How Big Data and Analytics can change the way your organisation works

Ivy Nov 04, 2013 No Comments

If your organization works with data, you are probably working with Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and desktop statistics and visualisation technologies.  As your organisation expands horizontally and scales vertically, you may find the size of your data extending beyond hundreds of gigabytes to hundreds of terabytes and more! While most of the data lies in unstructured text files generated over years of repeated business operations, continuous transactional data also adds to your data size. You may find the traditional SQL you use to manage / retrieve your data from the RDMS is incommensurate with the massive data needs of your organization.

So what do you do? Which way do you go?

Acknowledge the issue that your organisation is now dealing with voluminous  data, and this needs to be addressed immediately.

Voluminous data stretches the capacity of your existing working systems in the domain, slowing down speed and analysis. This may compel you to reconsider your data management options. You may then want to look at technologies and applications that support such large data needs.

Look into how your organization would benefit from adapting a Big Data platform.

Here is a benchmark of the benefits of migrating to Big Data enabled technology:

Large data volume storage

Linear scaling, built on the massive parallel processing (MPP) architecture

Breakthrough performance for queries

Easier scalability and access

Data science based query analysis, root-cause analysis, predictive analysis

Improved accuracy

Quick in-database analysis with speedy ETL (extract, transform, and load)

In-depth insight into multi-structured data sources

High ‘speed to market’ time, in a decision management system (DMS)

Reduction of code by almost 80 – 90 %

Easy deployment of rich analytic applications, with distributed processing

Optimum hardware utilization

Effective ROI

Explore the various options available which address the specific needs of your organization. Weigh the benefits against consequent cost implications for an effective ROI.

Adopting the right programming framework and Big Data technology that supports processing of your organisational data sets in a distributed computing environment, comes next.

For this, you may want to apply to Schools and Institutes that cater to a Big Data learning experience.

So, enroll in courses that support your work at the organisation, or which may enhance your CV when you want to make a job changeover.  If you are in developing or data management, such courses are an add-on in your learning curve.

The need for Big Data Management

Improved CRM (Customer Relationship Management): A Big Data technology platform allows you to keep pace with increasingly large customer data sets stored as unstructured data, and apply this to  your business goals.

In-database analytics for customer insights: Insights are  revealed through smarter in-database online Analytics for effective, speedier decisions. This can be translated into a DaaS (Data as a Service) model taking advantage of your data sources. With continuous data updates and support, you can be one step ahead of competition.

Automate all financial processes: Your organisation’s capacity to mine, store, extract, cleanse, transform and analyse data and convert the same into effective value based models and DSS (Decision Support System) is definitely enhanced.

The need for Big Data Learning

Whether you are already working in an organisation working with vast data, as a developer,  a data analyst or aim to be a data scientist, you need to understand Big Data and how it operates. Although primarily an on-site learning experience,  formal courses offered in select Institutes are an essential cog in the education process of analytics, DBM, data science and programming, amongst others.