and invite subjectmatter experts to conduct webinars with the aim of spreading knowledge and Organizationssharing insights, which, in turn, helps create a community of smart and job-readyprofessionals who can add tremendous value and grow in their professional 150+careers.  AttendeesOver the past few months, we have invited professionals and business heads fromvarious organizations such as HP Enterprise, KPMG and Gramener to conductopen-for-all webinars with us. There is great interest in these webinars from thegeneral public, and we often see up to 150 participants from 70+ companiesattending these webinars. These webinars, usually lasting 1 hour, conclude with aQ&A session where participants ask their burning questions to the host. We thankyou all for your continued support and wholehearted participation.These webinars continue to astound us with the insights shared by the experts. In this feature article, we sharesome of these insights with you. INSIGHTS FROM THE EXPERTSTOPIC 1: ‘NEXT BEST OFFER’ ANALYTICS R. RAGHAVENDRAImarticus Learning and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ANALYTICSpresented a joint webinar on 'Next Best Offer‘ Analytics on 25th HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISEFebruary, 2016. We focused on how organizations connect withtheir customers continuously, resulting in a higher level of engagement. This creates multiple touch-points andopens up a wide range of opportunities to cross-sell various products and build a steady revenue stream.Case Study on Operational Analytics for an APAC-based Media FirmGiving the example of a leading media and entertainment company in the Asia-Pacific region, wediscover how Operational Analytics (OA) techniques helped it increase its turnover by opening up newrevenue sources.Step 1: Step 2:Establish the lifecycle of the Customer-centric marketing was provided that consideredcustomer and identify touch- different actions that can be taken for a specific customerpoints where the organization with the aim of deciding the 'best' one. This was determinedcould bring in value-add services by a combination of the customer's interests and needsand offering. along with the organizations business objectives. Continued...

OPINION 07 The Era of Impact by Operationalizing Analytics1.0 Traditional 2.0 Big Data 3.0 Operationalizing Analytics Analytics Key Takeaways1 Operationalizing Analytics 2 Welcome to Big Data and Era 3.0 Data Analytics transitioned Analytics provided rapid and agile from an operationally insight delivery and found its way dormant to a strategically into decision and operational active business function. processes.3 How to Select the Right Analytics Model? Identify the right decision parameters such as: à Availability of infrastructure and data à Computational complexity à The maturity of analytics in the organization With this input, data scientists can then formulate the ideal approach and models.TOPIC 2: HR ANALYTICS: TAKING THE GUESSWORK AMIT MATHUROUT OF TALENT DECISIONS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR KPMGImarticus Learning, along with KPMG India, delivered a joint webinarshowcasing the potential and power of HR Analytics on 29th October, 2015. We focused on challenges faced bythe HR community, the HR of the future, and the advent of analytics to quantify the importance of HR practicesand processes. An insufficient pipeline of future leaders is the biggest talent risk faced by India. KPMG followsthe 5C Framework to help mitigate this risk.5C Framework Cost Compliance Capability Connection Capacity Use Cases Discussed: à Attribution Analytics for the HR Team of an IT Service Provider à Visa Denial Analytics à Tandberg Meeting Room Abandonment & Utilization à Employee Retention for the Victorian Government Continued...

OPINION 08 Key Takeaways1 Organizations will need to take a holistic 2 Successful organizations will need to view of their workforce to identify how make evidence-based decisions to cost, compliance and organizational optimize workforce performance levers impact performance. and productivity.3 Difficulty in retaining key people and insufficient pipeline of future leaders were identified as the key talent risks. Retrospective analysis is used for classification, segmentation and casual analytics, while predictive modelling is used to identify success and attrition.TOPIC 3: EXPRESS INSIGHTS USING VISUALIZATIONImarticus Learning conducted an interesting webinar session on Express VINAY RANJANInsights using Visualization. Vinay Ranjan from Gramener, a data GRAMENERvisualization firm, conducted this session. In this webinar, we learnt abouthow data visualization techniques help consumers analyze and make sense of large, voluminous data.As the volume of data flowing into organizations increases, there is a growing need to find ways to identifyimportant information such that it is easier for business leaders to understand and interpret. The benefits ofdata visualization are all the more apparent when explained with a few examples. Key Takeaways1 Analyzing Sales Reports 2 Enabling Express Multi-dimensional Analysis Data visualization techniques Instant understanding of the fact that Sachin helped assess the variation in Tendulkar has scored the most runs for India, user behavior while while Virender Sehwag enjoyed one of the purchasing a product. highest batting strike rates.3 Faster Decision Making Leaders have understood the power of images, and data visualization is becoming an important tool for quickly making sense of streams of complex data. It creates a “shared view” of information to help groups analyze problems and make better maps of information as they work to execute in a fast-moving environment. Stay tuned for more such webinars and view all our webinars at imarticus.org/knowledge-center

