Remote work is popular among employees, with 74% saying working remotely would make them less likely to leave the company. But conversely, remote employees report feeling disconnected from their team. This consequence may have lasting effects on business, efficiency, and innovation. For high-security jobs, less than 50% of workers feel they have the proper security training to work safely from home. Since coronavirus kickstarted the at-home workday, the US economy is test-driving this new normal, uncertain of lasting repercussions. 

The stock market is doing well despite the pandemic, thanks to Big Tech. At 22% of the S&P, these companies are a backbone to the economy. Their power is also what makes them vulnerable. As the government increases scrutiny over companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, the stock market pauses with bated breath. Meanwhile, self-taught day traders are at home making small investments using apps like Robinhood. Are these users inflating the market, or helping cushion the blow? 

In our main topic this week, we explore the ins-and-outs of the Data Dividend Project. What is the goal of the project and what kind of impact could it have? What are some of the challenges this movement could face and what could be the unintended consequences. While the logic behind the movement is strong, its still hard to get past the old saying that 'if you aren't paying for the product, you are the product.'

Our second topic this week dives into the return of professional sports in the US. While every sports fan is excited to live action again, what kind of financial hit are these teams and leagues taking? And what are the challenges of pulling it off? The only thing we can be certain of is that this is the ultimate opportunity to innovate (in both sports and the business world) and improve experiences for fans and customers alike.

Sit back, relax, grab a drink, practice social distancing... And let's dive into some data.

Our main story this week discusses the challenges and opportunities around data security in a COVID world. There is no defined playbook for how you can securely and legally capture the level of data that public health officials need, so what are companies doing? Do people trust that this data will only be used for Public Health? And what are some example of companies navigating these murky waters?

Our second segment today discusses how Martech has never been more important and why it is so critical for companies to be utilizing this data and technology. Things might get tougher before they get better, but effective marketing technology can help guide you through stormy seas.

Sit back, relax, grab a drink, practice social distancing... And let's dive into some data.

For our first topic, TC dives into the recent freeze by the government of the H-1B Visa program. What does that freeze actually entail and why it matters, specifically to those of us in the data world. We also look at what the reaction has been from American Companies and Professional Organizations, while considering what the long-term impact of changes to the H-1B program could entail.

For our second topic, TC dives into the changing world of higher education. We touch on the potential K1 Visa issues that could arise for students this fall that attend universities that go 100% online, but also look at the way higher education could be overdue for some changes. Is it really worth paying that massive tuition bill to attend a large university, if you're getting the same online experience and education that you could get at a community college? People have said for years that our higher education system needs to change and COVID might just accelerate the reality of those changes.

Sit back, relax, grab a drink, practice social distancing, and let's dive into some data.

Everyone wants to use data and say they are data-driven, but what does that actually take? Why do so many companies relentlessly attempt to utilize data in their business decisions and fully intend on getting value from it, yet fail to actually see the results they desire? As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions...

TC shares how the acronym DAPP (Digestible, Actionable, Presentable, Practical) can be a guide for ensuring businesses actually see the value from this investment in and utilization of data. This acronym should be considered by anyone in the data world anytime they're starting on a project, and by ensuring that the final product is compliant with DAPP, you'll ensure that it actually WILL start working!

Sit back, relax, grab a drink, practice social distancing... And let's dive into some data.

Probabilistic modeling might be a new term to you, but you actually do it every day! TC dives into what this modeling is, how it works and what the results are. We look at how this modeling gives a range of expected results, not just a single answer, and why that is still incredibly useful, even without a specific solution.

TC also explains his personal favorite application of probabilistic modeling with the Drake Equation. This equation explains the likelihood of another space-faring, technologically-advanced species residing right in our backyard, and gives rise to the ominous Fermi Paradox. Don't know what we're talking about? Check out the episode to have your mind blown.

TC wraps up with some real-world and business applications for this modeling and why every company should be doing more of it. With that, we invite you to sit back, relax, grab a drink, practice social distancing, and dive into some data!

Our main segment this week looks into the baffling recovery of the US Stock Market, along with other positive economic indicators, such as a lower than anticipated unemployment rate for May. With the unprecedented situation this year, we freely admitted that we didn’t know what was next… But are these truly signals that things are getting back to normal or could there be other unexpected impacts lurking around the next corner?

