In an effort to help academic institutions reach their fundraising goals and boost enrolment, Bimm has launched Backpack Analytics, a marketing analytics firm specializing in educational data.
Greg Worsnop, head of strategy at Bimm and vice-president and managing director at Backpack called it “a suite of innovative analytical solutions to help schools pull out actionable insights.” The shop is equipped with a range of products which cater to student, alumni and administrative analytics. Dropout prevention, curriculum optimization, continuing education and alumni giving are Backpack’s specialities.
As a data-driven CRM agency, launching an analytics firm was the logical next step in the evolution of Bimm, Worsnop added. The agency also has experience within the educational space (the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology is a client).
“We took a look at the Canadian educational landscape, and compared it to the U.S.,” Worshop said.
“It looked like the Canadian education landscape was underrepresented in terms of analytical capabilities. And that’s what made us believe there was a unique opportunity here,” he said. “We have a really deep analytics group already at Bimm, with expertise across the suite of analytical capabilities in terms of predicative modeling, segmentation, data governance cleansing, and capturing.”
Backpack Analytics is currently being staffed by Bimm employees, but the agency will hire dedicated staff “depending on the pace of growth,” said Worsnop. Toronto-based Bimm counts Scotiabank, Audi, Sears and Shaw among its clients.
