BIG DATA – WHAT IT IS?

Big Data refers to technologies and initiatives that involve data which is great in diverse, fast-changing or massive for conventional technologies, skills and infra- structure to address efficiently. In other words, the volume, velocity and variety of data are too great.

BIG DATA – WHY IT MATTERS?

Today, for organizations of all sizes, data management has shifted from an important competency to a critical differentiator that can determine market winners and has-beens; and the latest technologies making it possible to realize value from Big Data.

For example, retailers can track user web clicks to identify behavioural trends that improve campaigns, pricing and stockage. Governments and even Google , Facebook can detect and track the emergence of disease outbreaks via social media signals. Oil and gas companies can take the output of sensors in their drilling equipment to make more efficient and safer drilling decisions.

CUSTOMERS LEAVING HUGE VOLUME OF DATA TO MONETIZE

As Social Media, Mobile and other latest technology platforms are emerged to dominate in customer-engagements; flow of information that just comes out of the system draws customer pulse about literally on anything they come across.

These noises are so high and broad which could potentially transform into invaluable insights for the business and value creation.

Social interactions apart, the other dimension of user data streams from daily life: from phones and credit cards and televisions and computers; from the infrastructure of cities; from sensor-equipped buildings, trains, buses, planes, bridges, and factories. The data flow so fast that the total accumulation of the past two years—a zettabyte

It is a massive amount of structured and unstructured data to inform strategic business decisions.

BIG DATA BRINGS IN STRATEGIC INSIGHT FOR DECISION MAKERS

As the Data revolution happening here, today’s executives need to make use of focus turning Big Data into timely and impactful strategic decisions by their IT Team; it helps them to deal with unexpected market changes, heightened competitions and other market opportunities.

It is capable of bringing broad perspective in insights which should help stake-holders to take evidence based key decisions in the organization.

The challenge for leaders is to get enough relevant information within reasonable time frames to move the organization forward. If any premise is faulty, the decision is compromised; hence it is vital in today’s business environment

BIG DATA – INDUSTRY ADOPTION RATE AT BIG PICTURE

Having all said about Big Data and its potential, the recent survey on adoption rate by Talend shows that, despite the clear growing enthusiasm on Big Data initiatives, a significant percentage of organizations have not taken practical steps needed to roll-out a big data strategy. While huge percentage of them is at the planning and appraisal stage, the number of big data pilots remained static at single figure. Only 10% of respondents in the latest survey are engaged in a large scale roll-out – up from 2% last year, but still a relatively low figure.

It is encouraging that the number of businesses rolling out big data strategies has increased, but overall adoption of big data strategies remains slow and it has to be improved. There is still a significant gap between those businesses expressing an interest and those taking the plunge and actually implementing the approach. It is a gap that the industry needs to address and close if the promise of big data is to be fulfilled.

TOOLS CAN ACCELERATE THE SPEED OF BIG DATA INITIATIVES AND ADOPTIONS

As this gap gets widen, various enterprise ready Big Data tools emerged to fulfil the industry need by offering sophisticated platform which would accelerate the development efforts and make things happening. It does not just stop there, but also offering value adds like unified solutions, Domain specific, Open source, Cloud based and Real-time.

Apart from these features, enterprise-grade capabilities around security, privacy and reliability comes out of the box which works seamlessly with HADOOP and any other native Platforms.

These tools stand out by means on,

• Brings best-in-class Architectural expertise
• Faster time to value through short development cycle
• Focus on business data, not on implementations and there on issues
• Better control on Budget and Execution
• Quick go-to market
• Better Cost-effective model

And other driving reason could be of shortages in technical resource for Big Data implementations; Where in wider and aggressive adoption of Big Data by every other enterprise companies and being a new skill set led to higher demand and scarce for highly skilled resources. But the Big data tools filling the gap in big-way by offering built-in, tailor-made solutions.

Data is simply becoming more available to decision makers and the latest technologies & tool sets making very much possible turning it into invaluable insights to business heads. It is clear visible that no organizations can afford the cost of turning down or delaying from harnessing Big Data potential when their competitors are already in. The long-term future for big data adoption by businesses is extremely positive and the Big Data tools & Technologies from leading players like IBM, SAP, Oracle and Talend are going to help making these Big Data implementations faster, stream-lined, cost-effective, highly standard and process driven.

Note: The above article is authored by Mr.Devaraj Palanisamy from Enterprise Integration & Information Management Practice @ Aspire Systems.