How companies master the entry into Big Data

In the face of aggressive competition, only companies that react quickly to current market events can survive. Companies that use big data as a source of information are particularly efficient.

Databases push limits

Big data comprises data from different sources, which are available in various formats and are constantly updated. However, they can hardly be processed into usable results using conventional means: relational databases fail due to the volume of data and ETL processes are too slow and have difficulties with the diverse data formats. The complexity of the data can therefore only be efficiently managed with the use of special Big Data technologies.

Data helps improve business processes

Getting started with Big Data processing always begins with scenarios of how data can help improve business processes or change business models. Once the projects have been identified, it must be clarified whether all the necessary information is available. If this is not the case, new data sources must be tapped - such as newsletters, landing pages, social media, Google Analytics or online portals and databases.

Now the data can be prepared, analyzed and graphically displayed with tools. However, there is no single tool that covers all functions. Only the linking of different solutions allows the adjustment to individual needs.

Five tips for Big Data projects:

1. Department managers and specialists define which results are to be achieved.
2. Data experiments reveal interesting correlations, yielding new insights.
3. The data can be prepared with metadata without adjusting the data source.
4. The traceability of data models should be guaranteed at all times.
5. Use available Big Data technologies instead of developing your own solutions.

About the author: Cyrill Durrer is a Data Scientist at Oyatec in Lommis, Switzerland