The Insight Story

Building a Sustainable Future: The Rise of the Next Generation of Sustainable Aviation Fuel

The growing concerns over the climate change crisis today are deemed as one of the most pressing problems faced by humanity. The effects of increasing atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases, along with rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions, are apparent and projected to intensify in the coming decades. And solving these issues requires a multifaceted approach across all sectors of the global economy.  One critical industry that contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions is aviation. The carbon footprint of the aviation industry is growing rapidly as more and more people are able to afford air travel and more flights are available. Reducing emissions from aviation is, therefore, crucial to mitigating the consequences. However, decarbonising the aviation sector poses considerable challenges.  Read more: Rise of Sustainable Consumption in the UK: Market Research Insights  The aviation industry is making significant efforts and employing critical measures toward sustainability, ranging from the use of new-generation aircraft and engines to innovations in waste management. Today, it has become critical for the world of aviation to stay ahead of the game and develop new low or zero-emission technology to go green. To fulfil the global commitment, the aviation sector is targeting to achieve net-zero operations by 2050. Several key initiatives are underway to support the industry in hitting this target. One such significant initiative is the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel. By developing and deploying sustainable alternative jet fuels like sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), the industry is representing one of the most promising paths toward greening the aviation sector. What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel or SAF?  Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, is a type of jet fuel yielded from renewable and sustainable sources. Unlike conventional fuels that are generated from fossil fuels, SAF is produced from feedstocks like agricultural residues, waste oils, and biomass. The feedstocks are processed to produce a fuel that meets the same safety and performance standards as traditional jet fuel.  Derived from alternative renewable sources, SAF is developed in a more sustainable fashion. It is sustainable in a sense as it can be resourced in different ways that are consistent with socio-economic and environmental goals. It helps in preserving the ecological balance and avoids the depletion of natural resources. The use of SAF is set to lower the lifecycle carbon footprint and will have a vital role in meeting the aviation industry’s environmental as well as sustainability goals.  Read more: Green Bonds Explained: Are They Effective for Your Business?  How are Sustainable Aviation Fuels Made?   The production process of sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, involves several steps - Feedstocks such as cooking oil, algae, or plant waste are collected and then refined and converted into fuel. The generated fuel mimics the chemical composition of conventional jet fuel.   The most common methods for SAF production include the Fischer-Tropsch process, which transforms biomass or natural gas into liquid fuel, and the hydroprocessing method, which involves treating feedstocks with hydrogen for the creation of aviation-grade fuel. The resulting SAF contains different carbon reduction profiles based on the feedstock and production method used.  Manufacturers and airlines are working to incorporate SAF into their designs and operations. The new generation engines are now capable of operating with a proportion of SAF. To overcome these barriers and enhance the climate benefits of SAFs, companies are working to develop next-generation technologies that can produce SAFs from entirely new sources.  SAF and the UK  The aviation industry is playing a significant part in the consultation process to specify the right mechanism and secure the investment required to create a UK SAF industry. SAF is set to play the most crucial role in meeting net zero targets as well as reducing aviation emissions this decade. New proposals rolled out by the UK government are set to mandate widespread adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2025.  Read more: Unlocking the Value of ESG Data: How Analytics Drives Responsible Investing  The UK has also issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that will further mandate jet fuel suppliers to integrate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into aircraft fuel. This will set a 10% SAF blend requirement by the year 2030.   Sustainable aviation fuel is a vital tool for the aviation industry’s journey. Whilst there are considerable challenges to decarbonising aviation, it is essential to recognise the efforts of operators and manufacturers to kick-start the journey to net zero. It is also essential to consider aviation’s contribution to CO2 emissions in the proper context.  Key Takeaways  The UK government is committed to introducing a revenue certainty scheme as part of the UK’s world-leading sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) program.  As part of the Energy Bill, the government is also setting up legislation to launch consultation options for designing and implementing the scheme.  The introduction of new measures will positively contribute towards the government’s ambition of achieving net zero targets in the UK by 2025 and cement the status of the UK as a world leader in this industry.  Read more: Combating the Climate Crisis: How will the UK Food Sector Achieve Net Zero Emission Goals?  Final Thoughts  Aviation is an inherently innovative industry working hard on exploring new opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry. Today, the industry is accountable for around 2% of global CO2 emissions annually. And 95% of these are from flights over 1,500 nautical miles with no alternative.  The most developed pathway for aviation decarbonisation SAF programs in the UK is considered one of the most comprehensive in the world, and the government also recognises the importance of providing long-term certainty for the industry. Along with the introduction of a SAF mandate in the year 2025, the new schemes are set to provide fuel security, grow the economy, and help the aviation sector by creating over 10,000 jobs by the year 2030, eventually rising to 60,000 by 2050.  Sustainable aviation fuel will not only bring countless economic opportunities, such as creating thousands of green jobs, but it will allow the industry to harness the full potential of SAF, thereby bringing the sector closer to net zero flying. And this commitment is a crucial step to creating cleaner and greener aviation in the UK. It will further cement the UK's position as a global leader in innovation and create a new, talented workforce that champions decarbonisation, thus paving the way for future air travel.  SG Analytics, recognized by the Financial Times as one of APAC's fastest-growing firms, is a prominent insights and analytics company specializing in data-centric research and contextual analytics. Operating globally across the US, UK, Poland, Switzerland, and India, we expertly guide data from inception to transform it into invaluable insights using our knowledge-driven ecosystem, results-focused solutions, and advanced technology platform. Our distinguished clientele, including Fortune 500 giants, attests to our mastery of harnessing data with purpose, merging content and context to overcome business challenges. With our Brand Promise of "Life's Possible," we consistently deliver enduring value, ensuring the utmost client delight.   A leader in ESG Services, SG Analytics offers bespoke sustainability consulting services and research support for informed decision-making. Contact us today if you are in search of an efficient ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration and management solution provider to boost your sustainable performance.          About SG Analytics     SG Analytics is an industry-leading global insights and analytics firm providing data-centric research and contextual analytics services to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, across BFSI, Technology, Media & Entertainment, and Healthcare sectors. Established in 2007, SG Analytics is a Great Place to Work® (GPTW) certified company and has a team of over 1100 employees and has presence across the U.S.A, the U.K., Switzerland, Canada, and India.       Apart from being recognized by reputed firms such as Analytics India Magazine, Everest Group, and ISG, SG Analytics has been recently awarded as the top ESG consultancy of the year 2022 and Idea Awards 2023 by Entrepreneur India in the “Best Use of Data” category.  

Combating the Climate Crisis: How will the UK Food Sector Achieve Net Zero Emission Goals?

