Is all the Big Data usable?

So much is happening related to Big Data in almost every industry. A general conception of Big Data (or rather difficult data) is putting a lot of onus on collecting data. Data has been generated since years but with spreading awareness of its power, the storage and recording of data is getting more and more crucial. The most basic step to any analysis will be the pool of data and companies realizing that are making efforts to store at least their internal data, if not external data (related to their clients). For an aviation company, one flight of half an hour can generate 30 terabytes of data (related to just technical flight operations). Imagine the volume of data they will and can have to look at.

But is all the Big Data usable? The answer should be NO. Data is getting influenced (polluted) and its must to have pure and definite data for the analysis, otherwise it can generate ambiguous outputs. Although the research techniques and decision methodologies take care of accounting for this, I believe a systematic approach is always needed to choose & filter Data (or at least data source).

Choose a source relevant to your goal: It’s important to choose a source which is relevant to your research. This source can be one of the factors on which your goal or analysis directly relies on and not indirectly. Suppose we want to know how sales of a children’s shoe company is doing. On observing another set of data for the sale of children’s clothing, we might see a correlation. However, it’s very important to understand that Sales of shoes is not directly correlated to that of clothing but both depend on (may be) number of children entering schools or their age.

Influenced data (Polluted) data:  Data now-a-days is available from many sources, however not all these data can be used for analysis. For example some quotes on blogs can be influenced and biased and using such data can always present a major threat to authenticity and accuracy of your analysis. Many advertisements in TV and Newspapers also provide some figures (such as internet runs x% faster on our network). Even these data should be scrutinized. One needs to ask faster than which network? Are there any proofs for these claims? If yes, what conditions apply? Etc.

Channels for Data collection: Often the channel for data collection is not correct. You must have observed many people approaching you i

n a mall or a public place to fill up a short survey. Many a times if these channels are not trusted they can manipulate data or simply extrapolate a small set, so as to save on their effort. Choosing a trusted vendor is crucial to this. In case, someone is trying a vendor for the first time, one must spot check and validate the survey works. This can be done with the help of an external or third party agent or agency.

Time Window and data punctuality: Often data is valid only for a small period. The data collection schedule should take into account this factor. A dedicated timeline for collection of data and a strict adherence to it can help curb this. One more point to note here is that the data source must also provide the current data and not obsolete one. This factor may not be applicable to all but for many analyses, this can be really crucial.

The data collection is the most fundamental step to any analysis and doing it in a perfect way can improve accuracy of your outputs (and hence decision insight) significantly.

Visualization: An important aspect of data analytics

“Scientists are considered artists and vice-versa.” I read this some time back and at that time I could not understand why so. Today I realize why. Look at the five pictures (taken from various sources on internet) below and each represents a different kind of data representation. If stored in text or in an excel format, they will still be in a form where all will look almost same. However, below visualization gives a meaning to each data type and thus makes them more understandable. 

Visualization is an important and a crucial aspect of Big Data Analysis. When we use the term Big Data, it is just not the huge size of unorganized data, but also the complexity involved, that adds to the difficulty. Very popular 4Vs of big Data – Volume, Variety, Velocity, and Value – indeed make the data completely undecipherable. One can imagine how a raw data pulled from Twitter or Facebook will look like. It will make no sense and the entire data will not even fit in one visible screenshot.

Visualization plays a very important role in such situation. How the data and trends will be represented in a way which makes the whole analysis or the final statement very clear is what most of the visualization tools try to achieve.[ for details of some tools please visit http://blog.profitbricks.com/39-data-visualization-tools-for-big-data/ ] Although these tools are highly sophisticated and can decide by default, which graphic to be picked up for showing a specific analysis, however the data analyst’s imagination and experience can add the perfect seam to it.

With time, visualization has evolved. From simple write-ups to blogs and infographics to interactive visualization techniques, all are helping the research author to explain idea and hence the final statement very crisply. The graphical aids have added another dimension to the whole analysis write-up. This extra dimension will definitely make the analysis more understandable.

