22-25 April 2026 
SQLBits 2018
Preparing your business for data science
So you're thinking about doing implementing data science project in your business? If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, so come to this session to help you construct your data science plan to help you succeed!
So you're thinking about doing implementing data science project in your business?
You might be considering one or all of these options:
Starting out on a project without adequate planning, risks wasted time and money when you hit unexpected roadblocks. Additionally, putting a data science project into production without sufficient testing, monitoring, and due diligence around legal obligations, can expose you to substantial problems.
I want to help you avoid as much as risk as possible by taking you through my data science readiness checklist, including topics like:
You might be considering one or all of these options:
- Hiring a data scientist
- Using existing staff
- Engaging a consultant
Starting out on a project without adequate planning, risks wasted time and money when you hit unexpected roadblocks. Additionally, putting a data science project into production without sufficient testing, monitoring, and due diligence around legal obligations, can expose you to substantial problems.
I want to help you avoid as much as risk as possible by taking you through my data science readiness checklist, including topics like:
- Application development processes and capabilities
- Data platform maturity
- Use of data products within the business
- Skillsets of existing business intelligence and other analytical teams
- Analytical teams processes and capabilities
- IT and analytical teams alignment to business goals
- Recruitment, induction, and professional development processes
- Legal, ethical, and regulatory considerations
Speakers
Steph Locke's previous sessions
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Azure Functions are great for a wide range of scenarios, including working with data on a transactional or event-driven basis. In this session, we'll look at how you can interact with Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Event Hubs, and more so you can see how you can take a lightweight but code-first approach to building APIs, integrations, ETL, and maintenance routines.
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Build or buy AI?
If AI is on the cards in your business you might need to make a recommendation as to whether your company should Buy or Build. Come to this session to work out the moving parts to turn "It Depends!" into an answer.
Preparing your business for data science
So you're thinking about doing implementing data science project in your business? If you fail to plan, you plan to fail, so come to this session to help you construct your data science plan to help you succeed!
data.table power hour
Learn how to use this fantastic package in R for high-speed, low-code table wrangling.
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Need a snazzy dashboarding tool, and want it free or cheap?
With a modicum of R and Linux knowledge, you can make interactive realtime dashboards for free that can be used in any web browser. Learn how in this session.
Intro to R
R was originally for doing stats, but it now does database CRUD, reporting, documentation, and even websites. It can be awkward to know where to start, so this session fast tracks you to the sections you need to know about.