Research has highlighted that the food system is likely to drive the world beyond 1.5C of global warming without urgent action. Due to this reason, there is a growing need to transform the food systems and prevent this scenario. The UK food system GHG model has been tracking food-related emissions and estimated a reduction of 12% in the overall GHG emissions between 2015 and 2020, largely due to the decarbonisation of the grid. However, the average annual rate of reduction in GHGs will have to increase by almost 60% by 2030 for the sector to meet its GHG target. Through the WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) Courtauld Commitment 2030, 76 food businesses in the UK have committed to cut down on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the food industry by almost 50% by the year 2030.   Read more: Unlocking the Value of ESG Data: How Analytics Drives Responsible Investing  The UK Food Industry  In the 2021 report on the UK food system GHGs, the Government proposed a pathway of GHG reductions to meet the Courtauld 2030 target. Responsible measurement of GHGs from food and subsequent analysis is critical for the sector to take some of the difficult decisions required. It is equally important to measure the contribution of the environment to the economy, along with the impact of economic activity and society's response to environmental problems.  Along with the increase in food supply emissions, changing food consumption patterns are also having implications for human health.  To hit their carbon budgets, governments are developing policy evidence and advocating policy solutions to decarbonise the use of energy. They are also commissioning research from independent experts to ensure that the imposed policies are promoted effectively. With initiatives to drive action on green finance, changing consumption patterns, and tackling deforestation, the UK food system is incorporating the GHG emissions models to enable the food industry to meet its net zero ambitions. However, some of the challenges include power imbalances in the food supply chains, lack of consumer demand, and political will. There is now a growing need to revise the business models reliant on ever-increasing levels of consumption and reward the best practices to reduce the emissions associated.  Read more: Green Bonds Explained: Are They Effective for Your Business?  Greenhouse Gas Emissions of UK Food Supply Chain   The food systems contribute to 23–42% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the food system emissions has now become an essential component of climate change mitigation. By incorporating a system-wide approach such as production, processing, and demand-side transformations, there is a need to track long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the food supply to initiate this transformation. With precise identification of relative contributions of supply-side and demand-side changes to historical trends and the gap between current UK food consumption and EAT-Lancet recommended diets, the industry can estimate the additional GHG emission reductions that need to be achieved.   By identifying and understanding the processes that contribute to existing trends, the industry can reveal opportunities for future mitigation strategies. Both supply- and demand-side changes can contribute to reductions in GHG emissions from food and contribute to mitigating the GHG emissions. To mitigate the food system emissions, supply-side measures should aim to reduce the emission intensity of food production through practices like reducing fertilizer runoff and improving energy-use efficiency. At the same time, the demand-side measures should aim to reduce emissions via waste reduction and dietary change.   Understanding the contributions of supply- and demand-side changes to long-term trends in food supply emissions will enable businesses to gain crucial insights and devise emissions reduction scenarios, critical for identifying further emissions mitigation. Without transformational changes to global food systems, the emissions from food are likely to increase due to the rising consumption of emission-intensive foods and the rise in the global population. Identifying measures that provide emissions reductions as well as net neutral or beneficial health outcomes is vital.  Read more: The Growing Demand for ESG Data: Trends and Market Outlook  Power  Burning of fossil fuels is one of the critical sources of carbon emissions in the UK, making it vital to phase out fossil fuels as quickly as possible by embarking on a 100% renewable future by 2050. They are also working to ensure a transition to a sustainable system that will be focused on clean, renewable energy sources backed by electricity storage and demand flexibility. To build upon the progress that has already been made, the Government is making a commitment to end the use of coal in the UK energy system and advocating more support for increased deployment of renewable energy.  Transport   Transport is another significant source of emissions in the UK, indicating that progress towards low-emissions transport is crucial to hit UK carbon budgets and make meaningful progress on the path of reducing carbon emissions. The UK government is working to make progress on a number of different policies with regard to transport. The Government is bringing forward its 2040 target to end the sale of petrol as well as diesel automobiles by the year 2030 to take meaningful air pollution and emissions reduction actions. They are also funding the charging infrastructure needed for electric vehicles (EVs) and offering incentives to ditch petrol and diesel cars.  Read more: How ESG Scores Impact Investment Decisions?  Conclusion  The UK food sector does not exist in a vacuum. The current policy initiatives from the UK government related to the food sector lack the scope and ambition to meet the national GHG targets. Also, despite widespread consensus to achieve net zero, there is an investment gap of almost £20bn in the UK, preventing the necessary reductions in net GHG emissions.  The UK can influence global climate progress via domestic action on emissions reduction and adaptation. The Government has also set out a vision for its international climate and nature ambition in its 2030 Strategic Framework. The strategy aims at deploying joined-up efforts using domestic levers to contribute to global climate and nature goals meaningfully. The Strategic Framework represents a clear intention to maintain the UK’s legacy in this space with detailed future actions. The UK Government also intends to track the policy progress and acknowledge the domestic and international policy decisions to contribute to realising the 2030 vision.   Quantifying the mitigation of dietary change and aligning these requirements is key for the food industry to determine future opportunities to integrate emission reduction strategies.  SG Analytics, recognized by the Financial Times as one of APAC's fastest-growing firms, is a prominent insights and analytics company specializing in data-centric research and contextual analytics. Operating globally across the US, UK, Poland, Switzerland, and India, we expertly guide data from inception to transform it into invaluable insights using our knowledge-driven ecosystem, results-focused solutions, and advanced technology platform. Our distinguished clientele, including Fortune 500 giants, attests to our mastery of harnessing data with purpose, merging content and context to overcome business challenges. With our Brand Promise of "Life's Possible," we consistently deliver enduring value, ensuring the utmost client delight.   A leader in ESG Services, SG Analytics offers bespoke sustainability consulting services and research support for informed decision-making. Contact us today if you are in search of an efficient ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration and management solution provider to boost your sustainable performance.   

Women at Work: How Hybrid Working in the UK is Boosting the Number of Women in Full-time Jobs

Research based on official UK data demonstrated that professional women across the UK have increasingly opted to work full-time since the pandemic in sectors where hybrid, as well as remote working, have become the norm. This analysis presented by the Office for National Statistics microdata conducted by Public First - a consultancy firm- exhibits some of the strongest evidence to date, highlighting remote working individuals and broader economic benefits.  Professional women today are more likely to work full-time as hybrid and remote working has become a standard practice, as per the research issued by official UK data. The ratio of women in employment in the UK who work full-time has grown from 56.5% in 2019 to 58.7% in 2023. Public First found the increase had been much bigger across industries where organisations had adopted hybrid work policies.  Across the finance and insurance sector, the proportion of women working full-time had grown from 75% to 83%. In information and communication, the number has risen from 79% to 83%. And across other professional services, from 68% to 71%. This change was more evident for mothers, with the ratio working full-time increasing by more than 10% points in finance and IT.  The findings from Public First highlighted that the convincing evidence about hybrid work setup accelerated by COVID has proven beneficial for a chunk of the labour force that has high human capital.  Read more: UK Inflation - How is it Affecting the People?  While many reasons explain why mothers are working longer hours — including the cost-of-living pressures or fathers taking on more childcare — the research also presented a clear contrast between sectors where homeworking is easier.   Across lower-paid fields, there has also been an increase in the proportion of women on full-time hours in administrative and support services. However, there has been a sharp drop in hospitality, where labour shortages have compelled many employers to offer more family-friendly shifts.  The Business Case for Flexible Working  The introduction of a greater degree of flexible working within the organisation has led to a rise in demand for leadership buy-in, overcoming any negative attitudes, and effectively communicating the benefits of flexible working. This has helped organisations make a convincing case for adopting and fostering a flexible working environment. The creation of more flexible jobs and workplaces is playing an equally critical role in supporting economic growth and productivity. It has enabled organisations to capitalise on the full potential of their workforce.  The boost in women’s working hours has been all more important given the extent to which the UK’s overall workforce has shrunk since the beginning of the pandemic.  Read more: Data Consulting for Startups in the UK: Why it Matters and How to Get Started  Hybrid Working: The Key to Fostering Inclusive Workplaces  The paradigm shift in traditional workspaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in remote work emerging as a dominant trend, directing human resources departments to pivot faster than ever before. This new trend has been shaping the professional world and working environments across the globe.  The post-pandemic surge in hybrid working has led to a rise in the number of professionally educated women in the UK - especially mothers. It has presented them with the opportunity to move back into full-time work. Flexible working setup is contributing to efforts to raise workplace productivity as well as job quality. It further possesses the potential to support employee motivation, innovation, well-being, and overall flexibility. The proportion of women in the UK in employment in full-time work has grown from 56.5% in 2019 to 58.7% in 2023.  One of the major benefits of remote work is flexible hours, equipping working professionals with the ability to organise work hours around their personal responsibilities and preferences. This has led to enhanced work-life balance and job satisfaction. With work-life balance emerging as a crucial aspect of employee well-being, remote work is making a positive impact. Remote workers, especially female employees, can achieve the right balance in their work and personal life.  This shift in the hybrid work model also reported a rise in average salary at different organisations. This can be attributed to the flexibility and balance that remote work offers, enabling employees to maximise their productivity and potentially take on more responsibilities.  Read more: UK Economy: Navigating Turbulent Waters   Hybrid working is expected to be worth £13.5 billion annually, with hybrid employees valuing the positive impacts on their work-life balance. The rapid growth of hybrid working and making recommendations on how the government responds to the rise in the practice has led to a further increase in the number of employment opportunities for women.  However, harnessing the full potential of hybrid work for everyone is imperative, as it holds the key to cultivating and fostering a more inclusive and accessible workplace. Many employers have embraced this model, and it is evident that this intervention is providing comprehensive guidelines and support to enable organisations to unlock the advantages of hybrid and remote work. With the hybrid work modes, women who can work from home are more likely to embrace full-time employment than those who have to work away from home. The industry data has highlighted that there has been a large increase in the share of women in professional services, including banking and other professional services, working full-time.  Future of Hybrid Work  The increases in female employment can be at risk if employers aim to roll back hybrid working policies as the labour market is weakening and staff is becoming less able to demand flexibility. The commission discovered that three-quarters of hybrid workers felt it enhanced their work-life balance, and 70% of working women with children under 18 expressed that this made juggling their responsibilities easier.  However, most employers working with hybrid work arrangements are not convinced that it boosts their work productivity. The commission further highlighted that this perception gap could be enough to stunt the ability of businesses in the UK to maximise the benefits of hybrid and remote work.  Read more: 15 Strategies Redefining Success for UK SMEs  Final Thoughts  A large majority of employers offering hybrid work have helped in the hiring and retention of staff. Businesses are estimating that they saved between £6.9-£10.3 billion annually in their recruitment process costs alone due to improved retention rates because of hybrid working.   Additionally, businesses found that hybrid and remote working have made it easier for their hiring teams to employ from a wider scope of backgrounds. Most businesses are finding it helpful to hire more individuals from different regions of the country. This has also led to a significant increase in hiring people with disabilities.  SG Analytics, recognized by the Financial Times as one of APAC's fastest-growing firms, is a prominent insights and analytics company specializing in data-centric research and contextual analytics. Operating globally across the US, UK, Poland, Switzerland, and India, we expertly guide data from inception to transform it into invaluable insights using our knowledge-driven ecosystem, results-focused solutions, and advanced technology platform. Our distinguished clientele, including Fortune 500 giants, attests to our mastery of harnessing data with purpose, merging content and context to overcome business challenges. With our Brand Promise of "Life's Possible," we consistently deliver enduring value, ensuring the utmost client delight.   A leader in Market research, SG Analytics enables organizations to achieve actionable insights into products, technology, customers, competition, and the marketplace to make insight-driven decisions. Contact us today if you are an enterprise looking to make critical data-driven decisions to prompt accelerated growth and breakthrough performance.          

