Intelligence from the Field

Perspectives

strategic thinking

Curated resources

Perspectives

What does a data-driven ecommerce growth strategy actually look like?

A data-driven ecommerce growth strategy is more than dashboards. Here's the decision architecture that turns data into compounding commercial growth.

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Perspectives

How to choose an AI analytics tool for your ecommerce stack

How to choose an AI analytics tool for your ecommerce stack - a practical framework covering decision quality, integration depth and building the business case.

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Perspectives

AI for social commerce: what brands need to know in 2026

AI for social commerce in 2026: what marketing directors and ecommerce leaders need to know about AI-driven discovery, dynamic creative and building real commercial capability.

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Perspectives

The Data Layer the Humanoid Robotics Industry Was Missing - Insights

At Rodan, we spend most of our time deep in data - building analytics platforms, training models and helping some of the world's largest organisations make sense of complex information. So when a friend came to us with…

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Perspectives

How AI is changing the role of the marketing analyst

How AI is changing the role of the marketing analyst - what it means for your team structure, skills and commercial output.

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Perspectives

What is propensity modelling and how do marketing teams use it?

Propensity modelling explained for marketing teams - what it is, how to build it and how to use it to improve targeting, timing and ROI.

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Perspectives

How to use AI to improve customer lifetime value in ecommerce

AI-driven customer lifetime value in ecommerce: how growth leaders can build predictive CLV models and turn them into commercial decisions that compound.

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Perspectives

AI and first-party data: how to prepare for a cookieless future

AI and first-party data strategy for ecommerce and consumer tech businesses preparing for cookie deprecation and signal loss. Practical steps from Rodan Analytics.

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Perspectives

How to measure AI ROI in a performance marketing context

How to measure AI ROI in performance marketing - a practical framework for marketing directors who need defensible numbers, not efficiency theatre.

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Perspectives

The data foundations every ecommerce brand needs before using AI

Data foundations for ecommerce AI: what customer identity, product data and governance need to look like before you deploy - and what breaks without them.

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Perspectives

How to use AI-generated insights in your marketing strategy

AI-generated insights only create value if your data and workflow are built for them. Here's how marketing directors can make it work in practice.

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Perspectives

AI for inventory management: what the data actually tells you

AI for inventory management works - but only if your data architecture supports it. Here's what your inventory data actually reveals about where margin is leaking.

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Perspectives

How ecommerce brands are using AI to compete on margins

AI is reshaping ecommerce margins - not through hype but through specific applications. Here's where brands are seeing real commercial returns.

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Perspectives

What is a customer data platform and do you need one?

Customer data platforms explained - what they do, when the investment is justified and how to assess your readiness before buying. Practical guidance for marketing leaders.

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Perspectives

How to use AI to improve your email marketing performance

AI can improve email marketing performance significantly - but only if your data is ready. Here's where to apply it and what to fix first.

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Perspectives

AI for retention marketing: how to reduce churn with machine learning

AI for retention marketing explained for growth leaders - how machine learning churn models work, where they fail and how to build a system that reduces churn at scale.

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Perspectives

How AI is improving product recommendation engines

AI is transforming product recommendation engines. Learn how ecommerce businesses are improving conversion, AOV and catalogue discovery with smarter AI systems.

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Perspectives

What is predictive analytics and how do ecommerce brands use it?

Predictive analytics explained for ecommerce brands - how LTV models, churn scoring and demand forecasting drive real commercial return.

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Perspectives

AI for ecommerce pricing: a practical introduction

AI for ecommerce pricing explained for growth leaders - how it works, where the margin value sits and how to implement it without wasted spend.

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Perspectives

How to use AI to reduce customer acquisition costs in ecommerce

Reducing customer acquisition costs in ecommerce starts with an intelligence problem, not a media problem. Here's how AI fixes the real issue.

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Perspectives

What marketing data do you need before AI adds any value?

Marketing AI fails without the right data foundation. Here's what marketing directors need to fix before any AI tool can add real commercial value.

