What is Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics is a proven technology that’s been used successfully for decades. It encompasses a variety of mathematical techniques that derive insight from data with one clear-cut goal: find the best action for a given situation.

Predictive analytics simplifies data to amplify its value, finding patterns that can guide decisions. When considering hundreds or even thousands of factors, and a universe of thousands or millions of customers, people just can't "connect the dots" to make the ideal decision. Predictive analytics connects the dots scientifically, guiding each decision to greater success. Simply put, predictive analytics is the science that makes decisions smarter.

Predictive analytics applies diverse disciplines such as probability and statistics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and computer science to business problems. It’s often aligned with operations research, defined by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) as "applying advanced analytical methods to help make better decisions" (www.scienceofbetter.org).