15 Strategies Redefining Success for UK SMEs

The metrics for success in business might vary widely from one organization to the next. Different people place more value on measures related to sales or social effects.   Many successful firms create enough earnings to allow owners—possibly shareholders or investors, depending on the sort of business—to grow their businesses and live well. To achieve a better work-life balance, develop an environmentally friendly product, or offer a service with a social goal, some small business owners are willing to forgo a percentage of their income. The definition of business success varies widely from entrepreneur to entrepreneur.  While it's thrilling to launch a new company, it may be challenging to figure out how to grow it once it's up and going. It's not simple to expand a tiny company. It's normal to face challenges, whether you're a brand-new company or have worked for the same company for several years.   If you feel like your company is in a rut, you aren't alone in that perception.   Strategies for Successful SMEs in the UK  Here are a few tactics SMEs can use to recover financially when cost increases throughout the SME sector continue to impact business cash flow:  Break Into New Markets  This strategy for growth aims to increase market share by selling more of the same products or providing more of the same services to existing clients in the same market. This strategy of little danger is widely used by SMEs. Most brands and businesses, as you might imagine, strive for better-than-average or good market penetration. The financial benefits of a high rate of penetration can be seen right away.  Market Development  If your growing company is having problems making a name for itself in your current market (perhaps as a result of intense competition), market expansion or development may be the way to go. Market expansion is the process of selling already existing products or services in new markets (e.g., a new country or demographic) in order to increase sales and market share. To get the greatest results, you need to do extensive market research to learn everything you can about the new industry and your prospective clients.  Market Segmentation  Marketing expansion divides a market into different segments, such as:  Geography  Demographics  Market behavior  Customer behavior  Smaller companies facing out against larger competitors may benefit from this growth strategy. Market segmentation allows you to identify and focus on an area of the market that your rivals have not yet conquered.  Diversification  Diversification is a growth strategy that involves expanding into new markets by selling new products or services. This expansion plan is not without serious peril. It has the potential to provide very large returns, but only if substantial financial resources are allocated to its implementation.  Cost reduction  A cost-cutting strategy can increase profits and provide additional capital for growth. Success is more likely for your business if you can keep operational costs low without sacrificing quality.  Here are a few easy ways to put cost reduction into practice:  Use accounting software to keep track of expenditures.  Avoid paper usage as much as possible.  Analyze all of your company's processes, and when possible, automate them.  Reduce your reliance on conventional marketing strategies and concentrate most of your marketing efforts online.  If necessary, consider outsourcing.  Customer retention  Customer retention refers to the methods used to keep current customers as well as attract new ones who will become regulars. For this to work, you must first earn your customer's trust.  Keeping customers happy might help you save money in the long run by avoiding the cost of acquiring new ones. Customers who buy from you again are more likely to spend more money, and brand advocates who tell their friends about your business can play a significant role in your company's growth.  Alternative channels  Especially in the modern digital era, utilizing non-traditional avenues for corporate expansion is becoming increasingly common practice. It's the practice of promoting a business, communicating with potential clients, and ultimately closing a sale through another medium.  Examples of using alternative channels are:  Selling products through a third-party  Using Google Ads to promote your business  Obtain funding  Investment is required to expand a firm, either financially, in terms of product offerings or distribution channels, and this funding may originate from outside the company. Small enterprises can choose from a wide variety of financial options. There is always money available for startups, but it helps to gain the trust of potential financiers with a solid business plan and accurate projections before applying for any kind of loan. Check out our manual for more fundraising ideas.  Create a reliable team It's impossible for a single entrepreneur to handle all aspects of running a business successfully. Experts and business coaches can help you improve in areas where you lack experience, and they can also help keep you on track to achieve your goals.  Explore various sales channels The process of creating a sales strategy is similar to that of creating a marketing plan. It may take some time to figure out what works and what doesn't, but sticking with it will be rewarded. Large corporations and the government are two underappreciated potential clients. The government's promise to buy a sizable portion of its goods and services from small businesses is a huge boon to expanding companies. Large firms are the ones creating supply chains, and these businesses always want to associate themselves with fresh, innovative minds. As a result, their local merchant partners gain exposure to new potential buyers.  Keep your customers happy People who enjoy the products or services they purchase are more likely to return and tell others about them. Customers are loyal to a company not only because of the value they find in the products or services it provides but also because of the quality of the service they receive and the company's commitment to continually improving that service.  Accept the change  There are always obstacles for businesses to overcome, such as dwindling demand in the market, new competitors, difficult customers, and POS system issues. Success, however, can be achieved via nimbleness, adaptability, and the willingness to pivot. When faced with difficulties, such as low sales, it may be necessary to double down on one's efforts while simultaneously remaining flexible and open to new ideas and approaches. Consider the benefits and drawbacks of adopting new technology, such as a new payroll system or a complete system revamp. Owning a business requires careful research, as "new" does not automatically equate to "better" or "faster."  Opt for a Coworking area  Surely, you've seen that sharing office space is becoming increasingly popular amongst companies. This helps save money on monthly office rent. In addition, some of these coworking spaces have splurged on amenities like high-end furnishings, meeting and video conferencing rooms, lightning-fast internet, and so on. Check out some of the best current UK coworking options.  Study your competitors  You can see this phenomenon at work in the top media outlets across the board, from television networks to newspapers. Competition is severe for elite personnel even among the largest internet businesses, such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook, and YouTube. You, as a business owner, should take note of what your rivals are doing. Learn from their successes and mistakes. Go to business-related events like seminars and conferences to get the ideas and information you need to expand your company.  Engage in social responsibility A company's performance can be gauged in several ways, one of which is a positive net income. Even if money is short, there are still ways to help others and give back to the community. Volunteering at a business-related event, donating a product or service, visiting a local school to make a speech or acting as a mentor are all great ways to give back to the community. Owners can give back to their communities by making a commitment to use only raw materials obtained ethically.  Also Read - Strategies For Success In International Market Research.  Conclusion  Conduct some research to determine which one or two marketing platforms will be the most advantageous for your specific business, and then dedicate your efforts to using those platforms.   You may, for instance, try paid advertising, social media marketing, content marketing, face-to-face networking, direct mail, or even social media marketing. Do not put undue strain on yourself by trying to accomplish too much all at once.  This is not everything that a business needs, of course, and your demands may differ depending on the field or industry you work in, but this is a strong foundation on which to build a successful firm.  As one of the best market research companies in the UK, we provide exclusive insights to strengthen business transformation. Our market research services leverage advanced technologies to provide actionable insights into the marketplace, products, customers, and competition. SG Analytics’ market intelligence services apply robust methodologies to ensure maximum research coverage.  As a futuristic market research company in the UK, SGA incorporates advanced BI & visualization techniques to convey findings via interesting and engaging stories and captivating reports and dashboards. 

Green Bonds Explained: Are They Effective for Your Business?