Then, in this week’s Industry Rapidfire segment, we look at the return of professional sports in the US. Nearly all major leagues have official ‘restarting’ guidance in place now and are progressing towards us seeing real sports back in August, if not before. What positive signs do we coming from the NFL and NBA? And what about the ominous signals from the MLB? Are we looking at a year without baseball?

Sit back, relax, grab a drink, practice social distancing (things aren’t THAT normal again, yet) and let’s dive into some data.

TC first explores the challenges around keeping full data pipelines in a COVID world. Not only have companies had to adapt to unique working situations and inconsistent reporting/capture of data, but time is of the absolute essence when this analysis could guide national policy and actions.

Next, TC dives into the opportunities for more extensive data sharing in a post-COVID world. The past few months have illuminated the need for the global economy to have open and free-flowing data, whether it be around public health, economics or anything else. But with the opportunity for more democratized and shared data, comes some inherent risks around data security and privacy.

We wrap up the show with another Industry Rapidfire segment, where we look at how the retail industry is using (or at least needs to be!) data to impact their re-opening efforts. The retail industry has been one of the most impacted by the global pandemic, but smart companies in the space are embracing this as an opportunity, rather than just trying to ride out the wave of the challenge.

Sit back, relax, grab a drink, practice social distancing, and let’s dive into some data.

TC also shares some guidance and advice to business leaders on returning to the ‘new normal’ and how as a leader (and specifically as a data leader) you need to be open to change and ready to adapt. This is a unique challenge for every business and leader, so learn from TC’s mistakes!

In our Industry Rapidfire segment, we focus on sports and entertainment. After last week’s AI discussion, we look at how AI is presenting a fascinating opportunity to better diagnose and address head injuries in sports. In the entertainment world, we touch on the mysterious ‘recommended for you’ algorithms that decide what is going to pop up next on Netflix, Disney+, etc.

Sit back, grab a drink, practice social distancing, and let’s dive into some data.

Though everyone knows the term Artificial Intelligence, what does it actually mean? And do we truly have those capabilities with today’s technology? TC dives into the differences between Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Neural Learning, explaining how the concepts relate to each other and what each of them truly refers to. He also covers the progression to higher levels of Artificial Intelligence, as well as some critical steps to follow if you’re going to implement AI within your business.

In the Industry Rapidfire segment, TC dives into how airline operations, smart shipping and Sentient Marketing are all using data in creative ways to shift from reactive models to proactive ones. By deploying connected technology, machine learning and advanced analytics, see how these industries are embracing the potential of data.

Sit back, grab a drink, practice social distancing, and let’s dive into some data.

Our first topic dives into how you can take advantage of the challenges presented by operating in a COVID world and make the best of a non-ideal situation. Many people have shared how they’ve used this time for personal self-improvement, but why aren’t more businesses doing the same? TC explores what opportunities you have from a Marketing, Sales and Operations perspective during the current ‘downtime’ and how data can help you make the most of your current circumstances.

Our second topic is a new segment called Industry Rapidfire. TC hits on how three industries are using data in ways you might not initially consider and how we can all use these as an opportunity to explore new and different ways that we can use data to improve your performance, regardless of industry.

Grab a drink, take a seat, practice social distancing, and lets dive into some data.

In the episodes leading up to our COVID-19 hiatus, TC discussed how this outbreak was going to throw a wrench in the global economy due to the lock-down of Wuhan, or the ‘Chicago of China’, at the beginning of the pandemic. But Wuhan is the least of the world’s problem’s now as the virus has touched every corner of the globe and every aspect of the global economy.

In this week’s episode, “Unemployment and Inflation and Bear Markets, Oh My!” TC dives into how the US economy has been turned upside down in the last two months. We’ll discuss how unemployment, inflation and stock markets have all been impacted by the pandemic and we let the data show us what we should expect moving forward. Spoiler alert: It’s not good.

Sit back, grab a drink, ensure you’re practicing social distancing, and let’s dive into some data.

Within the past week, a massive 10-12% drop in the stock market resulted from concern over COVID-19. The U.S. stock market also lost about $4 Trillion in a week, tanking value and creating panic. “When consumer spending drops…just about everything downstream is going to have issues,” Riley pointed about the businesses and the rest of the economy.

