Brad Bailey, a research director at Celent’s capital markets group, says data providers face pressures to differentiate themselves and add value to their clients’ portfolios in an ecosystem that he believes will continue to boom. Due to its inherent challenges, however, some investors have steered clear of using alt data in their strategies and decisions, but he says that has more to do with a misunderstanding of how best to incorporate the data for their needs, rather than any faults with providers’ offerings. Still, is it better to be a jack of all trades or a master of one? It depends, Bailey says.