Inmar and WFU Center for Retail Innovation Kick-off 2015 Analytics Forum
Winston-Salem, NC (PRWEB) April 07, 2015 -- Inmar, a company that operates intelligent commerce networks, today kicked off its Inmar / Wake Forest University Center for Retail Innovation 2015 Inmar Analytics Forum. The Forum, which runs today through Thursday, gathers business and academic professionals and thought leaders to discuss the booming and disruptive area of data analytics and applied data science.
Inmar Chairman and CEO David Mounts kicked off the Forum by addressing the audience about the value of data analytics and the role it can play in shaping the future. He said that beyond the “internet of things,” it can become an internet of support – support that enables the individual’s personal goals and outcomes. He encouraged the audience to commit and work to “free the data” to facilitate the transition.
The opening keynote was delivered by David Plouffe, senior vice president for Policy and Strategy at Uber. His topic “Big Data: Knowing Instead of Guessing” addressed that it is critical for leadership to grasp the pace of change and how profoundly data can impact the way companies and institutions operate. Organizations must know what data they have and need and then dig deeper to understand the “why,” stating that “anything that can be modeled must be modeled.” Plouffe is recognized for his strategic use of technology and data as campaign manager for 2008 Obama for President.
Attendees also heard presentations from the undergraduate student teams from around the world that are competing in the Wake Forest University School of Business Marketing Analytics Summit case competition. The Marketing Summit celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The case study competition challenges students to provide solutions to real-world marketing situations – in 2015 focusing on the growing need for marketers to combine data-driven solutions backed by profound human insights. Graduate-level students will present on Wednesday.
“The right use of data can enable virtually any company or institution not only to operate smarter and improve results, but also to make a difference in people’s lives - improving medication adherence, getting product to the people who need it – supporting goals and needs,” says Inmar’s Mounts, adding “That is why the atmosphere here is so charged.”
More than 50 information sessions will be held during the two and one-half day Forum. Tomorrow’s keynote “Data Is Oxygen for Innovation: The Age of Data Coming to Healthcare,” will be delivered by Dr. Farzad Mostashari, CEO of Aledade. Dr. Mostashari is a well-respected visionary and thought leader in healthcare industry.
Sharon Joyner-Payne, Inmar, Inc., +1 (336) 631-7663, [email protected]
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