Skyline Solution
Pivoting clearTREND from an internal tool to a public SaaS required many improvements to speed, capacity, security, dependability, user experience (UX), and more. But there were two factors that were most significant: an easy‐to‐use front-end and a highly robust, secure and scalable back‐end.
Speed and security
To improve speed, we optimized the algorithms of the prediction engine. We dug deep into Appleton Group’s proprietary algorithm and implemented data science rules to reduce the number of calculations. Doing so reduced an estimated average of 35 days’ wait time for security down to mere minutes.
Azure advantage
The initial version of clearTREND leveraged the then cutting-edge Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) capabilities in Azure to enable scale. The commercialization phase allowed us to reimagine the architecture of clearTREND to leverage new serverless capabilities in Azure. By leveraging Azure Functions, we were able to move processing from up to 40 nightly worker roles to the more cost-efficient and scalable Azure Functions. With the addition of Azure’s No-SQL database (Cosmos DB), we eliminated read/write bottlenecks previously experienced with Azure SQL Database. This new solution was a much more efficient use of Azure, enabling us to process 10x the number of individual stocks and other securities in half the amount of time.
Improved UX
User administration in version 1.0 was clunky. For the SaaS version, we overhauled the UX to simplify the experience, integrated Intercom for user-friendly chat, and integrated Stripe for easy-to-use payment (including coupons, discount codes, upgrades, downgrades, etc.).
Technical Improvements
Version 1 was in Silverlight (a retired framework), so we had to rebuild the app using a React.js frontend and a backend using ASP.NET Core WebAPI, Azure Functions and Cosmos DB.
Free trials and user permissions
Users can create a free trial login that enables them to evaluate any security currently in the clearTREND library (currently covering more than 14,000 unique tickers). As a user, the clearTREND outcomes for any security (or for a portfolio of up to 10 securities) can be easily compared to a static “buy & hold” strategy. Once subscribed, the user will be able to see the complete history for clearTREND’s turning point identification for each security.
Live and automated support
Built into the engine is a customer care app, Intercom. This integrated support features both live chat with a clearTREND support specialist and a smart bot‐driven knowledge base that automatically routes questions to an array of pre‐written how‐to articles and videos, minimizing the need for live interaction. In addition, this powerful support app allows clearTREND to archive subscriber interactions, identify user “trouble spots” within the engine, document subscriber visits, orchestrate user messaging (to increase subscriber loyalty and engagement), and more.
Ecommerce analytics
The frontend is integrated into Baremetrics, a powerful Stripe analytical app that tracks all subscriber revenue, lifetime customer value, sales, subscription fees, etc. We also integrated FirstPromoter, an additional Stripe add‐on that facilitates our affiliated sales program.
Back-end enhancements
The back-end includes Cosmos DB that alleviates throttling of client and investment data at scale. Backend processes handle the trend‐identification process for clearTREND, primarily utilizing Azure Functions – cloud‐based code that optimizes individual securities, identifies turns and generates alerts.
Unique and valuable security price history
When added to clearTREND’s library, each investment security’s dividend‐adjusted price history (2007 – present) is imported from their third‐party data provider: Xignite Data Cloud. The security’s complete price history is analyzed for previous market turns and is optimized to determine the most optimal historic outcomes of past buys and sells based on those turns.
Within seconds, clearTREND considers up to 550,000 possible combinations of turns and optimizes the security to identify the “best fit solution” for future consideration. That solution is then published in their library and is used by every active subscriber who tracks the security in their personal account. This process is identical for every security in their library; however, the set of considered market turns is optimized for each security. Each night, clearTREND imports end‐of‐day dividend‐adjusted prices for every security in their library. Using this updated price data, clearTREND uses each security’s optimized best fit solution to determine if a turn is occurring and (if so) at what point the turn generates a BUY or SELL recommendation (which is then communicated to each active subscriber who tracks that security). This process is unique in the marketplace and represents an additional and valuable intellectual property opportunity.
The Results
- clearTREND is now fully commercialized and accepting subscriptions.
- Built in the Microsoft Azure Cloud, it has estimated capacity for 700,000 subscribers and 50,000 securities.
- It runs flawlessly in any browser (Safari, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) with no 3rd party plugins to download.
- It features robust personal security and privacy controls and fully-integrated credit card processing.
- Business value:
- Reduced Azure hosting costs from $1,500 a month to $200-$300 a month
- Faster speed improves user experience
- No need to check back for better results
- Overhauled UI makes it easier for users to understand and act on the data