Global Skills Shortage in Marketing Analytics Remedied by Teradata University Network

ATLANTA, Aug. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizations worldwide are struggling against a severe shortage of workers with analytical expertise and skills to understand and make data-driven marketing decisions. Teradata University Network, in conjunction with Teradata (NYSE: TDC), the leading analytic data platforms, marketing applications and consulting services company, are answering the need by making marketing applications, tools, and curricula freely available to university faculty and students.   

Photos of the new marketing automation portal can be seen here:  http://bit.ly/1svNqZB  

Through the Teradata University Network web-based portal, faculty and students access curricula on dozens of marketing topics and can also use Teradata's industry-leading Integrated Marketing Cloud solutions including Marketing Resource Management, Campaign Management, Digital Messaging, and others.  

These solutions already enable leading businesses to effectively manage marketing activities, create and evaluate messages sent to customers, and manage inbound communication from customers. Now, for universities, each Teradata solution is supported by curricula that include hands-on assignments for students and real-world case studies delivered in the form of videos, articles, whitepapers, and infographics.

As more companies turn to data to drive marketing and create sustainable competitive advantage, the shortage of workers with the requisite analytics skills has been documented in studies conducted by McKinsey & Company, Accenture, the Online Marketing Institute and others.

"Using analytics to support a data-driven marketing strategy is now standard in many companies and we need to prepare our students to have relevant skills by teaching them how to identify and understand trends, patterns, and hidden insights and apply them in business," said Dr. Camille Schuster. She is a full professor in the College of Business Administration at California State University, San Marcos, and authored the curricula on behalf of Teradata University Network, where she also serves as member of the executive board.

There is no cost for students or faculty to access the information, although registration is required. Marketing faculty and students are encouraged to register on the site.  

All of the application software, teaching tools such as teacher notes and answer keys, and demonstration activities are accessed through a new marketing gateway on the Teradata University Network portal. The materials are designed for faculty and students with all levels of knowledge and expertise in analytics. Students can make marketing decisions and then see how well their marketing decisions worked.

"Companies are eager to hire people who understand how information technology is used to maximize the return on marketing expenditures," said Bob Fair, Teradata executive vice president and chief marketing and information officer.  "Through Teradata University Network, we are giving college students hands-on experience with the same leading edge technology marketing professionals are using today."

Research released by Teradata in 2013 showed widespread belief among the world's marketers that it is possible to drive better customer experience, stronger brand differentiation and faster growth when all available enterprise data is integrated and analyzed and real-time insights are applied. Nearly half agreed that data is the most under-used asset in their organization and only one in ten said their company already uses available data systematically.

"The future of marketing lies in companies' abilities to collect and connect large amounts of data and rapidly analyze it in order to make their marketing interactions relevant for each individual customer. Marketing students today need to enter the workforce with a solid foundational understanding of the technology, tools and processes required to make this happen," said Teradata Applications President Darryl McDonald.

The 2013 Teradata study also showed that the shortage of marketers with data analytics skills is a key organizational challenge to adopting data-driven marketing.

"The rapid proliferation of big data is driving demand for sophisticated use of analytics for marketing. Students in this field will need to know how integrated, data-driven marketing works, how it benefits consumers and how it fuels company growth," said Susan Baxley, Teradata University Network Director.

Professors interested in integrating Teradata marketing analytics into their instruction can visit the Teradata University Network online.

Relevant Links

Photos: Marketing Automation portal

Release: Teradata University Network, SAS Offer Professors Free Use of SAS® Visual Analytics

Release: Teradata University Network Offers Free Training Towards Technical Certification

Video: An Introduction to Teradata University Network

About Teradata University Network

Teradata University Network (TUN), in conjunction with Teradata (NYSE: TDC), gives students a taste of corporate reality through hands-on software experiences and case studies on some of the world's largest companies. Through the TUN website, professors from over 2000 schools in 99 countries design assignments using databases with millions of records. The free, web-based TUN portal provides teaching and learning tools used by more than 50,000 students around the world, majoring in everything from information systems, management or computer science to finance, marketing or accounting. For more information, visit the website: www.teradatauniversitynetwork.com

About Teradata

Teradata (NYSE: TDC), a global leader in analytic data platforms, marketing applications, and consulting services, helps organizations become more competitive by increasing the value of their data and customer relationships. Visit Teradata.com for details.

Get to know Teradata:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/teradatanews
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Teradata
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/teradata/products
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/teradata

Teradata and the Teradata logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Teradata Corporation and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and worldwide.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130716/CL47933LOGO

SOURCE Teradata University Network