Data & Analytics Opinion South Africa

Big data not just for the big dogs anymore

Big data has existed for a while, but until recently such data could only be used by the giants as many big data applications could only work with individual databases or were often costly and cumbersome. However, thanks to falling tech costs and new tools that display complex databases in ways even technophobes could love, smaller companies can unlock many more secrets from data.
Stuart Miles via
Stuart Miles via freedigitalphotos.net

Timothy Vieyra, manager director of Comotion Business Solution's says that "cloud offerings are reducing the cost and smaller business have access to business intelligence. There is also no longer a need to hire specialists or buy expensive systems". This means that companies of all sizes can implement a strategy for big data and a plan of how to collect and use it. This also means that many more providers will start to offer more intelligent data services to firms of all sizes, and not only to the big dogs.

Better market and customer intelligence is key

Forbes online recently listed four ways in which big data will have an impact. Number 2 being that "Big data will enable companies to collect better market and customer intelligence".

For Vieyra, it is exactly this intelligence that is key, and what separates the good solutions from the great ones. According to Vieyra, most companies have implemented business intelligence solutions on an operational level, but the potential to understand the drivers of both volume and profitability in the business is yet untapped.

"We work with management to design a solution that will unlock the usefulness of their business's data. The Comotion Insights Dashboard provides regular packaged insights to decision-makers via a customised dashboard. The result: a more profitable business through evidence-based decision-making".

Understanding profitability and volume dynamics are critical to success in the modern age and access to a big data solution will assist with understanding margins, focusing activities and unlocking profits. Luckily, with access to systems like these, insightful, customised big data solutions are no longer a pipe dream.

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