![\"predictive-banner\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/timoelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/predictive-banner.jpg?resize=690%2C310&ssl=1\" "\\"predictive-banner\\"")
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I caught up with John MacGregor at this year\u2019s SAP TechEd Europe, and interviewed him on the latest trends in Predictive Analytics:<\/p>\n
Well, if I said the truth, it would make me sound really old, so I\u2019ll say 30+ [but it\u2019s actually over 40\u2026]. I started off working in the operations research department of Unilever. We built what was then the world\u2019s largest linear programming optimization models for animal feeds production planning. I was also a senior lecturer in statistics and operations research at the University of North London.<\/p>\n What\u2019s your role today?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m SAP\u2019s VP and Head of the Center for Predictive Analysis. I act as a central source of information across the different SAP predictive initiatives\u2026<\/p>\n Could you give us an quick overview of the different predictive initiatives at SAP?<\/strong><\/p>\n The main four are:<\/p>\n In addition, there are number of more recent activities in the predictive space:<\/p>\n What\u2019s the strategy going forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n We want to bring the benefits to predictive analysis to every aspect of our customer experience \u2013 providing deep and broad predictive functionality, not just for data scientists, but also for business users.<\/p>\n What about \u201cBig Data\u201d and predictive?<\/strong><\/p>\n Obviously, with the explosive growth in data collection — for example machine data \u2013 we have more information about what has happened and is happening, which makes it easier to predict what might happen. With more granular data and new data sources, we can build predictive applications that previously were inconceivable. It also enables new approaches. For example, in the past, we had to use sampling to reduce the size of the data set in order to do the predictive analysis. Now we can use the whole data set, or use more modern approaches such as ensemble models, where we produce many different models in order to explore the \u201ctotal model solution space.\u201d<\/p>\n If I\u2019m already an expert in predictive, where do I go to get more info?<\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s lots of more information available on the SAP community network \u2013 in the Predictive Analysis community<\/a>and the HANA community<\/a>, for example.<\/p>\n And if I know a lot about traditional business intelligence, but I\u2019m interested in extending my knowledge to predictive?<\/strong><\/p>\n In the meantime, there are lots of videos available<\/a> that provide insights to different aspects of SAP predictive technology.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Want to hear more? Join the next SAP Big Data chat on Data Science and Data Scientists<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/timoelliott.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/John-MacGregor-640.jpg?resize=178%2C134&ssl=1\" "\\"John")
What\u2019s your background in predictive analytics?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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<\/a>Well, you could buy my book, due for availability in December: Predictive Analysis with SAP: The Comprehensive Guide<\/a> \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n