Ecommerce marketers rank data-driven decisions second only to in-house skills as a major factor in marketing success, according to this SideCar survey.  But just 38% make more than half of their decisions based on data, they rank seven other items ahead of data-driven decisions on their list of challenges, and they prioritize several skills ahead of data analytics in hiring.  One interpretation: they feel they’re as data-driven as they should be.

This Winterberry Group study also explores the shift to first-party data, with a particular focus on collaborative solutions such as data cooperatives and exchanges.  Less than one-third of their sample say they have fully implemented a first-party data strategy, although nearly all have defined one.  Read it for a good explanation of key terms and concepts.

Procrastinators of the world can throw a party whenever they get around to it: Google has once more pushed back complete third-party cookie deprecation.  The new target is “early next year.” Reasons for the delay include concerns expressed by U.K. data regulator Information Commissioner’s Office, an ongoing inquiry by the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority, and widespread discontent in the advertising ecosystem.