Big Data Defined
Enterprise systems have long been designed around capturing, managing and analyzing business transactions e.g. marketing, sales, support activities etc. However, lately with the evolution of automation and Web 2.0 technologies like blogs, status updates, tweets etc. there has been an explosive growth in the arena of machine and consumer generated data. Defined as “Big Data”, this data is characterized by attributes like volume, variety, velocity and complexity and essentially represents machine and consumer interactions.
Case for Big Data Analysis
Machine and consumer interaction data is forward looking in nature. This data available from sensors, web logs, chats, status updates, tweets etc. is a leading indicator of system and consumer behavior. Therefore this data is the best indicator of consumer’s decision process, intent, sentiments and system performance. Transactions on the other hand are lagging indicators of system or consumer behavior. By definition leading indicators are more speculative and less reliable compared to lagging indicators; however, to predict the future with any confidence a combination of both leading and lagging indicators is required. That’s where the value of big data analysis comes in, by combining system and consumer interactions and transactions, organizations can better predict the consumer decision process, intent sentiments and future system performance leading to revenue growth, lower costs, better profitability and better designed systems.
So, which business areas will benefit via big data analysis? Think of areas where decision-making under uncertainty is required. Areas like new product introduction, risk assessment, fraud detection, advertising and promotional campaigns, demand forecasting, inventory management and capital investments will particularly benefit by having a better read on the future.
Figure 1: Combination of big data and transactional data delivers better insights and business results
Big Data Analytics Lifecycle
The big data analytics lifecycle includes steps like acquire, organize and analyze. Big data or consumer interaction data is characterized by attributes like volume, velocity and variety and common sources of such data include web logs, status updates and tweets etc. The analytics process starts with data acquisition. The structure and content of big data can’t be known upfront and is subject to change in-flight so the data acquisition systems have to be designed for flexibility and variability; no predefined data structures, dynamic structures are a norm. The organization step entails moving the data in well defined structures so relationships can be established and the data across sources can be combined to get a complete picture. Finally the analysis step completes the lifecycle by providing rich business insights for revenue growth, lower costs and better profitability. Flexibility being the norm, the analysis systems should be discovery-oriented and explorative as opposed to prescriptive.
Getting Started
Oracle offers the broadest and most integrated portfolio of products to help you acquire and organize these diverse data sources and analyzes them alongside your existing data to find new insights and capitalize on hidden relationships. Learn how Oracle helps you acquire, organize, and analyze your big data by clicking here.
Figure 2: Oracle’s engineered system solution for big data analytics
How will the Social Analytics solution from Endeca fit in this solution?
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