Alternative data sources refer to any type of information used for analysis that would not normally be employed in making a decision. These can include proxy metrics that substitute factors which are usually difficult to measure, as well as info from unofficial sources utilized by individuals to gain insight into their research. It provides both new methods of understanding intelligence and fresh business insights which cannot be acquired from traditional data. Investors use alternative data when assessing investments or companies outside the realm of conventional data sources like financial statements, press releases and management presentations. Due to its ability to give more detailed knowledge on company performance than traditional sources, it has gained prominence over the last decade with the growth in computing power and personal device usage resulting in massive amounts of generated data. Initially there were doubts about its worthiness but many organizations saw its potential and adopted it wholeheartedly.
How Is Alternative Data Generated?
Alternative data is collected by a variety of means, including product reviews, social media interactions, credit card and sales transactions, satellite imaging and geo-location devices. The three primary methods used to collect this information are web scraping, obtaining raw data, and third-party licensing. Web harvesting involves writing code to access online resources that can then be stored in an easy-to-access format for further analysis. Raw data originates from sensors before being acquired and processed by companies who license it out to other organizations. Other forms of alternative data include app engagement metrics, emails receipts, foot traffic signals tapped from wi-fi networks or satellites as well as survey results scraped from public websites or text processing through social media channels.
What Is the Importance of Alternative Data?
Alternative data is becoming increasingly popular in finance and investing, with it being referred to as the ‘new oil.’ For instance, Orbital Insight utilizes satellite imagery of parking lots to monitor consumer behavior. This information is then sold to aid in investment decisions. Strategies for incorporating this data into financial plans are constantly evolving.
Why Do You Need Proxies for Alternative Data?
Using proxies is a way to bypass anti-scraping protection on websites. By substituting the IP address of your device with that of a proxy server, you can extract various forms of data quickly and securely without being detected by these security measures. Despite this, web scraping remains prohibited on many sites and is not considered illegal in general.
What Are the Best Proxies for Alternative Data?
FineProxy provides cutting-edge residential proxy servers to enhance your data collection efforts. These proxies are sourced ethically, and they use real ISP-issued IP addresses from devices such as PCs, laptops, phones or tablets for maximum authenticity. They are also hard to detect and flag, making them ideal for scraping purposes. Furthermore, we have a large pool of residential IPs in different regions so you can rest assured that the services will be reliable and secure at affordable prices!