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# Golden Orb Ltd

Helping business to profit through technology

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/blog/)
- [Compas is a powerful EPM tool for the mid-market](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/compas-is-a-powerful-epm-tool/) - EPM software does for a company's management what ERP did for its operations. All data is on a shared platform, reducing errors and increasing efficiency
- [The benefits of integrating planning with reporting](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/integrating-planning-with-reporting/) - Improve your direct marketing planning, by combining planning, reporting & analysis. Talk to Golden Orb, specialists in developing bespoke systems.
- [Early warning is key to margin management](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/early-warning-is-key-to-margin-management/) - Early indications of how products are performing can help marketers avoid ending up with too much unsold stock at the end of the season. This is critical to achieving a good overall margin.
- [Backing up an entire WordPress site](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/backing-up-an-entire-wordpress-site/) - We use WordPress to power our company website. It gives us an excellent platform for managing and publishing our site content; we have been very happy with it, and would recommend it for other people looking to set up a straightforward site. Managing backups, though, hasn't been quite so simple. It is true that there
- [Marketing - a data-driven approach to planning and analysis](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/marketing-a-data-driven-approach-to-planning-and-analysis/) - In March 2018, we presented a talk to Marketing Week Live, entitled "How sophisticated businesses are taking a data-driven approach to marketing planning and analysis". This post summarises the key messages and provides access to the slides used in the talk.
- [Taking Marketing Seriously](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/taking-marketing-seriously/) - Taking marketing seriously requires businesses to plan methodically, evaluate all campaigns carefully and capture the results in a searchable database.
- [Working with Oracle from python on a Mac](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/working-with-oracle-from-python-on-a-mac/) - Some useful tips from Tim Hodson, from Golden Orb, specialists in legacy Oracle software support.
- [Our Compas software wins Direct Commerce Innovator Award](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/compas-software-wins-innovator-award/) - Compas marketing management software, which helps improve marketing performance, was recognised at recent Direct Commerce Awards
- [Try out Compas at Smarter Business Tech Live in Manchester](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/try-out-compas-at-smarter-business-tech-live-in-manchester/) - Come and try out our new Compas Marketing Management System at Smarter Business Tech Live in Manchester Central on 15th and 16th November
- [Come and visit our stand at TFM 2017](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/come-and-visit-our-stand-at-tfm-2017/) - We are delighted to be back again this year at the Technology for Marketing/eCommerce Expo shows in Olympia on 27th and 28th September. Our stand, E1192, is situated on the upper floor, between the eCommerce Expo and TFM parts of the show (very handy for the café). We will be demonstrating Compas, our new cloud-based
- [Why have a dog and bark yourself?](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/why-have-a-dog-and-bark-yourself/) - Computers are much better than humans at routine handling and manipulation of data. However, in many businesses, skilled marketers still spend too much time assembling basic data for analysis and reporting. Let our Compas software free your staff for the creative stuff that cannot be automated.
- [Free your business from the constraints of two-dimensional planning](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/free-your-planning-from-two-dimensions/) - Many businesses plan substantial marketing budgets in spreadsheets like Excel. However, business data is inherently multi-dimensional and deserves more careful handling than is possible in a file-based system. Our award-winning COMPAS software is powerful, easy to implement and addresses all of the planning and reporting needs of a sophisticated marketing department.
- [It's time to take marketing seriously](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/its-time-to-take-marketing-seriously/) - Golden Orb's software for planning and evaluating marketing campaigns makes it easy for businesses to ensure they are getting real value for money
- [Come and see us at Marketing Week Live - 8/9 March](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/come-and-see-us-at-marketing-week-live-89-march/) - We are delighted to have been offered a last-minute opportunity to exhibit at the Marketing Week Live exhibition in Olympia on the 8th and 9th March. Come and see us on stand MD904, directly opposite the main Marketing Academy Stage. We will be showcasing our award-winning software for planning and evaluating marketing campaigns, which is
- [See us at TFM 2016 - stand T1132](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/see-us-at-tfm-2016-stand-t1132/) - On 28th and 29th September 2016, we shall be exhibiting at the Technology for Marketing show (TFM) in Olympia, London. In previous years, we have sponsored the Data and Direct Marketing tracks of the show, talking on topics such as forecasting customer lifetime value, how to become more data-driven as an organisation and 'Big data
- [Harvesting web data – a first sip at the Big Data firehose](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/harvesting-web-data-a-first-sip-at-the-big-data-firehose/) - Harvesting data from the internet, through a mix of web scraping and published APIs can help canny businesses to steal a march on their competitors at low cost.
- [Data scraping using Python](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/data-scraping-using-python/) - In an earlier post, I mentioned a piece of work we had done for a part of Oxford University, in which we extracted details from a number of documents on the NICE website using a technique known colloquially as web scraping. That post talked mostly about the implications of the technique for small and medium-sized
- [Do you really know which of your campaigns actually make you money?](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/which-of-your-campaigns-make-you-money/) - Help your marketing department improve their decision-making. Talk to Golden Orb, specialists in tools for direct marketing campaign planning & analysis
