Analytics Centre of Excellence: Fuelling Innovation in Data Analytics

Q: What drives your passion for analytics?

Jackson: We make decisions daily, and each can have significant consequences that affect the lives of many others around us. Analytics improve this process by allowing us to understand trends and detect patterns from large amounts of data using computational tools that would otherwise require too much time for a human. To be able to help others make better decisions is an honour that drives my efforts.

Chanel: Analytics play a crucial role in the Finance sector, especially in today's data-driven world. There is a constant demand for analysing historical and real-time data, which requires us to extract valuable insights from large volumes of data. Thanks to analytics, the process of churning such information for management to make informed decisions and gain competitive advantage is simplified to a great extent.

Ernest: Analytics offers the advantage of making informed decisions based on data. The analytics field is continuously progressing, presenting a wide range of new tools and methods for us to explore constantly. As a Data Engineer, I provide the infrastructure necessary for businesses to collect, store, and process large amounts of data. And I am excited to be part of this process.

Q: In what ways has joining the Analytics COE benefitted you?

Chanel: Being part of the Analytics COE team has allowed me to cross paths and collaborate with like-minded people across A*STAR who are enthusiastic about making a difference with analytics! It is an exciting journey to learn about various members' experiences in applying analytics to improve the state of processes in A*STAR and the tools and platforms available to help other divisions resolve data problems encountered today.

Ernest: Joining the Analytics COE allows me to collaborate with stakeholders across A*STAR, ensuring that analytics works meet the organisational goals and add value to the organisation. It also allows me to exchange knowledge and improve my skillset by working on the projects and accessing resources shared among the COE members.

Q: What are some exciting analytics projects you are working on?

Jackson: We are collaborating across the organisation on diverse project requests for Business Intelligence dashboards with predictive, diagnostic, and descriptive use cases. These dashboards aim to enhance reporting efficiency and aid in identifying historical trends. Additionally, some dashboards can contribute to guiding human behavioural patterns. For instance, one of our projects focuses on automating bill registration and tracking. We hope to provide real-time energy and water consumption pattern updates through this automation process, which in turn will help to encourage sustainable practices supporting Singapore's Green Plan 2030.

Chanel: We are often presented with multiple projects focusing on tailored reports designed for diverse stakeholders. While focusing on these specific projects, our larger objective is establishing standardised and efficient reporting practices. By centralising data within a single data warehouse, we aim to streamline the extraction of information for all future requirements.

Q: What is your advice to someone who aspires to embark on Analytics?

Jackson: Begin with a small question and dataset that intrigues you. Take time to learn the available tools to obtain your desired answer. In this era of generative AI, resources are abundant and accessible. You can succeed in most projects without a full computer science degree. With practice, you'll enhance your skills and knowledge. Sharing your hurdles within the community, such as our COE, accelerates problem-solving.

Chanel: Mould and develop your interest in analytics through e-learning! There are many online platforms out there that provide free resources for self-learning, such as DataCamp and edX. Once you grasp the basics well, start practising your skillsets by working on real-world data problems to build on your portfolio.

Ernest: Start developing soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These skills are crucial for success in analytics. You need to communicate and explain complex data insights to non-technical stakeholders, collaborate with colleagues, and use creative thinking to solve complicated problems.