Top Reads in Technology, Data, and Business in 2024

As we approach the end of 2024, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a year that has marked a turning point in the realms of technology and data. Over the past twelve months, we’ve witnessed groundbreaking advancements that have not only redefined technological capabilities but have also revolutionized how businesses and individuals interact with data and digital tools.

2024: A Year of Change in Technology and Data

This year has been a period of accelerated innovation and massive adoption of disruptive technologies.

This year has stood out for the rapid adoption of new technologies, particularly generative AI. This branch of artificial intelligence has drawn interest from experts, businesses, and industries alike, opening up new possibilities and impacting areas such as education, healthcare, manufacturing, and entertainment.

At the same time, data strategies have made notable progress. Advances in analytics, the growing use of self-service BI models, and a stronger focus on data governance and quality have reinforced data’s role in supporting faster, data-driven decisions.

These trends have not only improved how organizations handle information but have also paved the way for more efficient operations and stronger competitiveness.

In this context of ongoing change and opportunity, we invite you to explore the most popular topics in technology and data through the most downloaded e-books and guides of 2024.

Ranking: The Most-Read Content of 2024 in Technology, Data, and Business

1. Guide: What is Your Company’s Data Management Maturity Level?

This e-book serves as a comprehensive guide for Chief Data Officers (CDOs) and data leaders looking to assess their organization’s maturity in data management and processing.

It introduces the Data Maturity Model, a framework that helps companies identify their current position on the data maturity scale and outline a path toward more strategic and efficient data management.

Our data maturity model divides organizations into five progressive levels: Unaware, Fragmented, Centralized, Governed, and Data-Centric, providing a detailed explanation of each stage.

Why Do You Need It?

Companies that understand and improve their data maturity level can better align their data capabilities with their strategic goals, maximizing business impact. This diagnostic tool helps identify areas for improvement, create a clear roadmap, and optimize data investments for more informed decision-making.

Key Benefits for businesses:

• Identify their current position and weaknesses.
• Develop a roadmap to progress to more advanced stages.
• Optimize resources and processes aligned with a data-driven strategy.
• Enhance market competitiveness by integrating artificial intelligence and advanced analytics into operations.

2. Trends in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Digitalization, Technology Adoption, and New Perspectives

This e-book explores the trends shaping the pharmaceutical industry in 2024-2025, highlighting how digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), and the adoption of emerging technologies are driving innovation and boosting competitiveness in the pharmaceutical sector.

The book covers eight major trends, including data-driven transformation, real-time analytics, Real-World Evidence (RWE), Self-Service BI, and comprehensive management of medical devices.

Why Do You Need It?

The pharmaceutical sector is shifting toward a more digital model, focusing on personalization and operational efficiency. This e-book is essential for companies looking to adapt to this evolving landscape by identifying strategic opportunities and adopting key technologies that enhance their processes and outcomes.

3. Global Hospitality Trends for 2024-2025: A Continental Comparison

This report examines the key trends shaping the global hospitality industry for 2024-2025, focusing on growth in occupancy rates, revenue per available room (RevPAR), and average daily rates (ADR) across major regions worldwide.

The report also includes a detailed continent-by-continent comparison, exploring challenges and opportunities in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Additionally, it identifies the 10 major trends defining the future of the hospitality sector, such as sustainability, personalization, and technology integration.

Why Do You Need It?

This global hospitality trends report is essential for hoteliers, investors, and managers looking to adapt to industry changes and seize emerging opportunities. It provides critical insights to make informed decisions regarding investments, operations, and market strategies in a competitive environment.

Key Benefits for Businesses:

• Regional Insights: Comparative analysis by continent to identify specific strengths and challenges in each region.
• Trend Adoption: Discover opportunities in sustainability, wellness, personalization, and local experiences to attract new customer segments.
• Strategic Planning: Leverage key metrics such as RevPAR, ADR, and occupancy rates to optimize revenue and strengthen market positioning globally.
• Future Readiness: Explore investment opportunities in technology, sustainability, and experiential tourism to enhance competitiveness.

4. Power BI Guide: How to Extract and Analyze Power BI Usage Data Without Accessing the Power BI API

This guide provides a practical solution for businesses looking to analyze Power BI usage data without programming skills or access to the Power BI REST API. It introduces Power BI Analytics as an efficient alternative to monitor productivity and optimize resource management on the platform, overcoming the technical and time limitations of Power BI.

Why Do You Need It?

 A detailed analysis of Power BI usage data is essential to maximize your investment in the tool and optimize its performance. Without requiring any programming, this guide demonstrates how to access unlimited historical data, evaluate report efficiency, and enhance platform management security.

Key Benefits for Businesses:

• Barrier-Free Access: Monitor Power BI usage without technical expertise or programming.
• Unrestricted Analysis: Access historical and comparative metrics for any period.
• Resource Optimization: Identify redundant reports, streamline data lineage, and reduce costs

5. The Importance of Color in Data Visualization: How to Apply Storytelling Without Overloading Your Visuals with Colors

This e-book explores the role of color in data visualization and presents 10 effective techniques to minimize excessive use of colors in Power BI visuals and dashboards.

