>>Hey everyone. Welcome back to the program. Lisa Martin here, I've got two guests joining me, please. Welcome back to the cube. Paula Hansen, the chief revenue officer and president at Al alters and Jackie Vander lake grayling joins us as well. The global head of tax technology at eBay. They're gonna share with you how an alter Ricks is helping eBay innovate with analytics. Ladies. Welcome. It's great to have you both on the program. >>Thank you, Lisa. It's great to be here. >>Yeah, Paula, we're gonna start with you in this program. We've heard from Jason Klein, we've heard from Alan Jacobson, they talked about the need to democratize analytics across any organization to really drive innovation with analytics. As they talked about at the forefront of software investments, how's alters helping its customers to develop roadmaps for success with analytics. >>Well, thank you, Lisa. It absolutely is about our customer's success. And we partner really closely with our customers to develop a holistic approach to their analytics success. And it starts of course, with our innovative technology and platform, but ultimately we help our customers to create a culture of data literacy and analytics from the top of the organization, starting with the C-suite. And we partner with our customers to build their roadmaps for scaling that culture of analytics through things like enablement programs, skills, assessments, hackathons, setting up centers of excellence to help their organizations scale and drive governance of this analytics capability across the enterprise. So at the end of the day, it's really about helping our customers to move up their analytics, maturity curve with proven technologies and best practices so they can make better business decisions and compete in their respective industries. >>Excellent. Sounds like a very strategic program. We're gonna unpack that Jackie, let's bring you into the conversation. Speaking of analytics maturity, one of the things that we talked about in this event is the IDC report that showed that 93% of organizations are not utilizing the analytics skills of their employees, but then there's eBay. How Jackie did eBay become one of the 7% of organizations who's really maturing and how are you using analytics across the organization at eBay? >>So I think the main thing for us is just when we started out was is that, you know, our, especially in finance, they became spreadsheet professionals instead of the things that we really want our employees to add value to. And we realized we had to address that. And we also knew we couldn't wait for all our data to be centralized until we actually start using the data or start automating and be more effective. So ultimately we really started very, very actively embedding analytics in our people and our data and our processes, >>Starting with people is really critical. Jackie, continuing with you, what were some of the roadblocks to analytics adoption that you faced and how did you overcome them? >>So I think, you know, eBay is a very data driven company. We have a lot of data. I think we are 27 years around this year, so we have the data, but it is everywhere. And how do you use that data? How do you use it efficiently? How do you get to the data? And I believe that that is definitely one of our biggest roadblocks when we started out and, and just finding those data sources and finding ways to connect to them to move forward. The other thing is, is that, you know, people were experiencing a lot of frustration. I mentioned before about the spreadsheet professionals, right? And we, there was no, we're not independent. You couldn't move forward. You would've opinion on somebody else's roadmap to get to data and to get the information you wanted. So really finding something that everybody could access analytics or access data. >>And finally we have to realize is that this is uncharted territory. This is not exactly something that everybody is used to working with every day. So how do you find something that is easy? And that is not so daunting on somebody who's brand new to the field. And I would, I would call those out as your, as your major roadblocks, because you always have not always, but most of the times you have support from the top in our case, we have, but in the end of the day, it's, it's our people that need to actually really embrace it and, and making that accessible for them, I would say is definitely not per se, a roadblock, but basically some, a block you wanna be able to move. >>It's really all about putting people. First question for both of you and Paula will start with you. And then Jackie will go to you. I think the message in this program that the audience is watching with us is very clear. Analytics is for everyone should be for everyone. Let's talk now about how both of your organizations are empowering people, those in the organization that may not have technical expertise to be able to leverage data so that they can actually be data driven Paula. >>Yes. Well, we leverage our platform across all of our business functions here at Altrix and just like Jackie explained it, eBay finances is probably one of the best examples of how we leverage our own platform to improve our business performance. So just like Jackie mentioned, we have this huge amount of data flowing through our enterprise and the opportunity to leverage that into insights and analytics is really endless. So our CFO, Kevin Rubin has been a, a key sponsor for using our own technology. We use Altrix for forecasting, all of our key performance metrics for business planning across our audit function, to help with compliance and regulatory requirements tax, and even to close our books at the end of each quarter. So it's really remain across our business. And at the end of the day, it comes to how do you train users? How do you engage users to lean into this analytic opportunity to discover use cases? >>And so one of the other things that we've seen many companies do is to gamify that process, to build a game that brings users into the