Versta Research announced today an internal program to move much of its statistical work and data analysis to the R computing environment. The move will offer enhanced analytical and data visualization capabilities, and provide a cost-effective way to transfer new and ongoing capabilities to the clients for whom they are developed.

“R has been around for a while,” noted Joe Hopper, president of Versta Research, “but as more data becomes available and as users seek advanced techniques to analyze and display data, R is really starting to show its power. We anticipate within the next three to five years it will be the statistical software of choice for most leading research firms, companies, and agencies who focus on data, for both numeric quantitative data and text-based qualitative data.” Hopper pointed to capabilities of R that Versta is now using, such as geo-mapping and displaying market share data in compelling ways that most statistical software does not provide.

The R Foundation describes R as “an integrated suite of software facilities for data manipulation, calculation and graphical display. It includes:

• an effective data handling and storage facility
• a suite of operators for calculations on arrays, in particular matrices
• a large, coherent, integrated collection of intermediate tools for data analysis
• graphical facilities for data analysis and display either on-screen or on hardcopy
• a well-developed, simple and effective programming language which includes conditionals, loops, user-defined recursive functions and input and output facilities

The term ‘environment is intended to characterize it as a fully planned and coherent system, rather than an incremental accretion of very specific and inflexible tools, as is frequently the case with other data analysis software.”

R software is free, and all of its capabilities, even the most sophisticated and advanced capabilities, are open and accessible to any user. At the same time, Hopper noted, the learning curve is steep. “But we’re expert learners. That’s what we are paid to do. The more we learn, the more we help our clients answer their most important questions to improve their businesses.”