Green bonds are a way to finance environmentally beneficial and economically sustainable endeavors. Renewable energy, efficient energy use, resource conservation, clean transportation, and climate change adaptation are all examples of what it means to live a "green" lifestyle.  As climate change and corporate sustainability rise in importance to businesses that want to thrive and retain customers for the long haul, sustainable finance has gained traction. It can be challenging for businesses to determine which sort of sustainable investment is best for them, among impact investing, socially responsible investing, and green financing.  More and more investors are calling for Green Bonds to be more open and standardized so that bond profits may be used appropriately and end investors' needs are met. Yet, it is feared that if the standards are set too high, potential investors will be scared away. It's important to strike a balance.  What are Green Bonds?  Green bonds are a form of fixed income that is put towards new environmental projects that work to mitigate climate change or improve environmental conditions. Green bonds first appeared roughly 20 years ago and operate similarly to conventional bonds, with the extra benefit of promoting beneficial environmental change. Climate bonds and sustainable bonds are other names for green bonds.   The primary objective of green bonds is to finance climate change mitigation projects and other environmentally laudable endeavors. Green bonds are consistent with the principles of socially responsible investing and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, in which financial return is secondary to the investor's sense of doing good for the world through their investment.   The History and Growth of Green Bonds  Sustainable financing has become critical to projects aimed at mitigating the disastrous effects of the climate crisis. Green bonds, issued by both public and commercial companies, are one of its most admired vehicles.    Green bonds were first issued by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in 2007, marking a watershed moment in the development of a more ethical financial system. Green bonds are appealing to investors because they are sustainable without sacrificing financial returns. They are not more expensive because they are "environmentally friendly."  As a result of this rising interest, the World Bank also issued its first green bond in 2008. The market has expanded greatly since the first green bond was issued. The United States is the largest issuer of green bonds, but more than fifty countries have done so at this point. If you're interested in keeping tabs on the expansion of the green bonds market, the Climate Bonds Initiative is a great place to start. The group predicted that $350 billion would be issued worldwide in green bonds in 2020.  Green bonds, which are similar to sustainable investment funds, have seen explosive growth in popularity recently. Green bonds are emerging as a solution for both investors seeking environmentally responsible investments and businesses in need of capital for environmentally conscious initiatives.  How do Green Bonds Work?  The market for green bonds is growing by the day, with the financial amount of green bonds having been issued reaching almost $270 billion in 2020 – with the U.S. leading in green bonds, having issued $50 billion dollars worth of green bonds in a single year. Green bonds are continuing to grow in popularity, given they don’t require additional expertise in contrast to traditional bonds.  Green bonds work in the exact same manner as other bonds distributed by the government or corporate. In general, a bond is a numerical representation of an agreement between a “borrower” and a “lender” – where the “borrower” is meant to return the money to the “lender” at an interest rate. This is how people who choose to invest using bonds receive a financial return.  The borrowers will issue green bonds for various projects, but the difference between green bonds and traditional bonds – is that green bonds are selected purposefully for projects that will contribute towards positive environmental change or in the fight against global warming.  Investing in Green Bonds: Potential Returns  In many ways, investment in Green Bonds is similar to investing in conventional bonds; the main difference is that Green Bonds are used to fund initiatives with explicit sustainability and environmental goals. Here is a detailed explanation of how to buy Green Bonds:  Learn Something  You should first familiarize yourself with Green Bonds and what makes them unique. Learn about Green Bonds, the projects they support, and the potential advantages and hazards before investing in one. Sustainable finance-focused organizations, websites, and studies are available as additional references.  Plan Where to Put Your Money Define your investment goals, level of comfort with risk, and expected return. Think about how much of your portfolio you want to invest in Green Bonds and how much money you can afford to lose.  Choose your Investment Method  Green bonds, direct bond purchases, bond funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are just some of the investment options available to you. A variety of Green Bond Indices.  Green Bond Issuer  When choosing a Green Bond Issuer, prioritize those with a proven commitment to sustainability and openness in their operations. Green bonds are issued by a variety of entities, including national and local governments, enterprises, and local and international non-profits.  Think About Environmental Credentials   Consider the Green Bond-funded projects' environmental impact and whether or not they correspond with your values. When purchasing bonds, make sure they have been independently verified as meeting green requirements, such as the Climate Bonds Standard.  Assess Credit Quality  Examine the issuer's creditworthiness by conducting an assessment of credit quality. Green Bonds are assigned ratings by credit rating organizations that reflect the issuer's likelihood of meeting debt service obligations. Bonds with a higher rating tend to have reduced risk but potentially lower rewards.  Investment Platform  Find a good investment platform or brokerage that provides access to Green Bond funds or ETFs if you wish to make an investment in such products.  Review Documents  Before investing in Green Bonds or Funds, it is important to read the prospectus or offering materials thoroughly to familiarize yourself with the investment's terms and conditions.  Monitor Investment  You should monitor your Green Bond holdings, including their performance and any news about the issuer or the projects they fund.  How do Green Bonds Benefit Businesses?  The growing popularity of green bonds can be attributed to the many advantages they provide to businesses. In recent years, corporate investment in green bonds has increased by a factor of three. Some of the more convincing arguments are as follows.   Capital Generation  Green bonds offer an alternative funding mechanism for companies. When businesses issue Green Bonds, they reach out to investors who care about the environment and want to see their money go toward green initiatives. With a wider pool of investors, green projects may have an easier time securing necessary funding.  Branding and Reputation  Companies that issue Green Bonds are showing their commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, which is good for their brand recognition. Customers, investors, and other stakeholders' perceptions of the company and its brand may improve as a result. A solid track record of sustainability can entice eco-conscious customers and investors who would rather back companies that are making strides toward a better future.  Cost of Capital  Green bonds may help companies save money on their cost of capital if they are issued. Green Bonds have been increasingly popular as investors look for greener investment options, which may result in lower interest rates or more favorable terms for issuers.  Risk Management  Businesses can better manage environmental hazards by adopting more sustainable practices. Companies can lessen their environmental impact, secure themselves against climate-related risks, and adjust to new regulations by investing in environmentally friendly initiatives with the money they get from Green Bonds.  New Markets  Green bonds can provide entry to previously inaccessible markets and sectors that place a premium on environmental responsibility. Green Bonds allow enterprises to access new markets as governments and corporations throughout the world work towards decarbonization and environmental goals.  Innovation  Funding green projects using Green Bonds encourages businesses to invest in green R&D, which in turn boosts innovation and competitiveness. As the global economy shifts towards a greener model, this can stimulate innovation and boost competitiveness.  Complying with the law  Governments in some areas have enacted rules and regulations that reward or demand sustainability efforts. Businesses can ensure they are in line with ever-evolving environmental standards and meet such mandates with the aid of Green Bonds.  Value Creation  Investment in environmentally friendly projects can pay off for companies in the long run. Cost savings and increased productivity may be the long-term results of sustainable programs that emphasize energy efficiency, resource conservation, and waste reduction.  Get Started with Green Bonds  Companies or governments with a strong commitment to social responsibility and environmental preservation can secure green bonds. Green bonds are issued by corporations and governments and made available to anybody seeking financing for an environmentally or socially responsible endeavor.   Green bond seekers, then, should look for entities like corporations or governments that can actually issue green bonds. Because the decision to issue a green bond rests with the issuing company or government, those seeking such bonds would do well to thoroughly prepare a presentation of their project for a number of potential investors.   Green bonds also receive funding from institutional investors like hedge funds, mutual funds, and endowments, albeit these financial institutions do not disperse the bonds themselves.   When pitching a green bond issuer on a sustainable project, it's important to show how the money will be put to good use, such as by explaining how it will be used to improve energy efficiency or lessen emissions. The next step is for the entity that could issue the green bond, be it a corporation or government, to decide whether or not the proposed project meets their criteria for financing with green bonds. The method of creating and allocating green bond funds can then be explained. Last but not least, a reporting schedule will be drafted to guarantee the green bond's performance for the investor and the beneficiary.   Also Read - How to Make Your Business More Sustainable?  Conclusion  Green bonds, which are issued on the international bond market, provide funding for initiatives that have a net beneficial effect on the environment.   The growth of the green bond market is a result of policymakers encouraging green investment with incentives and setting standards for measuring impact, as well as the dedication of bond issuers to finance the energy transition and address climate risks.  Green bonds, in sum, are equivalent to common bonds except that their proceeds go towards environmental improvement. A green bond could be the perfect investment for you if you want to protect the environment and make some money at the same time.  As standards develop and investor confidence increases, the market for sustainable bonds can be expected to continue. Stable macroeconomic conditions would also help.  Building a Greener and Sustainable Future        Before 2023, accountability was seen as pleasant, but that's starting to change. The epidemic refocused attention on sustainability and clean energy. Sustainability, which was previously an overarching issue, is now a key focus for every company. This presents a unique chance for businesses to evaluate their current state and consider how they could reduce their carbon footprint in the near and far future.      There is an increasing effort by companies of all kinds to combat the effects of climate change. They no longer include it in the brand's mission statement, but it has become a unifying notion that drives them to carry out essential tasks.      Companies are developing brand-new, long-term plans. They are stepping up their efforts to lessen their environmental impact by using cutting-edge machinery. This allows them to protect their workers' interests while maintaining open communication. By 2023, brands that need to put sustainability first will have already lost the race.      With a presence in New York, San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, Toronto, London, Zurich, Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, SG Analytics, a pioneer in Research and Analytics, offers tailor-made services to enterprises worldwide.                              SG Analytics is an industry leader in ESG services, providing custom sustainability advice and research to aid in deliberation. If you are looking for an effective ESG integration and management solution provider to improve your company's long-term viability, get in touch with us today.     