- [Planning in a time of uncertainty](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/planning-in-a-time-of-uncertainty/) - There is no doubt that the recent Brexit vote will increase uncertainty in the short to medium term. The best thing that small and medium-sized enterprises can do to prepare is to ensure that they use all available data and the best possible tools when planning for the future.
- [In praise of micro-IT](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/in-praise-of-micro-it/) - Sometimes small investments in IT to ease the flow of data around a business can have transformational effects. In terms of pure ROI, such 'micro-IT' is hard to beat!
- [Download our eBook "Enabling the data-driven organisation"](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/download-our-ebook-enabling-the-data-driven-organisation/) - What is stopping your business from making better use of data? Download the eBook from Golden Orb, specialists in business analytics.
- [Musings on an elevator pitch](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/musings-on-an-elevator-pitch/) - Condensing our diverse offerings and skills into a twenty second 'elevator pitch' has proved an extremely stimulating and worthwhile mental exercise.
- [See the complete picture for your business, by bringing together data from multiple sources](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/see-the-complete-picture-for-your-business-by-bringing-together-data-from-multiple-sources/) - Bringing together data from multiple sources can boost your business performance. Here we describe our approach to combining multi-source data.
- [Golden Orb scoops the Direct Marketing Partnership of the Year Award](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/golden-orb-scoops-the-direct-marketing-partnership-of-the-year-award/) - Winners of the Direct Commerce Partnership of the Year awards were recently announced at the President's Dinner at the Lancaster London Hotel.
- [Direct Commerce Partnership of the Year Awards – We've been shortlisted!](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/direct-commerce-partnership-of-the-year-awards-weve-been-shortlisted/) - We are delighted to be short listed for a 2015 Direct Commerce Partnership Award, winners to be announced on 22nd October.
- [Running a python website using Microsoft IIS](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/running-a-python-website-using-microsoft-iis/) - Python has proved itself to be an extremely useful and multi-faceted tool. We've used it with libraries such as pandas and numpy in the Data Science arena, working with client data to gain insight into their business. In a different field completely, on occasions it has also been tremendously convenient for building web sites. The
- [Improving campaign planning in Direct Marketing](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/improving-campaign-planning/) - See how Direct Wines improved their direct marketing and campaign planning - highlights from Golden Orb's presentation at TFM&A 2014.
- [Promotional planning and evaluation](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/promotional-planning-tool/) - Want to improve effectiveness of your trade promotions? Talk to Golden Orb, specialists in developing customised promotional planning tools.
- [Data migration via the clipboard](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/data-migration-using-the-clipboard/) - Read how Golden Orb, bespoke software specialists, solved problem of migrating data between a customised promotional planning tool and management system.
- [Managing the legacy of OFA](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/managing-the-legacy-of-ofa/) - Read how Golden Orb provides tailored support for legacy software financial planning and sales reporting systems such as OFA and OSA.
- [Using ASP.NET with Oracle OLAP](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/using-asp-net-with-oracle-olap/) - Golden Orb, bespoke software specialists, have been using a combination of ASP.NET & Oracle OLAP to build sophisticated planning & reporting tools
- [Managing the evolving requirements of version control](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/managing-the-evolving-requirements-of-version-control/) - Tim Hodson, from bespoke software specialists Golden Orb, provides some useful tips on latest version control tools for businesses.
- [TFM&A 2014](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tfma-2014/) - Golden Orb, bespoke software specialists, outlined at TFM&A 2014, how their helped Direct Wines forecast customer lifetime value.
- [When essential software no longer meets your needs](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/when-essential-software-no-longer-meets-your-needs/) - Bespoke software solutions for today’s business problems using legacy software. See how Golden Orb solved issue for manufacturing client.
- [Golden Orb to present at Direct Commerce Association Annual Summit](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/golden-orb-to-present-at-direct-commerce-association-annual-summit/) - Find out how customised planning, reporting & forecasting tool provided insight, helping Direct Wines in the planning & execution of marketing campaigns
- [Enabling the data-driven organisation - TFM&A2015](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/enabling-the-data-driven-organisation-tfma2015/) - What are the 7 key principles of becoming a data-driven organisation? Download the slides from Terry Hogan's presentation at TFM&A 2015.
- [Big Data for the smaller business - TFM&A 2015](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/big-data-for-the-smaller-business-tfma-2015/) - Can SMEs harness the potential of Big Data to derive competitive advantage? Terry Hogan gives some practical advice with lists of free tools and resources.
- [TFM&A 2015](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tfma-2015/) - Management consultants specialising in providing bespoke software solutions to the marketing industry will be speaking at this year's TFM&A.
- [Are you a truly data-driven organisation?](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/truly-data-driven-organisation/) - Prior to bespoke software projects, your business needs to address issues of data availability & consistency. Read Terry Hogan’s blog to find out more
- [Forecasting customer lifetime value](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/forecasting-customer-lifetime-value/) - Need to forecast your customer lifetime value? Talk to Golden Orb about the best approach to deliver actionable results