Visualization is where the engineering meets the scientific analysis. The junction has to be very strong, appropriate and in-accordance with the goal of analysis. 

6 Steps to Big Data Enablement: The Roadmap

All about Big Data - Infograph

How IT has transformed Businesses

How IT has Transformed the Businesses

IT is believed to exist since stone ages. At that time the information technology was restricted to how the communication was done. With advancement in technologies, the communications and IT has grown to such a level that now IT is an inseparable part of most of the businesses today.

Initially, the role of IT was restricted to just the Data management. A faster computing than what can be done manually was the mere purpose of having an IT support. While the data volumes are increasing exponentially, the role of IT becomes more crucial to handle this ‘Big Data’ and in addition expands it to enable core business handling. The 4 key contributions of IT in transforming businesses are:

High Productivity: Today IT not only provides a platform for designing and implementing a process, but also makes the process the more efficient but enhancing the speed of execution. The accurate and streamlined processes are pivotal to any business functioning. A simple example of this can be seen in everyday life when we purchase stuff, book tickets and make reservations online. The complete scenario is transforming, which is making these systems more efficient as well as speedy.

Accessibility & connectivity: IT has connected the world. A multinational business is now-a-days as well connected as is a single office business. IT has made it easy for businesses to lookout for Customers, which means more business. Businesses can leverage Internet access technologies, new-generation tools such as wikis and social media networks to facilitate communication with vendors, business partners, customers, government regulators and other stakeholders. Communication is no more a barrier & with increased investment in bandwidth utilization, it seems to be getting even better.

Fostering collaboration:  IT enables workers to interact and to collaborate with partners irrespective of geographical boundaries. Cloud computing and proprietary software give businesses more flexibility in terms of utilizing talent. The overall collaboration is enhancing streamline workflow management through Outsourcing and partnerships / tie-ups.

Efficient Information and Data management: Businesses generate huge reserves of data and information, daily. Deploying IT software systems such as ERP, management information systems, data-processing data centers and related information management technologies can help businesses to manage, leverage and optimize terabytes of data. Information processing, classification and management are keys to operational efficiency and decision making for workers, professionals and top management in an organization.

Given these contributions and considering them crucial for any business, how can any firm take advantage of these? Renting provides a wonderful option. They don’t have to worry about purchasing the infrastructure /software nor about selling them back at the end of contract, if not needed. Businesses can now focus on their core task and concentrate more on it, without worrying about the other hassles. Businesses especially Software firms are getting more flexible in terms of picking up short term, high investment contracts.

Firms across the globe are realizing these benefits and moving to IT enabling. Not only IT provides a robust and long-term transformation, but also in economic slowdown, IT transform can help the businesses to cope-up. The trend surely shows how the further enhancements will push better transformation of the businesses. IT has changed the way business is done, and it will keep fostering better transformations. 

Consultants Everywhere

PaaS (Cloud Computing) takes lead in IT

PaaS takes the lead

“Cloud will define next gen IT”

This statement seldom crosses our ears. But what is it in cloud that will actually gain pace? Well, the answer is PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service). How? Let’s see.

What Consists of cloud computing

Many companies are now using cloud computing in different ways according to their needs. Their needs vary from hosting internal communication, CRM to get rental storage, servers, etc. Cloud services with its three layers address all these. The Lowest layer, IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-service) helps in providing solutions for Networking, Security, Sys mgmt, Servers, Storage, etc. The Uppermost layer is SaaS (Software-as-as-service), which encompasses services for Emails, CRM, ERP, etc. The middle layer is PaaS.

What is PAAS

PaaS provides a platform over the web to the buyers for creation and development of software. Thus it brings in the best of both the other layers near it. While the buying and maintaining hardware and software remains Cloud provider’s baby, it gives the buyer a flexibility of altering and editing the software by providing a platform to do so (not available in SaaS).