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Perspectives

How AI is changing ecommerce personalisation at scale

AI is reshaping ecommerce personalisation at scale. Here's where the real leverage sits and what separates businesses moving forward from those running expensive experiments.

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Perspectives

AI attribution modelling vs last-click: what ecommerce brands need to know

AI attribution modelling vs last-click: what ecommerce brands spending at scale need to know about where last-click is costing them real money.

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Perspectives

How to use AI for demand forecasting without a data science team

AI demand forecasting without a data science team - a practical framework for ecommerce and marketing leaders ready to reduce forecast error and recover margin.

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Perspectives

Why Cyber Security Is Now a Board-Level Priority for SMEs - Insights

When Jaguar Land Rover's production lines went dark in September 2025, the £5 million daily losses sent shockwaves far beyond the automotive sector. The incident - alongside similar disruptions at Marks & Spencer and…

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Perspectives

What does a successful AI transformation look like at scale?

What does a successful AI transformation look like at scale? A practical guide for senior leaders at £500m–£1.5bn firms moving from pilots to production.

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Perspectives

How to calculate the value of your company's data

How to calculate the value of your company's data using cost, income and market methods - a practical guide for CFOs, CDOs and senior leaders at mid-market firms.

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Perspectives

AI for financial services: what mid-market firms need to know

AI for financial services: what mid-market firms need to know about deploying AI commercially, avoiding pilot traps and building systems that deliver measurable return.

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Perspectives

Why your AI project needs a data strategy first

Why AI projects fail before they start - and why data strategy must come before AI investment for firms between £500m and £1.5bn revenue.

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Perspectives

How to select and manage an AI consultancy as a mid-market business

How to select and manage an AI consultancy as a mid-market business - a practical framework for senior leaders on evaluation, structuring engagements and avoiding common failure modes.

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Perspectives

The five stages of AI maturity - and where most mid-market businesses actually are

AI maturity model for mid-market businesses: find out which of the five stages you're actually at and what it takes to move forward without wasting capital.

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Perspectives

How to turn your existing data into a strategic asset

Turning existing data into a strategic asset starts with the right audit, not more tools. A practical guide for CFOs, COOs and CDOs at mid-market firms.

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Perspectives

AI and competitive advantage: what mid-market firms can do that enterprises can't

AI and competitive advantage: why mid-market firms between £500m–£1.5bn can outpace enterprises - and what leadership must do to act on it.

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Perspectives

What does a responsible AI policy look like for a mid-market company?

Responsible AI policy for mid-market firms: what it must contain, how to classify risk and what the EU AI Act means for your obligations in 2025.

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Perspectives

How to make AI a board-level priority without overpromising

Making AI a board-level priority means earning credibility before asking for commitment. A practical framework for senior leaders at mid-market firms.

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Perspectives

The difference between analytics, business intelligence and AI - and why it matters

Analytics, BI and AI are not interchangeable. Senior leaders who conflate them misallocate budget. Here is how to tell the difference and invest in the right layer.

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Perspectives

How to move from data reports to AI-driven decisions

AI-driven decisions require more than better dashboards. Learn what the shift from data reports actually demands - and how to sequence it.

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Perspectives

What is a chief data officer and does your business need one?

Chief data officer: what the role really involves, whether your business needs one and how to make the case internally at £500m–£1.5bn revenue.

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Perspectives

How to avoid the most expensive AI mistakes mid-market firms make

Avoid costly AI mistakes mid-market firms make. A practical guide for CFOs, COOs and CTOs on sequencing, readiness and governance. From Rodan Analytics.

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Perspectives

AI for operational efficiency: where to start in a complex business

AI for operational efficiency starts with the right process, not the right platform. A practical guide for senior leaders at complex mid-market businesses.

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Perspectives

How to structure your data function as you scale beyond £500m

How to structure your data function as you scale beyond £500m - operating model, talent architecture and governance decisions for senior leaders at growing firms.