WHAT’S BREWING? 09Case Study forOnline Analytics Solution THE REQUIREMENTA leading Bangalore-based data analytics and technology firm faced several challenges intraining its geographically-dispersed staff on various analytics platforms and tools such as SAS, R,Advanced Excel and VBA. Currently, all their training is conducted via instructor-led classroomtraining. In doing so, they faced three major hurdles: Not Cost-Effective Not Homogeneous Not Flexible This was an expensive Since different trainers were Employees didn’t have anyproposition as the organization used across the country, the flexibility in deciding the timinghad to pay trainers by the hour for the same training session. quality of training was not of training or learning path, homogeneous. which caused inconvenience. THE SOLUTIONImarticus Learning understood the client’s training pain-points and consulted them on how toimprove their overall training effectiveness – in a more productive, yet cost-effective manner. Werecommended an online self-paced learning solution, coupled with weekly webinars to addressthe client’s needs. We delivered an end-to-end solution for the Firm, which included:Content Creation Video Recording / Editing Branding & White-labelling Hosting on Client LMSThe content was created by our in-house team of subject matter experts and instructionaldesigners to ensure the content was relevant, accurate and highly engaging. Once the contentwas created in their format, the firm implemented this learning program on its LMS (LearningManagement System) along with a quiz for each weekly module. Additionally, Imarticusconducted webinars at the end of each week – this helped the trainees recap their learning witha live instructor.

WHAT’S BREWING? 10 LEARNING METHODOLOGYThe trainees needed to simply login to the LMS to access the self-paced videos, quizzes and liveinstructor-led classes. At the onset, an Imarticus training administrator helped each employeeonboard and troubleshoot any technology-related issues. Once that was done, employeesaccessed the module-wise videos via the LMS as per their convenience from the comfort of theirhomes and attended live webinar classes at the end of each week. This mix of self-paced videosfollowed by a live instructor-assisted learning intervention ensured that trainees receivedadequate hand-holding, yet freedom to learn as per their convenience. BENEFITS INDUSTRY RELEVANTCONVINIENCE – LEARN ANYTIME, ANYWHERE CURRICULUMThis solution allowed the employees to access learning material on-the-go andgave them the much-needed convenience. These online self-paced videos had a INSTRUCTORfar-reaching impact on the analytics firm. Their trainees were now able to learn on LEDthe go on their laptops, tablets and smartphones. All the webinar sessions werealso recorded and uploaded on the LMS. This allowed the trainees to consume the DELIVERYvideos or any of the webinars on any device and at any time–24x7. EXPERIENTIALUNIFORMITY LEARNING EXPERIENCE LEARNINGSince the videos were available via a cloud-based LMS, employees across thecountry were able to learn from the same trainer and learning material. Pan-India FLEXIBLE &employees logged into the live webinars conducted every Friday evening and this MODULARhelped homogenize the training experience across the organization. This ensuresevery employee received the same knowledge transfer and learning experience. INTEGRATED LEARNING THE IMPACT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS)Since this was a one-time effort in developing the program, “The modulesthe firm was able to offset its capital expenditure in a mere were very well6 months. This allowed them to drastically reduce their designed and thetraining cost as well. videos were engaging. The webinars each weekend150+ 80% $100 with the instructor were a big bonus as the instruc-Hours of Average Average Saving tor helped prep us with Content Completion Per Employee many tips and tricks.”Delivered Trained for Firm Rate - Trainee

