by - 17/1/2025

This article has been written by our guest expert, Graham Roberts from Full Stack Consulting, who assists clients with transforming their business to accelerate their growth..

AI is creating value for businesses right now.

Some businesses still don't know where to begin with AI while others have figured out how to deliver an awful lot more with a whole lot less. In 2023 the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales wrote that:


 "Investment in technology also offers some of the greatest potential to improve productivity...Companies, not just those in the UK, are finding it very hard to use the new digital technologies. And it seems to be only very productive companies, large companies, or new start-ups in technology areas that can use these tools. As a result, the most productive companies are pulling further and further ahead of the rest. The top 5% or so are seeing big productivity gains, and big differentials are opening up within sectors of the economy."


The acceleration of AI advancements is increasing the gap between those who consistently drive productivity gains through new technologies and those who struggle to integrate new technologies.

All of this begs the question, how do you get your business into the top 5% of businesses and integrate AI into your processes to pull away from your competitors?


by Mandy Doward - 15/1/2025

AI Is expected to transform our lives and businesses

When the Prime Minister announced that AI “will drive incredible change” in the country we knew it was time to bring you on board with the benefits of this revolutionary technology. Keir Starmer wasted no time as the year got underway in putting his weight behind the potential of AI to “transform the lives of working people” and, he might also have added, the businesses they run.

But a news headline doesn’t tell the whole story and we believe people need to know more about what AI is and what it means for business before they can get the full benefits.

 


by Mandy Doward - 15/1/2025

13 AI concepts explained

2025 is being touted as the year of AI, with those making headway gaining advantage on those who don’t. Leaders are being warned in no uncertain terms to get their business ready to make the most of the new gold rush.

But how can business leaders grasp what AI means for them when this vast arena is so dominated by hype and marketing? It can be baffling trying to navigate.

Our belief is that AI works best when it’s solving meaningful business problems and not just serving as a buzzword. Do read our appraisal of the wider business benefits in our blog post HERE. As for the jargon, let’s tackle this together. Below we take a look at the most common terms you’ll come across and give you simple definitions. Then as a quick  added bonus we’ve thrown in the truth behind 3 common AI myths.

 


by Mandy Doward - 10/12/2024

Data training & consultancy news

Your data is our business! Keep up to date with the latest developments, news and offers from our thriving family run consultancy. Build your data strategy and develop your analytics expertise.

Take a look at our December newsletter here.


by - 9/12/2024

Cost Effective Microsoft Fabric Licensing Options

Microsoft Fabric pricing can be a challenging topic, especially for small businesses. The annual costs can be significant, making it difficult for many to justify the expense. However, investing in Fabric can be a smart move to future-proof your business, as it’s clear that this platform is here to stay. The advantages of a unified platform for Data Engineering, Data Science, and Data Analytics are evident.

So, how can small businesses access Fabric’s services without breaking the bank?


by Mandy Doward - 9/12/2024

How do you decide if you should migrate to Microsoft Fabric?

Microsoft Fabric is 1 year old and there is a lot of hype around it. Datalake, Data Warehouse, Data Analytics, BI, AI all integrated into one place - sounds like the perfect dream. But is it is it the right move for you?

A question that is impossible to answer wiothout some consultation, investgation and discussion.


by Mandy Doward - 25/11/2024

November 2024 Microsoft Fabric Preview Highlights

Microsoft Fabric is continually evolving and transitioning from  a data analytics platform to a fully integrated data platform.

At the time of writing - November 24th 2024 - there are 55 features in preview!

I have highlighted 3 preview features that everyone should know about:

  • Azure Data Factory item - Connect to an existing Azure Data Factory from a Fabric workspace.
  • Fabric SQL database  - transactional database in Fabric based on Azure SQL Database
  • varchar(max) and varbinary(max) support - support for these data types in Fabric Warehouse


by Mandy Doward - 2/12/2024

Happy 35th Birthday PTR!

Here at PTR HQ we recently came together from all four corners of the country to celebrate the company's 35th birthday. It was a joy to hear all the chit chat going on and see smiles on everyone's faces and a real treat to have face to face conversation rather than a Teams call.

Our journey started with data in 1989 and our passion for all things data just grew and grew, you could say data is in our blood!  Which is of course quite literally the case, since we are a family business led by myself and my brother, Ian Roberts, and started by my father, Peter Roberts, with the aim of helping companies transport, access and make sense of the growing amount of data that was emerging.

 
 


by Mandy Doward - 6/6/2024

Your Data Platform Review

If you want to get more value from your data but don't know where to start, you're not alone. According to Lenovo, 85% of organisations are not fully leveraging their data even though 80% of their leaders say data is critical to the decisions they want to make.

If you are stuck, like so many others in your situation then it’s time to take the first steps and what better way to begin than with a helping hand? Our targeted data platform review gives you an overview of what you have and a roadmap to help you reach your goals – which puts you way ahead of the crowd.
 


by Ian Roberts - 9/5/2024

5 Reasons Why Microsoft Fabric is a Game-Changer for Analytics

Did we tell you? There’s a new data platform in town and it’s called Microsoft Fabric! In this product Microsoft have brought together all the best capabilities of Azure Synapse, Azure Data Factory, and Power BI into a single, unified, cloud-based experience – empowering businesses to efficiently manage, analyze, and derive valuable insights from their data. They tell us it’s going to be a game-changer!


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