The Power of Data Visualization in the UK's Healthcare Sector

Data analysis plays a crucial role in numerous significant medical investigations that are currently underway. In order to effectively serve patients, doctors and nurses need to be able to use health interfaces, generate reports, analyze patient records, and identify patterns.  In today’s world, data visualization plays an important role in enabling us to draw logical conclusions and make quick decisions. With constant volumes of data being generated, it is important to be able to think quickly and efficiently. Efficient health imaging technologies are demanded by pharmaceutical companies, clinical research centers, and health insurance companies. Big data has revolutionized data management, analytics, and applications. Data analytics and data visualization as a part of it have a huge impact on almost all businesses in the world. The healthcare sector is one of the biggest affected industries of all.  Health research has the potential to dramatically reduce medical costs, predict and prevent epidemic outbreaks, reduce avoidable diseases, and improve overall quality of life. Increasing life expectancy has required a rethinking of strategies currently using drugs. Like corporate owners, individuals in healthcare have the ability to sift through vast amounts of data to gain valuable, actionable insights.  Data visualization techniques and data analysis, such as machine learning and AI, have made it easier for the healthcare industry to operate in a much better way. They help to identify disease patterns and trends to an extent in certain areas and groups. It also helps in identifying appropriate health policies and lifestyle changes that may be significantly essential for improving health and wellness.  How is Data Visualization used in Healthcare?  The use of digital technologies to store patient records and help manage clinical practice has created a wealth of information that would otherwise be overwhelming and cumbersome using outdated methods. The use of big data analytics in medicine offers many potential benefits, including the potential to save lives. Big data is a term used to describe the amount of data generated by anything that is digitized and then aggregated and analyzed by specialized software. When applied to healthcare, personal or public health information is used to provide results, output is improved, and costs are saved.  As life expectancy increases, so do treatment options, and many advances are driven by new information. Because any disease is easier and cheaper to treat when caught in its early stages, doctors like to learn as much as possible about their patients,. Prevention is better than treatment from an early age, and insurance can provide the right plan for everyone. This is an attempt by management to address the problem of keeping patient information in silos across locations, making it difficult to share information effectively.  The number of places doctors and other medical professionals can go to learn more about their patients is growing. These issues are common in file formats and formats, causing problems for the end user. But what matters now is how pretty the data is, not how "big" it is.  Smart and fast data extraction can be achieved from the following healthcare industry sources with the help of the right technology:   Patients portals   Research studies   EHRs  Wearable devices  Search engines  Generic databases   Government agencies   Payer records   Staffing schedules   Patient waiting room   Medical data collection has been a laborious and costly task for quite some time now. The rapidly changing technology of today enables us to not only gather data but also generate detailed healthcare reports and convert them into actionable, essential insights for better treatment.  Through evidence-based insights, healthcare data analysis strives to enhance patient outcomes by preventing issues from worsening, accelerating the evaluation of new treatments and procedures, optimizing inventory management, fostering greater patient participation in their care, and granting them the knowledge necessary to make informed choices about their health.  Types of Data Visualization in the Healthcare Sector  Various varieties of visualizations can be used to present healthcare data in a more comprehensible format, such as:  Charts & Graphs - In healthcare, the most prevalent forms of visualization are graphs and charts.   Line charts - These are used to illustrate the trend of a variable over time.  Bar graphs - Used to compare values across categories; Scatter plots: Used to demonstrate the relationship between variables.  Geographics Infographics - These are graphical representations of data and information that can communicate complex data in an engaging manner.  Maps - Maps are used to visualize geographic data, such as disease prevalence or health outcomes, and to identify regional patterns or trends.  Dashboards - They are graphical representations of key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics that provide a quick overview of crucial data. Dashboards can be used to monitor the health status of patients in real time, measure clinical quality metrics, and monitor population health trends. Typically, they combine charts, graphs, tables, and other visual elements to provide a comprehensive view of the data.  Which Data Visualization Tools are Used in Healthcare? Let's have a look at a few of the most well-known off-the-shelf options for simplifying and optimizing data visualization in the healthcare industry:  Tableau  Tableau is the industry-standard data analytics platform, packed with powerful features and convenient machine learning add-ons. It includes a straightforward, drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to get started. Therefore, individuals with little technical knowledge may make line charts, graphs, and histograms.  Power BI  Power BI is a business intelligence tool created by Microsoft that allows users to create dashboards, reports, and visualizations with ease. Its superior analytics and capacity for integration make it a preferred option in the medical industry.  QlikView  QlikView has strong data exploration tools and a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface. With its associative approach, complicated medical data may be visualized in a way that facilitates dynamic navigation and the discovery of previously unseen insights.  Looker  Looker is a cloud-based data platform that allows users to easily access, explore, and visualize medical data from a single location. The system's adaptability and built-in communication features make it ideal for use in collaborative healthcare settings.  Plotly  Plotly is a free and open-source library that may be used with many different languages. Because of its flexible design, it is often used to show individual patient records in great detail.  Benefits of Data Visualization in Healthcare  The healthcare industry benefits greatly from the use of data visualization, along with other tools and techniques. Improved healthcare delivery, higher quality patient care, and the identification of fraud and mistakes are all possible outcomes of the widespread adoption and use of visualization tools in the healthcare industry.   Enhanced quality of treatment for all patients  The use of data visualization in healthcare has a favorable effect on the delivery of care as a whole, helps clinicians make better decisions, and improves preparedness for emergencies.   Improving the quality of treatment and allowing healthcare practitioners to make required clinical decisions depending on the patient's situation necessitates real-time visualization of patient health data. Data visualization tools, for instance, aid in the continuous monitoring of vital signs like oxygen saturation, allowing for immediate analysis of patient reactions to therapy. Providers have a much easier time spotting anomalous values and initiating the necessary action when real-time data visualizations are used, leading to better patient outcomes and overall healthcare quality in the hospital.  Recognising patterns and trends in diseases  Determining healthcare trends is crucial for deciding how to allocate resources. In order to encourage people to make positive lifestyle changes and counteract potential health risks, it is essential to first identify and then analyze illness trends among certain groups. A greater public and patient awareness of the need to alter their lifestyles might result from a better understanding of the causes of the trends.  Simplified data display  The ability to show data to many audiences is another significant benefit of healthcare visualization methods. When compared to laypeople, healthcare data might be more difficult to comprehend among doctors working in diverse specialties. The goal of any data presentation should be to make even the most complicated facts understandable to listeners from any cultural or linguistic background. Putting medical data to good use and making it accessible to a wide range of audiences is the use of presentation techniques to explain illness prevalence and the variables impacting it.  Enhanced productivity  By facilitating rapid clinical decision-making in emergency scenarios, for example, data visualization in healthcare organizations can improve the prognosis and health condition of their patients. Additionally, increased speed can lessen care deficiencies, ensuring greater output from healthcare organizations and establishing a solid track record for efficacy and improved patient results.  Error detection and fraud detection with data visualization in healthcare  For example, medical billing fraud may be uncovered through the application of health data analytics and visualization tools within healthcare organizations.  Duplicate billing, phantom billing, fake prescriptions, and other kinds of insurance fraud by healthcare practitioners are the most common types of billing fraud in healthcare institutions. The accuracy of billing and the prevalence of fraudulent schemes can both be improved through improved communication between patients, healthcare payers, and providers.   In What Ways is Data Visualization Transforming Healthcare?  There is a lot of demand in the healthcare industry to increase patient satisfaction, reduce costs, and increase patient volume on a daily basis. The next time you wait longer than usual to see your doctor or see him seem upset. Meanwhile, healthcare providers must contend with an explosion of new data, including electronic health records (EHRs), wearable devices, and clinical trials.  When this information is carefully analyzed and presented in a meaningful way, it can help healthcare professionals make better decisions and improve patient outcomes. Otherwise, this information will just take up unnecessary space on your computer.  That’s when charts and graphs come in handy. Visualization of health information, through the creation of healthcare applications, can assist decision-makers in rapid pattern recognition, identification of details, and comparisons between methods and patient data through optimized applications, by presenting information in an attractive and easy-to-understand format -management and service access can be simplified.  Read Also - Why Data Visualization is Crucial for Modern-day Businesses?  Conclusion  Data visualization plays a crucial role in the healthcare sector as it offers conceptual assistance by facilitating intuitive comprehension of intricate data. A dynamically evolving healthcare environment underscores the significance of this data visualization.  In light of the growing reliance on data in several domains, the capacity to effectively analyze and respond to intricate healthcare insights will assume more significance. The implementation of data visualization tactics within the healthcare industry is anticipated to yield advantageous outcomes, facilitating the attainment of enduring prosperity for healthcare providers.  Healthcare organizations can leverage visualizations to improve operational efficiency, enhance informed decision-making, and improve patient outcomes, among other things.  At SGA, we embrace a design thinking approach to create intuitive and impactful data visualizations. Our data visualizations services prioritize user experience and effective communication, ensuring that they are both visually appealing and insightful. Providing businesses with clear, visual representations of complex data enables them to gain meaningful insights and make informed decisions. 