experience for training and to work with each other, to problem solve and along the way, maybe earn badges depending on the capabilities and trainings that they take. And just have a little healthy competition as an employee base around who can become more sophisticated in their analytic capability. So I think there's a lot of different ways to do it. And as Jackie mentioned, it's really about ensuring that people feel comfortable, that they feel supported, that they have access to the training that they need. And ultimately that they are given both the skills and the confidence to be able to be a part of this great opportunity of analytics. >>That confidence is key. Jackie, talk about some of the ways that you're empowering folks without that technical expertise to really be data driven. >>Yeah, I think it means to what Paula has said in terms of, you know, you know, getting people excited about it, but it's also understanding that this is a journey and everybody's the different place in their journey. You have folks that's already really advanced who has done this every day. And then you have really some folks that this is brand new and, or maybe somewhere in between. And it's about how you put, get everybody in their different phases to get to the, the initial destination. I say initially, because I believe the journey is never really complete. What we have done is, is that we decided to invest in an Ebola group of concept. And we got our CFO to sponsor a hackathon. We opened it up to everybody in finance, in the middle of the pandemic. So everybody was on zoom and we had, and we told people, listen, we're gonna teach you this tool super easy. >>And let's just see what you can do. We ended up having 70 entries. We had only three weeks. So, and these are people that has N that do not have a background. They are not engineers, they're not data scientists. And we ended up with a 25,000 hour savings at the end of that hackathon from the 70 inches with people that have never, ever done anything like this before and there you had the result. And then it just went from there. It was, people had a proof of concept. They, they knew that it worked and they overcame the initial barrier of change. And that's where we are seeing things really, really picking up. Now >>That's fantastic. And the, the business outcome that you mentioned there, the business impact is massive helping folks get that confidence to be able to overcome. Sometimes the, the cultural barriers is key. I think another thing that this program has really highlighted is there is a clear demand for data literacy in the job market, regardless of organization. Can each of you share more about how you are empowering the next generation of data workers, Paula will start with you? >>Absolutely. And, and Jackie says it so well, which is that it really is a journey that organizations are on. And, and we, as people in society are on in terms of upskilling our capabilities. So one of the things that we're doing here at Altrix to help address this skillset gap on a global level is through a program that we call sparked, which is essentially a, no-cost a no cost analytics education program that we take to universities and colleges globally to help build the next generation of data workers. When we talk to our customers like eBay and many others, they say that it's difficult to find the skills that they want when they're hiring people into the job market. And so this program's really developed just to, to do just that, to close that gap and to work hand in hand with students and educators to improve data literacy for the next generation. So we're just getting started with sparked. We started last may, but we currently have over 850 educational institutions globally engaged across 47 countries. And we're gonna continue to invest here because there's so much opportunity for people, for society and for enterprises, when we close gap and empower more people within necessary analytics skills to solve all the problems that data can help solve. >>So spark has made a really big impact in such a short time period. And it's gonna be fun to watch the progress of that. Jackie, let's go over to you now talk about some of the things that eBay is doing to empower the next generation of data workers. >>So we basically wanted to make sure that we keep that momentum from the hackathon that we don't lose that excitement, right? So we just launched a program called Ebo masterminds. And what it basically is, it's an inclusive innovation initiative where we firmly believe that innovation is all up scaling for all analytics for. So it doesn't matter. Your background doesn't matter which function you are in, come and participate in, in this where we really focus on innovation, introducing new technologies and upskilling our people. We are apart from that, we also say, well, we should just keep it to inside eBay. We, we have to share this innovation with the community. So we are actually working on developing an analytics high school program, which we hope to pilot by the end of this year, where we will actually have high schoolers come in and teach them data essentials, the soft skills around analytics, but also how to use alter alter. And we're working with actually, we're working with spark and they're helping us develop that program. And we really hope that as a say, by the end of the year, have a pilot and then also make you, so we roll it out in multiple locations in multiple countries and really, really focus on, on that whole concept of analytics, role >>Analytics for all sounds like ultra and eBay have a great synergistic relationship there that is jointly aimed at, especially kind of going down the staff and getting people when they're younger, interested, and understanding how they can be empowered with data across any industry. Paula, let's go back to you. You were recently on the Cube's super cloud event just a couple of weeks ago. And you talked about the challenges the companies are facing as they're navigating. What is by default a multi-cloud