A COVID-19 Analysis with SimplyAnalytics

Posted on by

We find ourselves in the middle of an unprecedented crisis the likes of which most of us have never experienced before, and hopefully won’t have to experience again. There is the occasional moment that makes us smile in the middle of it all (like when people are buying up all the fluffy yellow baby chicks out there – but please, don’t cuddle your feathered friends), but overall the situation is scary and it’s probably safe to say all of us are feeling anxious about the near and distant future alike. The reason we’re so concerned is not just because of the scale of this outbreak and the impact it’s having on individual people, society, and the economy, but also due to uncertainty and confusion. We don’t yet know much about this novel virus, and that’s why everyone is trying to collect and share as much information as possible. To that end, we want to provide some insight into the spread and severity of the Coronavirus using health and demographic data.

Aside from actual virus spread data, we can look at various factors that might indicate elevated risk of developing severe illness if and when the virus spreads in an area, i.e. who will need extra help recovering from COVID-19, the lung disease caused by the Coronavirus. These risk factors are most reliably described by national and international health organizations such as the CDC, the WHO, and the ECDC. And although these sources do emphasize that we don’t yet know for sure what sort of factors actually affect our susceptibility to the virus and severe progressions (for example, we do see young, healthy people becoming very ill), they provide what amounts to their current best estimate.

READ MORE

COVID-19 Data is Now Available in SimplyAnalytics

Posted on by

As COVID-19 spreads across the United States researchers need access to the latest data visualization and analytics tools. As a result, the SimplyAnalytics team just added COVID-19 data at the national, state, and county levels to SimplyAnalytics. The data is from USAFacts.org and we update it daily with the latest numbers.

The following data variables are now available in SimplyAnalytics:

  • Confirmed COVID-19 Cases by date
  •  Prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 cases (per 100,000 individuals) by date
  • Deaths from COVID-19 by date
  • Prevalence of deaths from COVID-19 (per 100,000 individuals) by date

You can find the COVID-19 data in SimplyAnalytics in two places:

  • [recommended] Go to the Data tab, click on the “Data Folder” view (located just below the data search box), then scroll to the bottom of the list of data folders, or
  • Go to the Data tab, click on the Health category icon, then check the box next to COVID-19 in the list of health sub-categories

This data can be combined with our demographic and health data variables to identify areas with vulnerable residents, such as the elderly, people with respiratory illnesses, and smokers.

Here are the best ways to view this data in SimplyAnalytics:

  • Map View: map the COVID-19 data by County or State
  • Ranking View: rank all counties in the United States to identify areas with the highest counts or rates of COVID-19
  • Comparison Table View: add your counties and states and any COVID-19 variables to this report to compare rates over time
  • Related Data Table View: add one variable from a folder to this view and all of the rest will be added automatically

Here are two examples showing the data being used in SimplyAnalytics, a map and a ranking (click to enlarge):

READ MORE

SimplyAnalytics Exhibiting at the PLA 2020 Conference in Nashville – February 26-28

Posted on by

SimplyAnalytics will be exhibiting at the PLA Conference, held this year at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN on February 26 – 28. Visit the team at Booth 1444 with your questions, feedback, and to learn more about SimplyAnalytics. We look forward to seeing you then!

Exhibit Hall Hours

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 3:30 PM–6:30 PM Exhibits Opening Reception
Thursday, February 27, 2020 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Exhibits Open
Friday, February 28, 2020 9:00 AM–2:00 PM Exhibits Open

 

Exhibitor Social Media Badge

READ MORE

SimplyAnalytics Exhibiting at ALA Midwinter – January 24-27

Posted on by

Happy New Year! SimplyAnalytics will be exhibiting at the ALA Midwinter meeting, held this year at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on January 24th-27th. If you attend, please stop by Booth 1754 with your questions and feedback. We look forward to seeing you there!


