Join us in 2024 for Query, Dashboard, and Data Analytics Training!
Spring March 4 – 7 Fall September 16 – 19
Hosted by the CU*Answers Asterisk Intelligence team, the events held during this week cover data analytics, data management, and data warehousing solutions. The 4-day series of training and strategy sessions include a mix of in person and online web-based options.
Sign up for individual sessions, or the entire week, the choice is up to you!
Check out our Informational Brochure
Locations
Sessions in this event are offered as a mix of Classrooms (on-site only) and Webinars (remote only). Please check carefully to identify the location of the session you are interested in before you register.
Classroom Sessions
Classroom sessions are not live-streamed. The event is free but travel and transportation costs are the responsibility of the participant credit union.
When the event is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, classroom sessions are at the CU*Answers headquarters: 6000 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
When the event is in Las Vegas, Nevada, classroom sessions are at the Innovation Center: 6725 Via Austi Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Webinar Sessions
Webinar sessions will be held online via Zoom and do not have accompanying classroom sessions. The event is free and you can attend these remotely from your credit union!
Event Sessions – Register Here!
No registration costs, this event is free to attend! For sessions that are in-person you are responsible for any travel expenses. Webinar session are held via Zoom. Each Asterisk Intelligence Week agenda includes a variety of sessions on the topics of data analytics, database management, data warehousing. Some will focus on tactical skills instruction while others involve strategy discussion and training.
Sessions at CU*Answers
Building a Narrative with Your Data
This day’s agenda introduces and explores the built-in analytical bench of tools called ‘Dashboards’ in CU*BASE, with instruction and tips on how to quickly use their standard features and strengths to accomplish two major data goals – simple data mining, and detailed data analysis. Then the class will focus in-depth on Analytics Booth, a web application with strengths in long-term trending and high-level analysis. A particular emphasis of the class is on defining executive level data needs and recurring questions, then building a narrative with data to share with colleagues, management, or a board.
The concepts covered include the ASAP strategy (Ask. See. Act. Profit.) and emphasizing the usability and access to data for all audiences at your credit union. Any role and any person can use data to inform themselves or others. This class covers “quick win”, straightforward solutions and strategies that are relevant to both a non-technical person and an analyst.
This day’s training is on-site only, at CU*Answers in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Report Builder Skills Session
Morning – Working with Computer-Stored Data
CU*BASE Report Builder uses the IBM program called Query, a powerful, flexible tool for mining data from your CU*BASE member data. This class will establish a foundation of knowledge to understand and identify data structure and storage concepts, as well as outline the steps to create a very simple custom report.
The concepts covered are used in many CU*BASE products, from teller auditing to cash management to general member inquiries.
Optional Breakout: Intermediate to Advanced query users will have the option to break out to an Advanced Query session for part of the day’s agenda.
Afternoon – Essentials of Building a Report
In the afternoon we build on the foundation learned in the morning session and will cover all features that are commonly used with Report Builder feature (Tool 100). Example reports and optional practice time help to build skills with this technical tool that, when properly used, can be used to customize many reports and take control of one of your most valuable assets — data.
The concepts covered in this class include all aspects of Report Builder that are necessary to build most simple reports and some intermediate-level reports. Advanced query skills are not covered in this course. Please reach out to ai@cuanswers.com if interested in advanced query resources and training.
Understanding and Managing Your Ecosystem of Data
To be a data-focused credit union, you must first be aware of the data you have, where it lives, and how to access or connect it. The effort of understanding and managing the data ecosystem of your credit union is a valuable foundation from which your analysis strategies and data-driven decisions will build.
Morning – Data Warehousing and Analysis with AI*Engaged
This session’s morning agenda explores data warehousing strategies including gathering and analyzing new data that is only available when you have the space to keep it, and options for pulling together data from multiple other systems for analysis. The AI*Engaged software application is developed by CU*Answers specifically for the purpose of managing and analyzing warehouse data. Within this review of data warehousing we ask and cover the following questions:
- Where does my credit union data live today?
- What is my toolkit I have for managing my data?
- How long is the data stored in the system, and is there an option to keep it longer?
- How do I make changes to my data?
- When and how does data from multiple systems connect?
- What are my options to customize data collection?
- Where and how can I find and keep new data?
Afternoon – Hot Topics in Database Management
This session’s afternoon agenda covers resources and toolkits available to assist in creating a database management strategy. The latest and most popular topics are reviewed and discussed as a group, including Self-Directed Data Floods, Nostradamus calculator suggesting next product or service for members, Unique Data Management (UDM) Custom Fields, Query management strategies (automation and database changes), Specialty data possibilities (Optics data sets), DEX automated data extraction, etc.
Sessions via Web Conference
Query 1 – Planning the Project – Working with Computer Stored Data
CU*BASE Report Builder uses the IBM program called Query, a powerful, flexible tool for mining data from your CU*BASE member data. But the foundation to understanding how to use the tool, is to first begin to understand your data – the database. You will learn about finding, accessing, searching, evaluating, and determining the best source(s) of data for your custom reports, or analytical projects. Simple query use to view and navigate data tables (files) will be covered.
This class will establish a foundation of knowledge to understand and identify data structure and storage concepts. Useful beyond query, the concepts in this class are used in many CU*BASE products, from teller auditing to cash management, to general member inquires, and understanding of the various standard reports and dashboards in the system.
Query 2 – Executing the Project – Building Custom Reports
In this class, we build on the foundation learned in the ‘Query 1’ class and will begin to execute projects to build simple reports in the Query (Report Builder) tool. Navigating the tool and learning how it’s featues can be used to connect and customize the data will be covered. Example reports are shown to build skills with this technical tool that, when properly used, can be used to customize many reports and take control of one of your most valuable assets — data.
The concepts covered in this class include all aspects of Report Builder that are necessary to build most simple reports and some intermediate-level reports. Advanced query skills are not covered in this course. Please reach out to ai@cuanswers.com if interested in advanced query resources and training.
Conversations on Data
Come meet for discussion and guidance with peers who are also working with data and data projects at credit unions via our Conversations on Data group. This is a collaborative group in the style of open discussion. Please come prepared with a question or suggestion for the group! If you are currently someone who works with data strategies, data tools, or is looking to build those skills at your credit union – You are welcomed and we hope you can join us!