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Perspectives

What mid-market businesses get wrong about AI adoption

Mid-market AI adoption fails for structural reasons, not technical ones. Here's what senior leaders at £500m–£1.5bn firms consistently get wrong and how to fix it.

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Perspectives

How to choose an AI vendor: the questions to ask before you sign

Choosing an AI vendor? Senior leaders at mid-market firms need sharper due diligence. Here are the questions to ask before you sign any AI contract.

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Perspectives

The real cost of building an AI team vs using an AI consultancy

Building an internal AI team costs more than most CFOs expect. Compare the real costs of building vs consultancy and learn how to make the right call.

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Perspectives

What is a data strategy and why does your business need one before AI?

A data strategy is the foundation AI depends on. Here's what it is, what it covers and why mid-market firms must get it right before AI investment begins.

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Perspectives

How AI is changing the operating partner role in private equity

AI is reshaping the operating partner role in private equity. Learn how continuous monitoring, agentic workflows and smarter diligence change portfolio performance.

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Perspectives

The most common data problems acquirers discover post-close

Data problems discovered post-close cost PE-backed businesses months of value creation. Here are the issues acquirers miss most - and how to fix them fast.

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Perspectives

How to evaluate whether a portfolio company's data team is fit for purpose

Portfolio company data team evaluation framework for PE operating partners - how to assess commercial alignment, capability and fit for your value creation plan.

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Perspectives

What operating partners should ask about data before signing an LOI

What operating partners should ask about data before signing an LOI - a practical framework for assessing data maturity and execution risk in PE due diligence.

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Perspectives

Benchmarking AI maturity across a private equity portfolio

Benchmarking AI maturity across a private equity portfolio - a practical framework for operating partners to assess, compare and act on portco AI capability.

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Perspectives

The role of the CDO in PE-backed growth businesses

The CDO role in PE-backed businesses is misunderstood and under-scoped. Here is what good looks like, when to hire and how to avoid the failure modes.

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Perspectives

How PE firms are building AI capability across their portfolio

How PE firms are building AI capability across portfolio companies - frameworks, due diligence questions and the operating model that creates durable value.

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Perspectives

AI and EBITDA: how to link technology investment to financial outcomes

AI and EBITDA: a practical framework for PE operating partners to link AI investment to measurable financial outcomes, governance and exit value.

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Perspectives

What a strong data infrastructure looks like at exit

Strong data infrastructure at exit reduces diligence risk and supports multiple expansion. Here's what PE-backed businesses need to build before the process starts.

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Perspectives

How to run an AI audit on a newly acquired business

AI audit for newly acquired businesses - a practical framework for PE operating partners to assess data capability, AI maturity and value creation potential post-close.

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Perspectives

AI governance for PE-backed businesses: what operating partners need to know

AI governance for PE-backed businesses: what operating partners need to know to protect value, manage risk and prepare portcos for exit.

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Perspectives

Why most PE portfolio AI projects fail - and what to do differently

PE portfolio AI projects fail for predictable reasons. Learn the sequencing mistakes operating partners make - and how to protect capital and create real value.

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Perspectives

The hidden data risks in mid-market M&A deals

Data risks in mid-market M&A are routinely missed in financial due diligence. Here's where they hide and how to find them before close.

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Perspectives

How AI is reshaping operational improvement in PE-backed businesses

AI is reshaping operational improvement in PE-backed businesses. Here's how operating partners should sequence deployment to protect and expand exit multiples.

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Perspectives

What is a data strategy and why does it matter at due diligence?

What is a data strategy and why does it matter at due diligence? A practical framework for PE investors assessing data risk before close.

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Perspectives

How to measure the ROI of AI investment in a portfolio company

How to measure the ROI of AI investment in a portfolio company - a practical framework for PE operating partners covering baselines, attribution and exit narrative.

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Perspectives

When to build vs buy AI capability in a portfolio company

Build vs buy AI in a portfolio company: a framework for PE operating partners on where to invest, when to build and how to create value before exit.