The downloadable guide promotes a strategic approach that prioritizes clarity, professional design, and user understanding, ensuring that visuals remain clear and engaging rather than confusing or overloaded.

Why Do You Need It?

Proper use of color in Power BI reports enhances visual communication and ensures accurate interpretation of data.

Key Benefits for Businesses:

• Effective Storytelling: Learn to create clear and compelling visual stories without overwhelming your charts.
• Professional Designs: Apply advanced techniques such as tones, textures, and labeling to improve visual perception.
• Improved Understanding: Help users easily interpret complex charts and visuals.
• Visual Optimization: Reduce the time needed to process information and enable faster decision-making.
• Practical Strategies: Discover alternatives to color, such as small multiples or charts that align with your message.

6. The Key Challenges of Data Integration with Azure Data Factory and How to Solve Them

This guide addresses the most common challenges businesses face when integrating data using Azure Data Factory (ADF), such as component duplication, lack of centralized control, and misalignment between technical and business objectives.

Why Do You Need It?

Poorly structured data integration processes lead to inefficiencies, high costs, and operational risks. This guide provides clear insights into these challenges and offers a practical solution to implement a standardized, scalable, and efficient approach to data integration and management.

Key Benefits for Businesses:

• Standardization and Control: Centralize and organize data flows, eliminate duplication, and facilitate effective data governance.
• Cost Reduction: Minimize unnecessary resource consumption and significantly lower operational costs.
• Advanced Monitoring: Monitor ingestion and transformation processes in real time to proactively identify and resolve issues.
• Custom Optimization: Tailor solutions for projects of varying sizes and complexities using SQL or Databricks.
• Guaranteed Data Quality: Ensure reliable and consistent data with customizable rules and automated alerts.

7. Comparative Guide: Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT vs Gemini AI

This e-book analyzes and compares the three leading generative AI solutions on the market: Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini AI. Through a detailed review, it provides a comprehensive overview of each tool’s capabilities, strengths, applications, and key differences.

What’s Inside This E-book?

• Tool Overview: Introduction to Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini AI, with a focus on their primary objectives and target audiences.
• Capability Comparison: A detailed analysis of the tools based on: Detailed analysis of tools according to: Natural Language Processing (NLP), Integration and compatibility, User experience, Scope and functionalities, Target audience, Performance and accuracy, and Price.
• Use Cases: Practical examples of how businesses use generative AI to automate processes, generate insights, and enhance data interaction.
• Recommendations: Tailored suggestions based on specific business needs, existing ecosystems, and required functionalities.Natural Language Processing (NLP)Integration and CompatibilityUser ExperienceScope and FunctionalitiesTarget Audience

Why Do You Need It?

If your company is considering adopting generative AI, this e-book is an essential resource to make informed decisions, assess the potential value of each solution, and understand their strategic implications.

8. Development of a RAG-Powered Intelligent Search Engine

A RAG-Powered Intelligent Search Engine combines Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques with large language models (LLMs) to enhance the accuracy and relevance of search results and information generation.

Unlike traditional search engines that rely on exact keyword matches, RAG search engines understand the context and meaning behind queries, delivering more precise and contextual results.

Bismart developed a RAG-powered intelligent search engine for a multinational legal sector company. This tool integrates advanced information retrieval techniques with natural language models to interpret queries and provide accurate, contextual responses, transforming the way the company manages large volumes of unstructured data.

Key Benefits:

• Automating Complex Processes: Automatically identifies and extracts key information, simplifying operations like managing judicial notifications.
• Time Optimization: Enables employees to focus on strategic tasks instead of repetitive activities.
• Informed Decision-Making: Provides contextual and accurate results by understanding the intent behind each query.
• Data Management Efficiency: Handles massive volumes of unstructured data and quickly extracts valuable insights.

9. Case Study: Improving Occupancy Forecasting and Operations with Hotel Management Dashboards

A Singapore-based hotel chain operating across Southeast Asia overcame critical operational challenges through the implementation of Hotel Management Dashboards. This success story explores how the solution helped centralize data, enhance information quality for strategic decision-making, and optimize occupancy forecasting.

Why Do You Need It?

In a competitive hospitality market, system integration and efficient data utilization are essential for making agile, data-driven decisions and developing new strategies to enhance the guest experience.

10. Guide for CMOs: How to Implement GenAI in Your Marketing Strategy

Why Do You Need It?

GenAI is transforming marketing by improving personalization, reducing costs, and enhancing creativity. This guide helps companies integrate GenAI effectively, maximizing its impact while mitigating risks and aligning the technology with strategic objectives.

Download the GenAI guide for CMOs to build more effective and personalized marketing strategies, as well as agile and optimized operational processes.

Conclusion

2024 has undoubtedly been a year defined by the rise of Generative AI. However, other technologies have also made a significant impact on the business landscape.

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), data maturity models, data integration and management, and reporting platforms like Power BI have played a crucial role in driving the digital transformation of organizations.

These technologies stand out for their practical impact and their ability to continue enhancing efficiency and analysis in an increasingly data-driven business environment.