You’ve heard that “big data” is the next big thing.
But you may still be wondering what exactly it is?
What is it?
According to Gartner Research, the definition of big data is–
“Big data” is high-volume, velocity, and variety information assets that demand cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for enhanced insight and decision making.”
Easily explained, big data is all kinds of data within organizations. Organizations of all types, everywhere. Data such as customer information, consumer behavior information, communication information, business information, statistical information, government communications …and much more.
There are even governmental types of big data, such as political decisions, infrastructure, construction, unemployment, energy resources, agriculture, insurance, natural disasters, tax (public/private accounting), health and welfare information and statistics, etc.
In few words, big data in the public sector is BIG, really BIG.
Types of Big Data
Big data can be separated into 3 basic types: structured, unstructured, and semi-structured. Regardless of the type of information, big data is so huge that it requires advanced technology to process, organize and analyze.
What started by punching holes in cardboard, data storage went through many kinds of different hardware and has lately found a way to be compacted to nanosize. Not only can it be stored in micro decimal hardware, but it can also be processed and manipulated in superspeeds up to the micro decimal of a second.
Add fast internet connections and you’ll find big data moving at almost the speed of light, allowing the use of data storage in computing cloud systems. Yes, data can now be stored in virtual networks allowing the management of petabytes of data in several separate and distant data warehousing centers.
From the number of ingredients in your morning Starbucks coffee to facial recognition technology that can identify a person from a database of at least 2 billion people in just seconds, big data is everywhere. Surrounding us, in our devices …and even inside our DNA.
Now that data plays a role in all our daily lives, the world of marketing has obviously changed.
Data is the heart of modern marketing, especially digital marketing.
“When you think about information and marketing resources, big data is
Read more about why data is important for your marketing campaigns!