How Artificial Intelligence Transforms Data and Marketing Strategies

Marketing experts in today's digital world are always on the lookout for fresh approaches to reaching their customers and expanding their businesses. Among the most transformative factors in this effort has been the introduction of AI into advertising.  Marketing strategies have been completely rethought in light of AI's capacity to sift through mountains of data, spot patterns, and extract useful insights. Campaigns are becoming more efficient and effective than ever before because of the use of AI and its ability to process large amounts of data and provide relevant insights. Let’s look at how AI is influencing the future of marketing and helping firms achieve previously unattainable levels of success. Using Data in Marketing Strategies Data is one of the most important components of modern marketing. The days of development being driven only by a marketer's intuition and ingenuity are over. The ability to gather, analyze, and use data has become crucial in modern marketing. But what does data actually do and how can it be leveraged to drive growth in marketing strategies? Growth marketers now rely heavily on data for everything from client acquisition and retention to product development and communications.  Growth marketing, in its simplest form, is a strategy based on the analysis of client acquisition and retention data that tries to accelerate company expansion. Growth marketing, in contrast to more conventional approaches that may place more emphasis on creating a name for a product or service, is geared towards increasing tangible, financial outcomes. But how does that work in the real world? Growth marketers may employ a wide range of strategies to expand their clientele, including search engine optimization (SEO), paid advertising, email marketing, and social media campaigns. Then, they'd use data to analyze and improve the efficacy of these efforts by monitoring key indicators like conversion rates, CAC, and LTV. Growth marketing relies heavily on testing and tweaking in order to find what approaches are most successful and then doubling down on them. A willingness to take chances and try new things, as well as an in-depth knowledge of the intended market and the advertised product or service, are essential. Marketers may make greater use of data to generate results and maximize growth potential if they have a firm grasp on the fundamentals of growth marketing. Analyzing Data with Artificial Intelligence AI-powered software has the capability to automatically analyze data from any source and generate valuable insights. The potential of data collected from customers and analyzed by AI to revolutionize product creation, boost team efficiency, and inform businesses of their successes and failures is immense. Traditional software demands continual human interaction. When introducing a new procedure or modifying an existing one, the code should be managed by an expert. AI software that makes use of ML, on the other hand, needs just minimal human supervision initially. This helps AI tools learn from the training data that consists of text samples that have been "labeled" using AI algorithms. They successfully use data that has been labeled by humans in order to learn how to analyze patterns. AI is having a substantial impact on data analytics in several ways: Automation Artificial intelligence systems can automate the processing and analysis of big datasets, freeing up human resources for more difficult tasks Increased accuracy Models driven by AI can find insights and patterns in data that people miss, allowing for superior prediction and judgment. Scalability It would be impractical or impossible to process such a vast and complex dataset manually, but AI makes this possible. Personalization Improved customer happiness and more revenue are the results of AI-powered models' analysis of individual customer data and the generation of tailored recommendations. Self-service The intuitive interfaces and automation of complex operations provided by AI-powered solutions are empowering non-experts to do data analytics. Insights in real time With the help of AI, organizations now have the ability to analyze their data in real time and make decisions based on the most recent data available. Role of AI in Marketing Strategies and Performance AI is impacting almost every industry in the market. All the businesses and companies can utilize AI for their marketing and other aspects of business.  Better Analyses of Data The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in marketing research has been a game-changer. Data analysis has been completely transformed by the incorporation of AI into marketing strategy. Analytics solutions driven by AI excel at digesting massive amounts of data, revealing previously undiscovered insights. Artificial intelligence algorithms help marketers make data-driven decisions by revealing patterns in consumer behavior and market trends. This allows them to fine-tune their tactics for the best possible results. One-of-a-Kind Customer Interactions The idea of customized advertising has been given a boost by AI. Marketers can now examine client information using AI algorithms. For example, one's tastes, online habits, and purchases can be used to provide customized services. AI allows for more personalized client interactions, from content creation to product suggestions. This leads to happier customers who are more likely to stick around. Exceptional Customer Segmentation Marketers can now accurately do sophisticated client segmentation using AI. Marketers can divide their target demographics into several subgroups, each with their own set of preferences and habits, by employing AI-driven algorithms. With this level of insight, they can target specific audiences with messages and campaigns that are more likely to resonate with them and ultimately lead to more conversions. Forecasting and Analytical Techniques Marketers can use AI-enhanced predictive analytics to give themselves a leg up on the competition. Artificial intelligence algorithms are able to effectively predict future events by analyzing past data, market patterns, and external influences. Marketers may now respond to changing conditions with this skill. In addition, it found better ways to allocate resources and anticipated new opportunities. Finally, it aids in getting a leg up on the competition. Improves the Efficiency of Social Media Performances The primary function of social media in the context of a business is to attract and convert customers. The same goes for advertisers and marketers, who study their audience's demographics to tailor their social media posts to them. When it comes to this, AI is a total game-changer. Tools enabled by artificial intelligence enable analysis of customer preferences and behaviors beyond simple demographics. Marketers use this information to improve client engagement by adjusting their SMM strategies. Curating User-Generated Content (UGC) In case you didn't know, today's social media users are formidable in their dual roles as content producers and consumers. The vast majority of consumers today prefer UGC over advertisement when making a purchase decision. User-generated content (UGC) is helping businesses boost their standing in the eyes of their rivals. Your brand's mentions on social media can be monitored with the help of AI technology. In this approach, you can learn how your customers feel about your company and its offerings. By mining user-generated content, AI can isolate reliable customer information. Artificial intelligence can now recognise visual stuff like photographs and videos in addition to text. Enhances Personalized Experience Personalizing the company's content creates a more interactive experience for the customer. Do you realize that AI also dominates in this area?  The ability to tailor services to each individual consumer is predicated on a firm's familiarity with their specific requirements.  Artificial intelligence (AI) gathers, processes, and uses customer data to create unique profiles and content for each user. You can utilize this data to make highly personalized recommendations and interactions with your customers.  With the use of AI, businesses can create targeted email marketing content instead of sending out generic emails. The Future of AI in Marketing and Advertising In recent years, AI has made waves in many fields, and the business of advertising and selling is no exception. The proliferation of AI technologies has allowed businesses to simplify operations, automate routine jobs, and base choices on hard facts. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the way that firms approach marketing and sales, from lead creation to client interaction. Increased productivity is one of AI's primary contributions to the field of marketing and sales. Artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, for instance, may speed up the process of producing material like emails and slogans. Similarly, marketing and sales efforts might find fresh ideas in the banners and graphics generated by AI-powered design tools.In today's fast-paced corporate climate, utilizing AI in marketing and sales is crucial. For instance, AI systems may examine voluminous client data and reveal insights into purchasing trends, allowing businesses to tailor their marketing efforts and boost conversion rates. Chatbots, predictive analytics, and personalized email marketing are just a few of the AI-powered technologies that may help businesses optimize their processes, get insights, and expand their customer base. For example, AI may be used to compose a series of very specific and appropriately targeted emails for various market niches and business sectors. Email marketing, being one of the greatest ROI marketing channels, may benefit from this easy use of AI. Augmented reality (AR) is another area where AI is expected to have a significant impact. Advertising and marketing campaigns are already using augmented reality to let clients virtually try on garments or see how new furniture might appear in their homes. It is expected that as AI develops, augmented reality experiences will become ever more personalized and engaging, allowing businesses to interact with customers in novel ways. It is also anticipated that AI will help refine and enhance targeting and personalisation. Artificial intelligence's ability to sift through mountains of data and draw conclusions from that information will allow businesses to better understand their customers and provide them with relevant, customized experiences. The risks and difficulties that come with these new possibilities are also new. The ethical and transparent use of AI that safeguards client privacy will need vigilance on the part of businesses. There may also be effects on the economy and labor force from AI's continued automation of tasks and decision-making processes. Positive and Negative Impacts of AI Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the face of advertising in profound ways. Using AI, marketers can streamline their processes, tailor their interactions with customers, and gain deeper insights into their habits. The influence of AI in marketing is extensive and expanding. With AI's potential to revolutionize the marketing industry, it's important for marketers to determine if the technology is a good fit for their operations. Both the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating AI into marketing strategies are discussed.   The positive impact of AI on Marketing:  New AI-powered marketing tools and techniques are still finding their footing, but their potential to revolutionize the industry is clear. Customer segmentation and targeting are two areas where AI has the potential to have a major impact. By analyzing customer data and behavior, marketers may divide their target audience into smaller groups and tailor their messages to each subset. As a result, interaction quality, conversion rates, and client loyalty can all improve.  Email campaigns, social media management, and content production are just some of the marketing activities that may be automated with the help of AI. Marketers can save money, time, and effort by having these processes automated. Personalization of service and support for customers is another way in which chatbots and virtual assistants powered by AI may boost satisfaction and decrease downtime.     AI has several Positive Impacts on business and Marketing:  Chatbots improve customer service and reduce inbound queries.  Website product recommendations should be improved.  Create tailored campaigns by segmenting audiences.  Customer satisfaction can be assessed via sentiment analysis.  Detection of fraud.  Process automation improves efficiency.  Improving service speed or consistency.  The negative impact of AI on Marketing:  AI can assist your marketing strategy. However, there are drawbacks and limitations to the productivity of AI in marketing, including:  Human connection cannot be replaced by machines. AI predictions and assessments can occasionally be incorrect. They necessitate massive amounts of relevant data as well as human intervention. Human inventiveness is lacking in AI. Also read - How AI is going to Change Digital Marketing in 2023? To Sum Up  The importance of AI and its usage is expected to increase as technology continues to develop. Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the marketing industry in several ways. It enhances data analysis, enables personalized experiences for consumers, facilitates advanced segmentation, and empowers predictive analytics. Businesses can enhance their marketing outcomes by leveraging AI to make informed decisions based on data, deliver tailored communications to customers, and optimize their operational processes.  However, it must be kept in mind that AI is not a silver bullet that can completely supplant human ingenuity and imagination. It's a potent instrument for extending and improving human potential. Successful advertisements require a careful balancing act between the insights provided by AI and the knowledge and experience of the marketer.  The digital world is always changing, therefore businesses need to adapt their marketing tactics to take advantage of AI. It's crucial to your success in the marketplace. Businesses may successfully navigate the complex marketing landscape by utilizing AI's data-driven insights, customization, segmentation, and predictive capabilities. Therefore, it aids in producing previously unimaginable outcomes. Human ingenuity combined with AI-generated insights is the key to marketing's bright future. It may pave the way for more effective and fruitful campaigns.  Partnering with global technology companies across market research and scalable analytics, SGA’s Technology Services can help you with Research & Analytics Services and more. We supplement our desk research capabilities with active primary research and analytics capabilities.