Exhibit Hall Hours

Friday, January 24 – Opening Reception on the Exhibit Floor – 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Saturday, January 25 – 9:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday, January 26 – 9:00am – 5:00pm

Monday, January 27- Exhibits Closing Events – 9:00am – 2:00pm

READ MORE

From the Help Desk: How to Analyze all PRIZM Segments at Once

Posted on by

Hi everybody! We’re back this week with another question from our Help Desk. This time featuring SimplyAnalytics Canada. Let’s get started!

Question: How can I analyze all of the PRIZM5 segments for my target area so I can identify the most common segment? 

Note: For those unfamiliar with the PRIZM data, this dataset is a marketing segmentation system where households are grouped into one of 68 unique segments based on: demographics, lifestyles, consumer behaviour and settlement patterns in Canada. These segments help you understand what customers are buying, doing and thinking. This is ideal for target marketing, trade area analysis, merchandising and media planning.

Please give us an email if you would like a free trial to the PRIZM data – it is available for both SimplyAnalytics USA and SimplyAnalytics Canada.

Answer:  The quickest and easiest way to analyze many similar variables at once is to utilize the Related Data Table. The Related Data Table automatically adds in any similar variables to your chosen one. In this example, we’ll add one PRIZM segment, and the report will add all of them in. This can be used with any variable or dataset – give it a try!

Here’s how:

1.) Click on New View towards the top right, then create under Related Data Table

READ MORE

From the Help Desk: Using the Advanced Business Search

Posted on by

Hello readers! Today we are bringing you a new blog entry inspired by a recent Help Desk question. If you ever have any questions about SimplyAnalytics, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at: support@simplyanalytics.com – let’s get started!

Question: How do I search for only the largest businesses in my area?

Answer: The Advanced Business search in SimplyAnalytics enables users to run more advanced business queries. This example requires setting up a query to only show businesses that have more than 250 employees.

Note: To do this search, users will need access to the Premium D&B business file which allows you to search by additional fields of data

1. In your Businesses View, select the Businesses block towards the top-left.

2. Click on Use Advanced Search

3. Set the first dropdown in the panel to # of local employees

4. Enter 250 in the available box

5. Search

READ MORE

From the Help Desk: How do I analyze data for downtown?

Posted on by

Hello readers! We hope you’re having a wonderful week. Today we feature another entry from our From the Help Desk series. Let’s get started!

Question: How do I analyze data for downtown?

Answer: Use the combination location feature. The combination location feature enables users to combine locations of similar geographies to form one larger area. SimplyAnalytics will calculate all number, percent, and average data variables for the custom area. Here’s how to do that.

  1. Click on the Locations button (1), and select the Custom Locations heading (2). From there, select Create New Combination Location (3). Enter the name for your location in box 1 (4).
READ MORE

Behind the Scenes: Setting up the SimplyAnalytics Booth

Posted on by

Hi everybody! This week we wanted to bring you something unique, so we’re taking you behind the scenes to show you what goes in to setting up the SimplyAnalytics conference booth you’ve come to know and enjoy for the past few years. Let’s get into it now!

First, we need to ensure that our booth arrived intact during shipping – did you know that altogether, our booth weighs over 450 pounds?! The two pictures below represent our typical initial inspection to make sure everything arrived ok.

The assembly process requires about 3 hours, ideally with 2 people.

READ MORE

From the Help Desk – Analyzing all States at Once

Posted on by

Hello readers! This week’s “From the Help Desk” is short & sweet. Let’s get to it!

Question: How do I analyze all of the states at once in a report?

Answer: The Ranking Report allows you to analyze all of the smaller geographic units in one larger area. For example, all the states in the USA, all of the Census Tracts in a County, etc.

Ranking Reports are a default view in your project, so there are only a few steps required.

1. Open the Ranking Report from the list of Views on the right side of the SimplyAnalytics window

2. In your Ranking Report, set the location to be: USA

3. Set the appropriate dropdown to be: States

READ MORE