August Data News

Hi there,

I hope you had a sunny and restful month. I personally did, and am coming back fresh to deliver the August edition of data news. If you unplugged this summer and need a good catch-up, this should do the job. As usual, you’ll find:

• One?data?tool?that we believe is worth digging into as a?data?person. We will also provide where it fits in the?data?ecosystem.
• A selection of the?most delightful articles?we read this month along with a quick teaser.
• Show and Tell: Three great pieces of news from the CastorDoc team.
• A data meme to make you smile.

Data Tool

This month, Virtualitics, an AI-powered data visualization startup secured $37 million in Series C funding. As you might know, there are a lot of data visualization tools out there. So what makes Virtualitics special? Their platform integrates 3D visualizations, knowledge graphs, and AI to make complex data analytics both accessible and insightful. Adding a twist, the platform supports Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) experiences, enabling a more immersive understanding of data. With this investment, Virtualitics will continue carrying out its mission of democratizing data analytics for individuals without deep technical expertise. We’ve categorized Virtualitics as a 4th generation tool in our Business Intelligence landscape. Check the full landscape here.

Data News

• Semantic layer, future of self-serve analytics. If you've ever been confused by the term "semantic layer," we've found an article that clears the fog. It breaks down semantic layers into four main types: those used in BI tools, which are quick but can lead to siloed decisions; those in Data Warehouses, which act as a solid, centralized source but require tech-savviness; those within data pipelines, efficient but tricky to update; and Universal Semantic Layers, which are company-wide and user-friendly. Each has its pros and cons, so check this piece out to find the best fit for your organization.
• Why being a Head of Data isn’t what you think it is. Being a Head of Data is no piece of cake, as the experience at London-based fintech Codat shows. Despite scaling the data team and building robust infrastructure, the company faced hurdles ranging from low data literacy to stakeholder engagement. The role required far more than technical skills; it demanded evangelizing data's value to senior leadership and acting as an "embedded analyst" to tackle business problems. The takeaway? For companies at a similar stage, focus on addressing pressing problems and gaining senior buy-in before going all-in on advanced data capabilities. It teaches us that focusing on important, specific data projects is especially useful for companies that are just starting to get serious about using data.
• What is Data Mesh? Are we treating data too differently from software development? This article argues that while software engineering has evolved to embrace modularity and teamwork, data analytics is still stuck in the 'monolithic' era, often bottlenecked by single, overworked data teams. Enter Data Mesh—a decentralized approach that empowers individual teams to manage their own data, much like how microservices revolutionized software. This framework promises to speed up project delivery and improve data quality without sacrificing governance or security. We hear about the Data Mesh all the time, and this piece is a great recap of all the elements it involves.

Show & Tell

• After conducting a series of interviews with data leaders this year, I've compiled their insights into an article titled "The three essential qualities of successful data leaders." The article focuses on three indispensable soft skills that can make or break a data leader: unyielding prioritization to juggle an ever-growing list of projects; sharp political acumen for navigating the organizational landscape; and skillful pedagogy to foster a data-driven culture. Whether you're an emerging data leader or a company looking to develop one, you should check out this piece.
• Feature of the month: Castor AI. This summer, we were busy making Castor AI 10x more powerful. Our latest feature is a game-changer. You can simply ask a question in plain English and get data-driven insights in return. No coding, no queries, just straightforward answers to your data questions. Whether you're a data scientist, a business analyst, or just curious about data, this feature is designed to make your life easier.

• Events of the Month: Meet CastorDoc in September. In the upcoming weeks, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet the CastorDoc team in person! We'll be making appearances at two major events—Big Data Paris and Big Data London. Drop by our booth at Big Data Paris and enjoy a refreshing smoothie on us. If you’re in London make sure to drop by our booth and hosted session. Whichever event you choose, we can't wait to connect with you. Mark your calendars and see you there!

Data Meme

If you’re here just for the meme, here it is! The team won’t fail to deliver.

Until next time,

Louise from CastorDoc