UK Economy: Navigating Turbulent Waters

The United Kingdom (UK) seems to be pulled apart on various fronts as the economy grapples with persistent inflation, rising borrowing costs, and weakened growth prospects after the chaos caused by the mini-budget announced in September 2022. Under this budget, the UK government announced a £45bn package of unfunded tax cuts, including support for energy bills, a National Insurance cut, and the reversal of a planned rise in corporation tax. This led to wide-ranging repercussions, with the pound falling to record lows against the dollar and a sharp increase in long-term government borrowing costs.  Source: Investing.com  Read more: The Future of ESG in Financial Services in the UK  Compared to other advanced economies, the UK experienced a significant spike in borrowing costs, as seen in Exhibit 1. This led to a rise in mortgage rates, and many mortgage products were withdrawn from the market. UK pension funds, which trade in government debt, were also affected. The Bank of England (BoE) intervened with a £65bn support scheme to safeguard the pensions sector. This event destroyed the UK institutions’ credibility, and then Prime Minister Liz Truss had to step down from her designated post. Soon enough, the new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, came in with the promise to herald a new government that would halve inflation with a reduction in public debt and economic recovery. However, currently, the economy is struggling with stubborn inflation, high yields, weak economic recovery, and shooting public debt levels.  Inflation Hits Alarming Levels  Inflation currently stands at 7.9% in June 2023 after falling from double-digit growth at the beginning of 2023. These price levels are alarming as the British economy has not seen such high levels in over 30 decades. Although it is easing, it remains way over the BoE’s inflation target of 2%. Some of the rationales to this level remain distinctive to the British economy, and one such is the high wage growth observed in the labour market.  Since the reopening after the pandemic, the UK labour market has experienced significant tightening, as shown in Exhibit 2, exacerbated by a decline in the number of European Union (EU) migrant workers caused by the UK’s decision to leave the EU, commonly referred to as ‘Brexit’, which was exacerbated by the pandemic induced lockdown. In 2Q21, as demand rebounded, employers faced an unusually tight labour market with numerous vacancies and low unemployment. Despite some minimal indications of relief, labour market tightness, as measured by the ratio of vacancies to unemployed individuals, remains persistent, leaving companies to grapple with the ongoing recruitment challenges. Additionally, the decrease in labour force participation in the UK can be attributed, in part, to an aging population and the lingering effects of the pandemic.  Read more: Data Consulting for Startups in the UK: Why it Matters and How to Get Started   Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS)  Emerging Doubts About the BoE  The BoE’s credibility is under scrutiny and can highly influence inflation expectations. Unlike many other central banks, the BoE relies on market-derived indicators rather than its forecasts for predicting future consumer prices. The monetary policy committee, led by Governor Andrew Bailey, tracks inflation trends based on interest rates implied by overnight indexed swaps (OIS), a type of financial derivative.  However, this approach has drawbacks, as the BoE’s inflation predictions over a two-year horizon often proved significantly inaccurate. Reaction to these inaccuracies can be excessive. Let us take the case of April’s consumer price data which exceeded market expectations. These triggered concerns of higher inflation, and OIS rates shot up, as seen in Exhibit 3, causing mortgage rates to surge due to the banks pricing home loans based on these derivatives. Maintaining confidence in the BoE’s grasp of the economy is essential for effectively managing the interest rates and inflation expectations amongst investors, businesses, and households. However, as the bank’s forecasting accuracy continues to falter, trust in the bank is gradually diminishing. A recent survey conducted by the BoE revealed that public satisfaction with the institution reached its lowest point on record last month. Crucially, this vacuum and accuracy of information dents the central bank’s credibility.  Source: Bank of England (BoE), Investing.com  Limitations of the Tight Monetary Policy  From Exhibit 4, we can observe the tightening by the BoE started in December 2021, lifting the rates by 490bps and taking the interest rates to 5% to curb the persistent inflation pressure. However, the lofty interest rates continue to affect the supply side of the economy, which is struggling to recover, and this could tip the economy into danger. Given its size, the UK economy represents only around 3% of the global GDP and has a relatively smaller population. Thus, it is primarily influenced by external factors regarding monetary conditions. Despite any assertions made by Andrew Bailey or his predecessors, there is a certain level of powerlessness in terms of how much domestic monetary conditions can impact the overall economic situation within the country.  Moreover, Brexit’s impact on the UK’s international trade has been a focal point affecting supply disruptions, especially with the EU. Post-Brexit, the UK was excluded from the EU’s single market, leading to a hard border with the continent and the loss of clear tariff rules for trading with the rest of the world. UK exports to the EU and imports from the EU declined by around 22.9% and 25%, respectively, in the first 15 months. The UK-EU trade has decreased, showing some recovery but remains below the potential growth rates. Maintaining a close relationship with the EU is crucial for the UK to mitigate these effects.  Source: Bank of England (BoE)  Market Response to the UK 'Condition'  Elevated interest rates have impacted several sectors, but the housing sector in the UK has been affected the most. Notably, the consequences resulting from previous interest rate hikes are yet to be experienced, primarily due to the characteristics of the mortgage market in the UK. It typically takes around 18 months to feel the effects of monetary policy adjustments. The situation is particularly evident in the looming mortgage challenge faced by 2.5mn mortgage holders, whose favourable fixed-rate deals will expire before the end of the following year. Additionally, investors anticipate substantial downward adjustments to certain asset values, which could exacerbate the risk of defaults.  Read more: Rise of Sustainable Consumption in the UK: Market Research Insights  In the fixed-income market, the UK gilt yields have surged and surpassed the levels seen during the Mini budget crisis in 2022. As a result, the UK government is now paying the highest yield for a gilt issue in the last 16 years. A recent issuance of a short-dated bond with a maturity set for October 2025, totaling £4bn, saw an average yield of 5.68%, marking the most substantial yield for any gilt issue since mid-2007. The offering’s attractiveness led to an oversubscription of 2.77 times.  Source: Investing.com  Similar trends in European and US government bond yields have been observed, although less pronounced than in the UK (Exhibit 5). The rise in the UK gilt yields mainly reflects increased expectations regarding the path of the rates, driven by sticky inflation. Whilst liquidity in the UK gilt markets has shown signs of recovery from the disruption experienced in autumn 2022, bid-ask spreads for 10-year UK gilts have remained elevated.  Expectations Going Ahead  As we enter the second half of 2023, there are growing concerns about entrenched inflation in the UK, as the country’s supply-side capacity has suffered significant damage and continues to do so with higher borrowing costs. Addressing high inflation in the UK is expected to present significant challenges. Whilst headline and core inflation have eased somewhat, the focus should remain on core inflation, which remains elevated. The country is experiencing high wage growth, facing labour shortages, alarming productivity levels, and dealing with Brexit-related supply chain and trade-related issues. All these factors are likely to make taming high inflation a difficult task in the UK. Moreover, the impact of monetary policy on inflation occurs with prolonged and unpredictable delays. Hence, the UK borrowing costs may continue to rise; however, effectiveness remains doubtful.  Read more: Unlocking the Power of Data Analytics: A Guide for UK Businesses  Businesses with a structural growth path and pricing power in a challenging economic environment could be attractive options for investors. Furthermore, government bonds may be preferred due to their lower credit risk and attractive starting yields, offering income and diversification. With the recent shift in underlying interest rates, bonds have become a credible alternative to equities and other asset classes, especially short-dated bonds protected from interest rate volatility whilst providing strong yields; however, caution is advised due to inflation risks. The current market situation has shifted credit investors’ focus, possibly making this the best investment scenario for distressed debt investing since the global financial crisis. The worsening macroeconomic situation, a significant increase in debt outstanding, high leverage, and deteriorating investor protections (covenant-lite loans and bonds) have laid the foundation for distressed opportunities to flourish. The growing need for distressed investing, which involves seizing opportunities and making timely decisions, presents a greater challenge for investors in distressed debt. With a presence in New York, San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, Toronto, London, Zurich, Pune, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, SG Analytics, a pioneer in Research and Analytics, offers tailor-made services to enterprises worldwide.         A market leader in Investment research, SG Analytics assists in strengthening investment decisions by leveraging custom research support. Contact us today if you are in search of an investment research firm that offers tailored research support across a broad range of asset classes. 

