Dear students, a warm welcome to Information Technology Basics. My name is Jochen I'm a senior lecturer at Zürich University of Applied Sciences or short ZHAW.

When I was a kid in the 1980s, I lived in a town with about 200,000 inhabitants. Then there weren't many shopping options at all. I only remember going to three retail stores to buy clothes and to two toy stores. Today my own kid has so many choices. There are endless online stores and services to choose from.

This big change happened because of information technology. It has made our lives very different and given us lots of opportunities. IT is everywhere nowadays and dominates successful business models in most industries. Current research shows companies with high data analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities excel in service innovation and operational efficiency, but also show higher levels of customer satisfaction, revenue growth and profitability. Your decision to embark on this learning adventure demonstrates your commitment to enhancing your IT skills and staying ahead in the dynamic world of marketing.

This course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the key IT concepts that are transforming the marketing landscape. This course consists of three weeks.

In the first week we will explore the details of technology stacks. We will talk about current AI trends such as machine learning applications, software platforms, the Internet of Things and cloud computing, and we will discuss how these trends affect the design of technology stacks and companies.

In the second week, you will gain insights into the world of data management and the related core technologies. You will discuss different data types and approaches to organize, store and retrieve data.

In week three, we will present the basics of data science and machine learning methods. We cover classical statistical approaches towards data modeling.

Our expert instructors have curated a comprehensive curriculum to provide you with valuable insights and knowledge that you can apply in real world scenarios. I am happy that two excellent colleagues of mine at ZHAW will join me this week. Andreas Weiler is an expert in data management technologies and will take over in week two. Marcel Dettling has very strong expertise in data science methods and will give you a great introduction to this topic in week three.

We encourage you to actively work with the content we provide and look at the further readings. Remember, the more you engage with the material, the more you will get out of this learning experience. Thank you for choosing our course. We believe that this journey will not only expand your knowledge, but also empower you to make a significant impact in the field of marketing technology. Get ready to explore, learn and grow.