Preparing data for time series analysis

TS may look like a simple data object and easy to deal with, but the reality is that for someone new it can be a daunting task just to prepare the dataset before the actual fun stuff can begin. Every single time series (TS) data is loaded with information; and time series analysis (TSA) is the process of unpacking all of that. However, to unlock this potential, data needs to be prepared and formatted appropriately before putting it through the analytics pipeline. TS may look like a simple data object and easy to deal with, but the reality is that for someone new it can be a daunting task just to prepare the dataset before the actual fun stuff can begin. So in this article we will talk about some simple tips and tricks for getting the analysis-ready data to potentially save many hours of one's productive time.