Data Consulting for Startups in the UK: Why it Matters and How to Get Started

A large percentage of new businesses fail during their first few years of operation.  Funding has dried up, companies are laying off hundreds or thousands of employees to save expenses, and many enterprises are failing. It is more crucial than ever for entrepreneurs to identify measures to boost their chances of success in light of the high failure rate of companies.  Data is more than simply a by-product of your operations; it's the fuel that helps your company develop winning ideas, boost profits, and spur creativity. But it takes more than technical know-how to turn this raw, often overwhelming data into a meaningful and strategic asset; it requires a special combination of insight, an advanced technology stack, creativity, and experience. Data consulting firms fill this void perfectly.  Data consultancy firms specialize in employing cutting-edge technology to translate large amounts of unintelligible data from many sources into stories that speak to your specific business requirements. You may receive the information you need to make educated decisions and improve the efficiency of your operations with the aid of their strategic advice and the bespoke systems they develop for your organization.   Understanding the Role of Data Consulting  Data-driven consulting is all about using information to guide your choices and actions. This may sound obvious, but it's not always simple to base business decisions on data rather than gut feelings. Consulting businesses, in particular, have put a premium on employees' expertise and intuition, which has resulted in a greater need for uniformity in certain respects.  Data-driven consulting is an alternative approach that can provide numerous benefits to businesses, including the elimination of uncertainty, the enhancement of consulting efficiency, the improvement of decision-making processes, the avoidance of expensive consulting errors, and the reduction of overall project costs.  Big businesses that have the means to deploy big data in-house nonetheless seek outside help from consultants in order to learn the ropes and avoid common pitfalls. Comprehensive, scalable analytics frameworks are typically difficult for SMEs to deploy on their own due to a lack of internal resources and time. Therefore, companies of all sizes may benefit from outsourcing consulting services for big data. If you work with a trustworthy and experienced big data consulting firm, you may reap all the rewards of data consulting.   Benefits of Data Consulting for Startups  When a company wants to improve its data analytics process by incorporating big data capabilities, it should explore many options. Big data consulting services and outsourcing analytics to a specialized service provider have several advantages over doing the same work in-house.   Working with big data consulting firms is beneficial for several reasons:  Faster Turnaround time  Companies like this have domain specialists and real-world experience using big data to analyze a variety of sectors, which speeds up the creation and implementation of bespoke solutions. Big data integration may be completed in a fraction of the time with the help of pre-built solutions and well-established procedures for putting them into action and training new employees.  Save Money  A team of big data scientists, engineers, analysts, and software developers will need to be assembled, as well as appropriate hardware and software. Internal project management might be the key to a successful outcome, or it could be a nightmare waiting to happen. When compared to in-house development, the price of outsourcing software development to a nearshore or offshore team might be much lower. By outsourcing to a specialized service, you may save time and money on project management.  Focusing on Crucial Business Activities  Data analytics is an essential aspect of many companies' processes, but it involves a large time and money commitment. Your in-house staff will be better able to run the business and focus on key procedures if you have them outsource the big data analytics.  Enhanced Adaptability  When you outsource your big data project, you have the freedom to increase or decrease resources as needed to meet the evolving demands of your business. In-house specialists may adapt to the shifting scale without being added or removed from the team. The retained big data consulting firm may also assist with the implementation of solutions tailored to the increasing volume of data or the necessity of duplicating the analytics process across many business units.  Improved Consulting Efficiency  Consulting firms typically see improvements in project efficiency when they base choices on data rather than gut feelings. That's because the data will show you exactly what to do, so you won't have to spend time and energy guessing.  More Trust  If a business can prove to its customers that it makes educated judgments, it will earn the customers' trust. They can see that the corporation isn't just making stuff up as it goes along but has a firm grasp of what's going on and why it's making the choices it is.  Better Transparency  Consulting that is data-driven can also result in more openness between the consultant and the customer. This is because the customer is given full transparency into all aspects of the decision-making process.  Improved Accuracy  Consulting that is data-driven, when executed properly, may increase the reliability of decisions. This is so because the information gleaned from the data, insights, and KPIs may provide an accurate picture of events and facilitate more accurate analysis and interpretation.  Project Management Improvements   Data-driven consultancy is another way to aid with project management enhancements. This is so because experts may monitor development and pinpoint problem areas. Having this data at your fingertips can help you save time and energy in the long term.  Greater Ability to Prioritize  Consultants can frequently more efficiently prioritize projects and activities by gaining a deeper grasp of the data. This is because they can easily identify problem areas that demand immediate attention.  Improved Decision-Making  Data analytics is a useful tool that may help firms make better choices. This is because information stored in databases might reveal patterns otherwise invisible. Companies may use this data to make more informed decisions about how to allocate resources and move forward with different initiatives.  Better Outcomes  Consulting that is data-driven ultimately aims to improve business outcomes. Businesses may frequently boost their efficiency and productivity by making better decisions with the help of data. Profits may rise, customer satisfaction could improve, and other positive outcomes might occur.  Reduced Insecurity  The inability to feel confident in one's choices is a major drawback of making judgments in the dark. This is due to the fact that it is impossible to tell whether or not their decisions were correct. However, companies can be certain that their decisions are grounded on factual evidence rather than speculation when they use data-driven consulting.  Better reputation  In most cases, clients will have a more favorable impression of a consulting firm if they provide data-driven consulting services. Customers and clients will associate it with your reliability and professionalism. This has the potential to increase future demand for advisory services and provide doors for further revenue generation.  Key Considerations for Data Consulting in the UK  Data consultants have a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills, so don't focus too much on standard qualifications like degrees and certificates. Finding a consultant with experience in your business is also not crucial, as data collection and analysis methods are generally applicable regardless of whether you operate in e-commerce or education.  Here is what is important:  Technical Skill  A data scientist degree isn't required, but a deep understanding of data, from macro-level strategy to implementation details in code, is essential. The most effective data consultants like diving deep into the numbers.  Strategic Thinking  You need a consultant who can see the big picture and help you make sense of the data to advance your data strategy. Consult with experts who can advise you on both strategy and implementation.  Communication Skills  Consultants serve as instructors. You don't want someone who comes in, makes major changes without providing context, and then disappears without providing direction. Find a consultant who will put in the time to hear you out, who will provide you with well-reasoned recommendations, and who will teach your staff how to keep the machine going after they leave.  Focus on Data Quality Terabytes of faulty data ranging from worthless to harmful are collected and stored by businesses. Your data consultant's first focus should be ensuring the quality of your data and teaching you how to manage data quality in the long run.  Check the Budget  Hiring a data consultant firm is like putting money into your company's future. However, it needs to be economically viable and offer a discernible return on investment (ROI) like any other venture. Therefore, it is essential to comprehend and conform to the consultant's price strategy.  Range of Services Offered  Think about the variety of offerings provided by a prospective data consultant. Having a firm grasp of data management, data analytics, and business intelligence is indicative of being able to offer a whole range of services. More significantly, it shows that the organization can provide comprehensive and coordinated solutions for all of your data requirements.  Review Past Projects, Case Studies, And Client Feedback  It is important to go beyond a company's claims of expertise when choosing a data consulting. You may learn a lot about their expertise, work ethic, and results-oriented approach by carefully reviewing their past projects, case studies, and customer comments.  Conclusion  Starting a new business is much more challenging than running an existing one. However, you may start out on the right foot by doing things the proper way from the get-go. Even though the first few days at a new job are often challenging, this will help you see the bright side, get things done, and get off to a flying start. Do not underestimate the power of data consultancy; it may transform even a young company.  Employing a data consultant is not a waste of money. The price of inefficiency, poor performance, and missed opportunities dwarfs the cost of professional advice. Hiring a data consultant is a prudent move that can help your company save time and money by boosting decision-making and productivity within the data team.  Connecting Data Demand with Data Solutions to Foster Growth  We assist clients in obtaining & integrating valuable data solutions and resources to gain valuable insights and enhance every application with speed and scale.   We empower our clients in gearing up for data 2.0 by fostering a data ecosystem that is simpler, more flexible, and adaptable. To provide the most value, the data services incorporate a combination of automatic and manual procedures to maintain data availability and integrity.    Leverage Accurate Data Value to Foster Data-Driven Growth    We enable clients to comprehend data dangers and create efficient data strategies and internal controls with effective data management solutions. We assist clients in lowering operating costs via the efficient use of people, processes, and technology.    A trusted partner for businesses, stock exchanges, buy and sell-side enterprises, corporations, data suppliers, and financial institutions, SGA’s data management services assist in recognizing and executing their data solution needs.   SGA's data consulting services combine strong domain knowledge and understanding of underlying data with competence in technology, data analytics, and automation.