Our Top 20 Most-Read Data & Analytics Research Last Week (to Dec 13)

Click here for an interactive PDF to connect to the notes directly. Mark Beyer scored his second "number 1" hit last week.  His new note, What Is ‘Graph?’ — An Elementary Version for the Uninitiated, published December 7th, went right into "number 1" spot last week as our most-read piece of research across data and analytics excluding branded notes such as Magic Quadrants. 

Hong Kong-based Pickupp makes logistics more affordable for e-commerce sellers

Logistics startup co-founder and chief executive officer Crystal Pang Logistics is one of the biggest challenges in e-commerce, especially for smaller merchants. Pickupp helps them compete in the on-demand economy with flexible, customizable delivery services. Based in Hong Kong, Pickupp also operates in Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan, and claims it can save clients an average of about 28% in logistic costs. Pickupp is able to do this with an asset-light business model.

5 Amazing Ways to Use Data Analytics to Become A Profitable Trader

Big data has had a tremendous impact on the financial industry. One of the biggest financial applications of new data technology involves stock trading. You can significantly increase the profitability of your trades by investing in top-of-the-line analytics technology. How Can Data Analytics Assist with Stock Trading Trading is an interesting and exciting endeavor, offering the best excuse to engage with the markets in a meaningful way.

A flurry of data warehouse activity surrounds Snowflake’s staggering $120bn valuation

Firebolt says it can do it better while the cloud giants talk up services tweaks Analysis  Tech stock sailed through an era-defining moment last week as recently IPO'd cloud data warehouser Snowflake surpassed IBM in market capitalisation.…

Learn new skills for 2021 with online courses on sale

If you're done gift shopping but are looking for an excuse for more retail therapy this season, why not get something for yourself? Sometimes that means investing in your professional growth with online courses. Here are 10 on sale for a limited time as of Dec. 13. Make sure to enter the appropriate coupon code to get the best deal possible. The Ultimate Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle This bundle will beef up your Excel skills by teaching you data visualization and analysis, task automation, data modeling, and so much more.

5 Incredible Ways Big Data Has Changed Financial Trading Forever

Big data is making a significant impact on the financial world. The market for big data in the banking industry alone is projected to reach over $14.8 million by 2023. The impact it’s making is much more of a grandiose splash rather than a few ripples. This is primarily due to the fact the technology in the space is scaling to unprecedented levels at such a fast rate.

The cosmetic surgery business has boomed during lockdown as employees look to ‘polish’ their appearance after hours on Skype, Zoom and FaceTime

Doctor injecting collagen into a young woman's lip. Photo by Universal Images Group via Getty Images Calling on Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams has made more people rethink their image and opt for cosmetic surgery, healthcare experts say. "While this could be related to personal vanity, it is for some people also an important feature of their career and professional development", said Liz Heath, the author of a cosmetic surgery report.

Insurer MassMutual scoops up $100 million worth of Bitcoin, and billionaire Mike Novogratz noted it as the most important news in crypto this year

Mykola Tys/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Insurer MassMutual is the latest financial institution to invest in Bitcoin, buying $100 million worth of the digital token.The company also acquired a 5% stake in crypto startup, NYDIG. Billionaire Mike Novogratz highlighted the insurer's Bitcoin purchase as the most important news in the crypto space in 2020, and called for regulatory approval.The investment represents 0.04% of MassMutual's $235 billion general investment account.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance has bought $100 million worth of Bitcoin for its general investment account, making it the latest firm to join in on the recent push into crypto assets. The insurer also invested $5 million in an equity stake in New York Digital Investments Group, which calls itself a financial services firm "dedicated to Bitcoin."  Robert Gutmann, the co-founder and CEO of NYDIG, said MassMutual's purchase of the digital coin is an incredible moment in the history of both Bitcoin and the insurance industry. The insurance company has been in existence for about 169 years, and its latest move underlines how more traditional institutions are transitioning to mainstream adoption of digital assets.Famed investor Mike Novogratz called it the "most important" news in the crypto space this year.

Sustaining Digital Commerce Growth in 2021

2020 has seen double-digit digital commerce growth. Stay-at-home orders have accelerated online shopping across sectors. In fact, Gartner's Consumer Pandemic Attitudes and Behaviors Survey found nearly half of consumers have increased their frequency of online shopping in 2020. Nevertheless... How will you keep online buyers coming back? Will a vaccine trigger a retraction in digital commerce? As markets respond to vaccine news with hopefulness, brands and retailers must rethink their digital strategies.

What is Bitcoin? A beginner’s guide to the world’s most popular type of cryptocurrency, and tips for investing in it

Bitcoin keeps trading at increasingly high prices since it debuted in 2009, attracting more and more interest from investors. boonchai wedmakawand/Getty Images Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, a type of digital, private money that operates without the involvement of a bank or government. Bitcoin trades on online exchanges, and since its price has mushroomed since its 2009 debut, it's increasingly attracting investors' interest.