UNWIND 11 GOOD READS The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail – But Some Don’t - Nate Silver Nate Silver's brilliant and elegant tour of the modern science-slash-art of forecasting, shows you the outcome of Big Data and human nature. In diverse fields such as the weather, baseball, economics and polling, Silver finds predictions gone awry, thanks to biases, vested interests, and over-confidence. He also showcases instances where sophisticated forecasters have gotten it right! In today's data-saturated world, Silver's book is a timely and readable reminder that statistics are only as good as the people who wield them. When Genius Failed: The Rise and Fall of Long-Term Capital Management - Roger Lowenstein In this business classic—now with a new Afterword in which the author draws parallels to the recent financial crisis—Roger Lowenstein captures the gripping roller-coaster ride of Long-Term Capital Management. Drawing on confidential internal memos and interviews with dozens of key players, Lowenstein explains not just how the fund made and lost its money but also how the personalities of Long-Term’s partners, the arrogance of their mathematical certainties, and the culture of Wall Street itself contributed to both their rise and their fall. Automate This: How Algorithms Came to Rule Our World - Christopher Steiner The author explains \"the algorithmic takeover\" of the past three decades by linking it to Wall Street's fascination with algorithmic trading, whereby traders recede into the background and leave it to the algorithms to identify and act on arbitrage opportunities. But what will the world look like when algorithms control our hospitals, our roads, our culture, and our national security? And what role will be left for doctors, lawyers, writers, truck drivers, and many others? Who knows—maybe there’s a bot learning to do your job this minute. Privacy in the Age of Big Data: Recognizing Threats, Defending Your Rights, and Protecting Your Family - Theresa Payton & Ted Claypoole Digital data collection and surveillance gets more pervasive and invasive by the day; but the best ways to protect yourself and your data are all steps you take yourself. Understanding new technologies and surveillance measures, their benefits, and the data security we give up in order to enjoy them helps us understand our best protection measures. This book analyzes why privacy is important to all, and describes the technologies that put your data most at risk. When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decade's worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. This inspiring, exquisitely observed memoir finds hope and beauty in the face of insurmountable odds as an idealistic young neurosurgeon attempts to answer What makes life worth living in the face of death? Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015, while working on this book, yet his words live on as a guide and a gift to us all.

ABOUT IMARTICUS LEARNING 12Imarticus Learning is formed to bridge the gap between academia and the industry. The firm provides arange of Corporate Solutions designed to assist firms in meeting their skill set requirements.Headquartered in Mumbai, Imarticus has delivery capabilities across India with dedicated centres atMumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and satellite centres at Pune and Jaipur. HIGHLIGHTS Training and content delivery Preferred sourcing and Range of customized delivery capability, across the areas of corporate training delivery methods such as instructor ledInvestment Banking, Finance & partner for leading Global training, e-learning, workshops Treasury, Capital Markets Banks, Consulting, KPO, and seminars for optimal Operations, Business Technology and Analytics training effectiveness. Analytics, Technology and firms. Consulting.CONTACT US CORPORATE TRAININGHEAD OFFICE 2-10 Day Programs Targeted Towards Employee Skill5th Floor, B-Wing, Kaledonia, DevelopmentHDIL Building, Sahar Road, Andheri (E),Mumbai - 400 058 AGILE HIRINGTel: 022-42422016 / 42422017 Ready Placements at No CostBANGALORE TEMPINGNo.143, B 1st Floor,60 feet Road, 5th Block, 6-9 Month ResourceKoramangala Bangalore - 560 095 Staffing in AnalyticsTel: 080-45129914 / 45129924 SOURCING TO PLACEMENTMob: +91-9008668548 / 8971729953 2-3 Month ProgramsCHENNAI Targeted Towards Onboarding2nd Floor, East West Centre, ONLINE128, Nelson Manickam Road,Chennai – 600 029 e-Learning Solutions That are either Self-Paced orTel: 044-43558466 / 45642104 Instructor-ledMob: +91-9789879741DELHI - NCRPlot No.10, Dakshin Marg,DLF Phase-II,Gurugram - 122008Tel: 0124-4874030EMAIL US: [email protected] VISIT US: www.imarticus.org/corporate