Business trends – Big Data

The concept of Big Data has several definitions, mainly due to the fact that the term “large” is very subjective and inaccurate. Nevertheless, today, we come across this notion in almost every sector; the key here is to clarify what it means.

Enthusiasts of number measurements would say that a large amount of data means that it has more than a few 100 TBs or even – at least one Petabyte. Indeed, it is seen a lot now, but will it still be seen as much in 5 or 10 years? Others say that everything that leverages Hadoop or has massively parallel processes can also be included in this category. But to be honest, the most universal and safest definition of Big Data is that it is data that is too big for Online Transaction Processing. The main argument behind this statement is that it adapts to technological progress and does not get outdated.

Now that we understand the raw definition, let’s take a look at what is going on more deeply. From time to time, here and there, we hear about the fact that Big Data equates to huge profits. This is such a hot topic on the Internet that when we read the statements from all the excited people, we might think that it is everything that we need to do – just invest in Big Data and spend the rest of our lives relaxing on a Hawaiian beach. However, it is not so simple, trust me. You have to be careful with a couple of important decisions before you get started. First of all, remember – that you do not have to invest in Big Data just because everyone else does.

Basically, your first step should be to recognise whether you need the management architecture. Do you have the funds, time and effort that you need to invest in the establishment of a new architecture, such as NoSQL databases, that are necessary to contain your company data? Is the data used by your organisation a resource that significantly increases in volume over time, or can you easily predict the amount of memory you will require? It is worth remembering that relational databases are generally weaker in terms of access speed, but they provide greater consistency, which, in some industries, is the most critical aspect.

Suppose you have carefully thought through all of the above issues, and you continue to believe that big data is worth your company’s investment before you get started. In that case, you also have to check what the advantages and disadvantages of Big Data implementation are:

Profits

• Knowledge – information brings power; if there is a possibility to know more about the market or customers than your competitors do, there is a chance to be one step ahead of them.

• Capabilities – Big Data provides many new and exciting capabilities; if you have an opportunity to analyse more information, you will have many more ideas on how you can use it.

• Expansion – when you aspire to invest in a large sector of the economy, you need new employees. Job creation allows a company to grow significantly and increase revenue.

• Prestige – maybe it is not as important as the other advantages, but companies using Big Data are seen as far more complex, having more influence and business opportunities, as well as more respect and significance on the market.

Risks

• Money – really, Big Data is a huge investment. Of course, there is open-source software available on the market, but you will have to pay for servers, employees, trainings and other smaller changes like updating your website or your commercial offer.

• Employees – as mentioned in the previous paragraph, one thing that is very important to remember is the systems and architecture that your developers have worked with so far. You may have to purchase all sorts of training courses to make it possible for your employees to master specific topics.

• Utility – for something to actually create profit, it must be skillfully used; you need to use available opportunities to the fullest. Unfortunately, Big Data is quite complicated, and it does not work that well in each industry.

• Competition – As mentioned, this topic is currently very ‘hot’, and that causes a sharp increase in competition. As a company that will enter this industry, you must be careful because your opponents may simply not allow you to succeed by capturing your customers or surpassing your offer.

In summary, you need to come up with a strategy. Start by researching the market, especially the major companies with which you are competing. Then, make a list of pros and cons. Ask yourself the following questions. Seriously think about the technology that you want to use, keeping in mind its broad spectrum – SQL, NoSQL, NewSQL, and Hybrid Database. Which one is better, Hadoop or MPP? Why do we need Big Data? What will we use it for? Will it increase our income? After you have answered all of these questions, you are ready to get down to work; good luck!