world? How does the alters analytics cloud platform enable CIOs to democratize analytics across their organization? >>Yes, business leaders and CIOs across all industries are realizing that there just aren't enough data scientists in the world to be able to make sense of the massive amounts of data that are flowing through organizations. Last I check there was 2 million data scientists in the world. So that's woefully underrepresented in terms of the opportunity for people to be a part of the analytics solution. So what we're seeing now with CIOs with business leaders is that they're integrating data analysis and the skill of data analysis into virtually every job function. And that is what we think of when we think of analytics for all. And so our mission with Altrics analytics cloud is to empower all of those people in every job function, regardless of their skillset. As Jackie pointed out from people that would, you know, are just getting started all the way to the most sophisticated of technical users. Every worker across that spectrum can have a meaningful role in the opportunity to unlock the potential of the data for their company and their organizations. So that's our goal with Altrics analytics cloud, and it operates in a multi cloud world and really helps across all sizes of data sets to blend, cleanse, shape, analyze, and report out so that we can break down data silos across the enterprise and drive real business outcomes. As a result of unlocking the potential of data, >>As well as really re lessening that skill gap. As you were saying, there's only 2 million data scientists. You don't need to be a data scientist. That's the, the beauty of what Altrics is enabling. And, and eBay is a great example of that. Jackie, let's go ahead and wrap things with you. You talked a great deal about the analytics maturity that you have fostered at eBay. It obviously has the right culture to adapt to that. Can you talk a little bit and take us out here in terms of where alters fits in on as that analytics maturity journey continues and what are some of the things that you are most excited about as analytics truly gets democratized across eBay? >>When we start about getting excited about things, when it comes to analytics, I can go on all day, but I I'll keep it short and sweet for you. I do think we are on the topic full of, of, of data scientists. And I really feel that that is your next step for us anyways, is that, how do we get folks to not see data scientists as this big thing, like a rocket scientist, it's, it's something completely different. And it's something that, that is in everybody to a certain extent. So again, partner with three X would just released the AI ML solution, allowing, you know, folks to not have a data scientist program, but actually build models and be able to solve problems that way. So we have engaged with alters and we, we purchased a license, this quite a few. And right now through our mastermind program, we're actually running a four months program for all skill levels, teaching, teaching them AI ML and machine learning and how they can build their own models. >>We are really excited about that. We have over 50 participants without the background from all over the organization. We have members from our customer services. We have even some of our engineers are actually participating in the program. We just kicked it off. And I really believe that that is our next step. I wanna give you a quick example of, of the beauty of this is where we actually just allow people to go out and think about ideas and come up with things. And one of the people in our team who doesn't have a data scientist background at all, was able to develop a solution where, you know, there is a checkout feedback checkout functionality on the eBay site where sellers or buyers can verbatim add information. And she build a model to be able to determine what relates to tax specific, what is the type of problem, and even predict how that problem can be solved before we, as a human even step in, and now instead of us or somebody going to verbatim and try to figure out what's going on there, we can focus on fixing the error versus actually just reading through things and not adding any value. >>And it's a beautiful tool and very impressed. You saw the demo and they developing that further. >>That sounds fantastic. And I think just the one word that keeps coming to mind, and we've said this a number of times in the program today is empowerment. What you're actually really doing to truly empower people across the organization with, with varying degrees of skill level, going down to the high school level, really exciting, we'll have to stay tuned to see what some of the great things are that come from this continued partnership. Ladies, I wanna thank you so much for joining me on the program today and talking about how alters and eBay are really partnering together to democratize analytics and to facilitate its maturity. It's been great talking to you. >>Thank you. >>As you heard over the course of our program organizations, where more people are using analytics who have the deeper capabilities in each of the four E's, that's, everyone, everything everywhere and easy analytics, those organizations achieve more ROI from their respective investments in analytics and automation than those who don't. We also heard a great story from eBay, great example of an enterprise that is truly democratizing analytics across its organization. It's enabling an empowering line of business users to use analytics, not only focused on key aspects of their job, but develop new skills rather than doing the same repetitive tasks. We wanna thank you so much for watching the program today. Remember you can find all of the content on the cue.net. You can find all of the news from today on Silicon angle.com and of course, alter.com. We also wanna thank alt alters for making this program possible and for sponsored in the queue for all of my guests. I'm Lisa Martin. We wanna thank you for watching and bye for now.