In the same time frame, OPEC held a meeting about the status of the oil industry that suggested there may be trouble in the market. Two key players in the oil industry, Saudi Arabia and Russia, are at odds. Saudi Arabia is threatening to produce more oil and sell it for less, which may immediately benefit consumers but create rampant instability in the global economy. As an indicator of this shift, Riley highlighted that the price of crude oil dropped about 40% in a month.

The key term of this week’s podcast, in light of the instability in the stock market due to COVID-19 and issues in the oil industry, is “rolling recession.” Riley defined this as a recession in which “Different areas of different countries will be hit at different times”. This is not the same as a global recession, which is the worst case scenario.

On a related but unique note, Riley also discussed the impact of COVID-19 on sports. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, for example, is in about 4 months. Although decisions about the event have been made yet, Japan has a lot at stake as the host. The estimate of what Japan will spend on the Olympics is $12.6 Billion dollars. Other events, like the NHL and NBA playoffs, the Masters Tournament, March Madness, and more are likely to be affected by the pandemic.

Learn more about the data of COVID-19 by tuning into T.C. Riley’s discussion. For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Sports & Entertainment Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Make sure to follow along for more weekly episodes of Diving Into Data!

The NFL Combine, which is nicknamed the “underwear Olympics,” is an event where athletes likely to be drafted by the NFL are assessed in-person. Riley called this the “data version of scouting.” At this event, athletes’ physical features are measured, soft skills are tested, and there are opportunities for networking.

Riley pointed out that by televising this event for the past decade, “the NFL has taken over our calendars year-round.” Viewers get a peek behind the scenes at the push to make drafting an exact science. By the end of the event, athletes have scores on their physicality, skills, experience, and more. This allows teams to determine their topic picks based on the data that matters most to them. For instance, Riley highlighted that the Seattle Seahawks have often favored tall quarterbacks and the Oakland Raiders tend to prefer fast athletes.

Beyond the impact of data on the NFL, Riley also discussed data related to the spread of the Coronavirus.

During a previous episode of Diving Into Data, Riley discussed how the Coronavirus might have a global impact. Since that time, the virus has crossed borders, affecting many in Italy, Iran, and South Korea. The United States also has a few cases. As a result, there are quarantines and other challenges occurring in several countries.

The global influence of the virus still remains to be seen, but there are indications of significant economic impact. For instance, just a few weeks ago experts through the global growth forecast could go down slightly. Now, some experts are saying it could reach 1.5%, which would be half its current standing.

Riley also discussed stock market fluctuations, changes in the pollution rate in China as an indication of decreased production in factories, and more. Tune in for the details, and listen to Diving Into Data next week for discussions about Google updates affecting SEO, Super Tuesday data, and more.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Sports & Entertainment Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

How does this change the game and could it be instituted across the league one day? Find out what TC Riley and Tyler Kern think about it on this episode of Diving Into Data.

Will coaches make data-driven decisions or will the employ the “go with the gut” mentality? Find out what TC thinks and much more on this episode of the show.

Can Clemson shut down Ohio State’s high-powered offense? Will Joe Burrow lead LSU past OU to college football glory? Get the breakdown from TC and Tyler Kern in this excerpt from Diving into Data.

Tune in every Wednesday at 9:30 for your weekly dive into data with MarketScale’s resident numbers man, TC Riley.

On this excerpt from Diving into Data, T.C. Riley explains how teams are accomplishing this and where this trend could be moving in the future.

Tune in every Wednesday at 9:30 for your weekly dive in data with MarketScale’s resident numbers man, TC Riley.

A number of baseball fans, stats enthusiasts, and even the St. Louis Cardinals believe the answer to that question is yes.

Data guru TC Riley examined the evidence and found a compelling case to be made that a different ball is being used. Hear his findings and more on this excerpt from Diving Into Data.

Our primary topic today will be the ongoing economic impact of the tariff trade war with China and how a handful of critical data points show that it has impacted both nations. Many people know that this topic has been a hot-button issue for months, but few understand the economic indicators that are being impacted by those activities.

Additionally, it’s September, so that can only mean one thing… Football is back! We dive into some initial impressions from the 2019 season, as well as recap how each of us feels about our fantasy football teams this fall.

Additionally, we are touch on an interesting topic of conversation in the Pro-AV world. Digital signage is all the rage but how can you gauge the effectiveness of those investments? And what emerging technologies could impact the amount of data that companies are able to capture around that signage?

It’s all inside the first episode of Diving Into Data!