## Pages

- [Home](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/) - Business analytics, software development & mathematical modelling to solve complex business problems. For bespoke solutions, talk to Golden Orb
- [Home](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/) - Business analytics, software development & mathematical modelling to solve complex business problems. For bespoke solutions, talk to Golden Orb
- [Privacy policy](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/privacy-policy/) - Privacy policy Our view on privacy is simple: Golden Orb values privacy, and respects yours. We will not share your details with any third parties without your consent. Golden Orb runs the business services websites compas-cloud.com and groupsort.com. On those sites, extra facilities are available to users who register, which requires an email address. Again,
- [Case Studies](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/) - Make better use of your data through good use of IT. Case studies show how Golden Orb has helped direct marketing, FMCG & banking sectors.
- [Campaign tools](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/services/campaign-tools/) - Tailored software tools to improve your marketing planning. Ideal for trade promotions, demand planning and direct marketing campaigns.
- [Contact us](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/contact-us/) - For advice on business analytics, software development & mathematical modelling to improve your use of data contact Golden Orb
- [Biographies](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/biographies/) - Golden Orb's experienced management team help businesses make better use of their data, by developing bespoke software
- [Testimonials](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/testimonials/) - High quality unbiased advice & bespoke software to help businesses make better use of their data. Read Golden Orb's latest testimonials.
- [Promotional planning and evaluation](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/promotional-planning-and-evaluation/) - Trade promotions management & demand planning. Improve your promotional planning & evaluation with bespoke software systems from Golden Orb
- [Planning and forecasting in direct marketing](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/planning-and-forecasting-in-direct-marketing/) - See how Direct Wines improved their sales forecasting and marketing planning through bespoke software developed by Golden Orb
- [Modelling consumer choice in the wine market](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/modelling-consumer-choice-in-the-wine-market/) - See how Golden Orb helped Laithwaites Wine with their model to generate tailored wine recommendations to increase customer engagement.
- [Managing the provision of EPOS data](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/managing-the-provision-of-epos-data/) - Reduce the burden of managing your EPOS data. Talk to Golden Orb about developing a consistent database for your EPOS data to help improve demand planning
- [Maintaining a profitable after-market sales infrastructure](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/maintaining-a-profitable-after-market-sales-infrastructure/) - See how Golden Orb developed a tool for Epson Europe to monitor website performance across international markets.
- [About us](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/) - Talk to Golden Orb about developing business analytics software to improve decision making in your business
- [White Papers](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/white-papers/) - Make better use of your data through good use of IT. Read Golden Orb's marketing and technical white papers
- [Business services website](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/business-services-website/) - Ideal for training organisations & human resources departments. Online solution to problem of quickly sorting a list of people into evenly balanced & diverse groups
- [Software Development](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/services/software-development/) - Make better use of your data. Bespoke analytical reporting and forecasting software to help improve decision making
- [Mathematical Modelling](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/services/mathematical-modelling/) - Improved models & forecasts. Good mathematical modelling is key to managing inventory & developing more effective plans to run your business
- [Business Analytics](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/services/business-analytics/) - Gain insights of past performance to help plan for the future. Essential for direct marketing, finance and risk. Talk to Golden Orb to find out more
- [Survey outcome analysis and reporting](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/survey-outcome-analysis-and-reporting/) - Bespoke software projects. Golden Orb is experienced in working with a variety of software, including OLAP, to help clients make better use of their data
- [Provisions management system](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/provisions-management-system/) - Need help integrating your sales & promotional planning tools and your financial management systems? Get in touch with Golden Orb
- [Investment bank equity trading analysis](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/investment-bank-equity-trading-analysis/) - Investment Bank Equity Trading Analysis. See how Golden Orb help one bank identify their best equity trading clients
- [BASEL II reporting tool](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/basel-ii-reporting-tool/) - Basel II reporting tool. See how Golden Orb helped one banking client deal with monitoring the performance of their internal rating models for credit