Where PaaS is useful

A lot of companies now work in an environment, where multiple developers from multiple locations are simultaneously involved. PaaS eases this by providing:

- Development, Test, Deployment, Hosting and Maintenance of applications in an integrated development environment.

- Architecture where multiple concurrent users utilize the same application.
- Integration to web services and databases and support for development team collaboration.

Given the services, PaaS provided the best trade-off between investment required and capabilities needed. It defines and supports a growth path for companies in their development stages in an efficient way by allowing them to concentrate on their business.

Future of PaaS

With market of PaaS predicted to be nearly $1Bn by 2016, it has shown the maximum growth until among other Cloud offerings. The leading PaaS service providers such as Microsoft, IBM, Google & SalesForce are keen on increasing their market share.

According to IDC, a popular analyst firm, 65.2 percent of PaaS revenue was derived from the Americas in 2012, and that's not expected to change much by 2017, dropping only to 62.3 percent. But PaaS revenue in Asia-Pacific including Japan with 14.1 percent market share in 2012 is expected to grow to 19.0 percent in 2017. Europe, the Middle East and Africa accounted for 20.7 percent of PaaS revenue in 2012, but that total is expected to drop slightly, to 18.7 percent, by 2017.

Surely there are shortcomings in PaaS, but with IT giants investing heavily in research and innovation in cloud computing, these can be surely fixed. Emergence of new players (while they prefer collaborating with leaders, so they don’t have to reinvent the common platform services) is certainly adding new value to PaaS. PaaS is no doubt taking lead in IT.

Importance of Sales Ops

A Sales leader is required to coach & enable selling. His utmost concern is achievement of his targets while keeping his force motivated. All his efforts are focused to achieve this goal. In the mid-size and large companies, this much needed undivided attention may be interrupted because of many support activities involved. This is where Sales Operations (Sales Ops) steps in.

Sales ops team’s fundamental goal is to enable a Sales Leader in concentrating his 100% efforts towards Sales. Sales ops will make sure to not only keep an eye on the horizon (how are we achieving targets) but also enable the journey (reporting, improving sales cycle, carving sales strategy, etc).

5 ways in which Sales Ops can benefit:

1.       Measurement of Results: Sales Ops team support leaders with various Matrices & Analysis reports (turning raw data into meaningful information), enabling strategy carving for the organization. Accurate & concise information on the progress of the team through Sales Forecasting, predictive analysis and other data analysis methods can help the leader to decide on the course for future sales. A thorough performance analysis will help the leader to gauge the productivity and efficiency of the team.

2.       Sales Cycle Optimization: A deep study of process and procedures currently followed so as to point out the loop-holes and carve out the better process can help the organization to get rid of unneeded bureaucracy. To keep abreast of current trends in the industry, it is must for any organization to continuously keep improving Sales Cycle and remain competitive. These can also safe-guard the organization against many frauds.

3.       Internal Communication Effectiveness: While the sales guys remain busy talking to customers, Sales ops can act as his representative for all the internal customers. To establish smooth communication channel and imparting training for latest protocols so as to keep all the concerned teams at par, is one primary function of Sales Ops.

4.       CRM Development & Administration: Sales Ops also develop, implement and administer various CRM tools and processes. They also make sure that the sales force is effectively trained to make the most benefit of the tools and processes. Coordinating to collect latest data and to maintain the full accuracy of same at any point of time is pivotal to organization’s success. With latest tools and technology, Sales Ops can provide much accurate information to the leaders.

5.       Improving Sales Productivity: Sales Ops keeps an eye on the utilization of the Sales Force. They also enable individual sales guy with budget allocations, monitoring and a smooth progression through the complex Sales Cycle. By supporting them in dealing with internal fuss & chaos, Sales ops play a key role in keeping them more productive and motivated.

While in many organizations, sales operations seem to be the support function, which gets effected vastly and it is considered one of the areas to cut back on. It is surely very unfortunate for any company to do so. Sales Ops can help a company to maintain its competitive edge. New technologies, improved processes & accurate visualization can definitely enable an organization to achieve more sales in a much efficient manner.