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Perspectives

How PE firms are using AI for portfolio value creation

How PE firms are using AI for portfolio value creation - a practical framework for operating partners, from diagnostic to exit narrative.

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Perspectives

What does AI maturity look like in a mid-market business?

AI maturity in mid-market businesses explained for PE operating partners - what good looks like, how to assess it and where to focus during value creation.

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Perspectives

AI strategy in 2026: what's changed and what still matters

Most organisations that invested in AI over the past two years have something to show for it. A chatbot. A dashboard. A pilot that worked in the demo. What they often do not have is a business that operates meaningfully…

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Perspectives

What is model fine-tuning and when does it make sense for a business?

Model fine-tuning explained for business leaders - what it is, when it makes commercial sense, and how to decide if your use case justifies the investment.

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Perspectives

What is structured data injection and when should you use it instead of RAG?

Structured data injection vs RAG - understand the architectural difference and when each approach is right for financial, operational and transactional data.

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Perspectives

The hidden costs of AI that most vendors don't talk about

The hidden costs of AI go far beyond software licences. Learn what vendors don't model - and how to build a cost case that holds up.

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Perspectives

How to measure AI performance beyond accuracy metrics

AI performance measurement goes beyond accuracy metrics. Learn the four-layer framework that connects model output to real business outcomes and board-level results.

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Perspectives

AI hallucination: what it is and how businesses should manage it

AI hallucination explained for business leaders - what it is, why it happens and how to build the controls that make enterprise AI deployment safe and scalable.

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Perspectives

What is the context window in an LLM and why does it matter?

Context window in LLMs explained for business leaders - what it is, why size matters and how to make better AI deployment decisions.

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Perspectives

AI and data privacy: what every business leader needs to understand

AI and data privacy risks go beyond compliance. Business leaders need to understand the commercial, regulatory and governance gaps before they scale AI systems.

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Perspectives

What is prompt engineering and why does it matter for business?

Prompt engineering explained for business leaders - what it is, why output quality depends on it and how mid-market organisations can build this capability at scale.

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Perspectives

How to think about AI risk in a regulated industry

AI risk in regulated industries demands precision, not paralysis. Learn how to categorise, prioritise and govern AI risk before your regulator does it for you.

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Perspectives

The difference between building AI and buying AI

Build or buy AI? The decision shapes your competitive position. This guide helps business leaders make the right call - and avoid the costly middle ground.

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Perspectives

What is a large language model and how do businesses use them?

Large language models explained for business leaders - what they are, where they add value, where they fail and how to evaluate use cases before you build.

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Perspectives

What is AI governance and how do you implement it?

AI governance explained for business leaders - what it is, why compliance framing misses the point, and a practical framework for implementing it.

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Perspectives

What is RAG and why does it matter for enterprise AI?

RAG connects AI to your actual business knowledge. Learn how retrieval-augmented generation works and where it creates measurable enterprise value.

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Perspectives

The difference between AI, machine learning and data science

AI, machine learning and data science are not the same thing. Understanding the difference determines whether your data investment delivers returns or disappears quietly.

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Perspectives

What is agentic AI and why does it matter for business?

Agentic AI goes beyond generating content - it acts autonomously across workflows. Here's what it is, where it creates value and how to deploy it responsibly.

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Perspectives

Why most AI projects fail - and how to do it differently

Why AI projects fail - and how to fix it. A practical guide for business leaders on the structural mistakes that keep AI stuck at pilot stage.

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Perspectives

Data Analytics Demystified: A Guide - Insights

Data analytics is the systematic process of examining, cleaning, transforming, and interpreting data to discover meaningful patterns and draw valuable conclusions. In today's digital age, organisations generate massive…

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Perspectives

Introducing The Data Advantage: Unlocking Business Potential with AI & Analytics - Insights

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, data is more than just numbers - it’s the foundation for smarter decisions, strategic growth, and lasting competitive advantage. At Rodan, we specialise in transforming raw…

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