Posts

From Raw Data to Insight: A Framework for New Analysts

  In today’s data-driven landscape, organisations rely heavily on accurate, actionable insights to guide business decisions. For those just stepping into the analytics domain, the journey from unrefined data to meaningful conclusions may appear complex. However, with the right framework, new analysts can develop a structured and effective approach to transforming data into strategic insights. This blog outlines a step-by-step model to help beginners understand how to handle raw data, analyse it effectively, and deliver insights that drive impact. Understanding the Business Problem Before diving into datasets, it’s vital to grasp the context of the analysis. Every successful data project begins with a clear definition of the business problem. Analysts must engage with stakeholders to clarify the objective—whether it's improving customer retention, optimising marketing campaigns, or forecasting inventory needs. This phase helps identify the key performance indicators (KPIs), constrai...

Webpack and Babel Configuration for Custom React Builds: A Guide for Developers

  In the ever-evolving world of web development, creating fast, optimised, and scalable React applications demands more than just knowledge of components and hooks. Tools like Webpack and Babel play a vital role behind the scenes, shaping how code is processed, bundled, and delivered to users. Whether you're building from scratch or customising an existing setup, understanding how these tools work can elevate the quality and performance of your project significantly. This blog post breaks down the fundamentals of Webpack and Babel configuration, especially in the context of custom React builds. If you're pursuing a full-stack Java developer course or exploring advanced front-end development, mastering these tools is a crucial step. Why Webpack and Babel Matter in React Projects React is a powerful JavaScript library, but browsers don’t understand JSX (React’s syntax extension) or some modern JavaScript features out-of-the-box. This is where Babel comes in—it transpiles moder...

Columnar Storage in Hadoop: How Apache Parquet Improves Query Performance

  As the volume of data grows exponentially, big data technologies have evolved to keep up with the demands of fast, efficient data processing. One of the key challenges in big data analytics is optimising storage formats to improve query performance. In the Hadoop ecosystem, Apache Parquet , a popular columnar storage format, has emerged as a game-changer for performance-oriented data analytics. This blog will explore the benefits of columnar storage in Hadoop and explain how Apache Parquet enhances query performance, particularly in the context of data science applications. What is Columnar Storage? Columnar storage is a method of storing data tables by columns rather than rows. Unlike traditional row-based storage, which saves entire rows of data together, columnar storage saves data from each column sequentially. This structure makes it ideal for analytical queries that access a subset of columns across many rows. When running queries that only need a few columns, columnar stor...

Funnel Drop-Off Analysis with Sankey and Bar Charts: Visualising the Customer Journey

For any business, mapping the customer journey and pinpointing the exact stages where prospects disengage is essential to driving growth. This is where funnel drop-off analysis comes into play. By visualising the different stages of a process (such as website visit, product selection, checkout initiation, and purchase) and mapping the flow of users through them, we can pinpoint areas that need improvement. This article examines how Sankey and bar charts can be utilized for effective funnel drop-off analysis, offering actionable insights to enhance conversion rates. Imagine a marketing campaign designed to generate leads. A traditional approach might only focus on the total number of leads generated. However, funnel drop-off analysis dives deeper, revealing where those leads are getting lost. Are they abandoning the landing page? Are they having trouble with the sign-up form? Identifying these bottlenecks allows for targeted interventions. The Power of Visualisation: Sankey Charts vs. B...