- [Our approach](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/approach/) - Bespoke software to help your business make better decisions. Golden Orb prides itself on providing unbiased advice & high quality developers.
- [What we do](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/what-we-do/) - Data analysis, business models & planning tools. Talk to Golden Orb about developing bespoke software to improve the use of your information.
- [Services](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/services/) - Services Our business is all about data, and using the power of information technology to help businesses to use it to their advantage. Our work falls broadly into three main practice areas: Business Analytics Data analysis – using statistical analysis and data mining techniques to provide you with valuable information to help you steer your
- [Risk-based loan pricing model](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/case-studies/risk-based-loan-pricing-model/) - For many years, we have been involved with developing, maintaining and supporting a risk-based loan pricing model for one of our banking clients. This helps them to determine the optimum interest rate for a loan to ensure that it provides a return commensurate with the risk to the bank.
- [What is a 'statistically significant' test result?](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/what-is-a-statistically-significant-test-result/) - What is a 'statistically significant' test result?
- [Calculating statistical significance](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/calculating-statistical-significance/) - Calculating statistical significance
- [Decision-making with statistics](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/decision-making-with-statistics/) - Decision-making with statistics
- [Unilever](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/testimonials/unilever/) - Unilever "I would highly recommend the management services of Golden Orb who have helped design, support and maintain the Unilever sales planning tools" - Paul O'Brien, Customer Development Innovation and Development Manager, Unilever
- [Pulse Check](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/testimonials/pulse-check/) - Pulse Check "Golden Orb’s work has transformed Pulse Check’s reporting and analysis capabilities allowing us to respond quickly to almost any client data or analysis request" - Roger Thornham, Managing Director, Pulse Check
- [Bank of Ireland](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/testimonials/bank-of-ireland/) - Bank of Ireland "Our experience of working with Golden Orb was excellent. They provided a very professional service both technically and creatively and delivered a high quality product in a very timely manner. We look forward to working with Golden Orb in the future." - Tammy McKenna, Group Risk, Bank of Ireland
- [Direct Wines](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/testimonials/direct-wines/) - Direct Wines "The people, software and service from Golden Orb have all been exceptional. If it is insight you seek, don't look any further" - Simon McMurtrie, Global CEO, Direct Wines Limited
- [Laithwaites Wine](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/about-us/testimonials/laithwaites-wine/) - Laithwaites Wine "I have worked with Golden Orb for a while now, and what has really impressed me is the way they can connect up incredibly advanced theoretical models, and give them actionable real-life application. We came to Terry with a concept, and a lot of data that we had been collecting, but with no
- [Cookie Policy](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/cookie-policy/) - Cookie Policy This site uses cookies - small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience. In general, cookies are used to retain user preferences, store information for things like shopping carts, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. As a

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/uncategorized/)
- [Blog](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/blog/) - Blog entries
- [Business Analytics](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/blog/business-analytics/) - Our business analytics practice: distilling information from data and developing sophisticated models
- [Direct Marketing](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/direct-marketing/)
- [Predictive Modelling](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/blog/predictive-modelling/)
- [Software Development](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/blog/software-development/) - Our software development practice
- [Technical](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/blog/technical/) - Technical discussions – platforms, languages, infrastructure issues etc.
- [Marketing Tools](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/blog/marketing-tools/)
- [Planning Software](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/category/blog/planning-software/)

## Tags

- [Oracle](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/oracle/)
- [OLAP](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/olap/)
- [support](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/support/)
- [database](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/database/)
- [python](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/python/)
- [sqlplus](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/sqlplus/)
- [wordpress](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/wordpress/)
- [mysql](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/mysql/)
- [backup](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/backup/)
- [github](https://www.golden-orb.ltd.uk/tag/github/)