Stephen Scanlon

Big Data

Big Data describes a massive collection of structured and unstructured information that has been collected over the past few years. This data can be used for analysis and the discovery of information that wasn’t available, or even possible, just a few years ago. This collection of information will transform the way businesses understand the market and conduct business by analyzing available data and using that information to improve their business processes.

In Data Analytics we talked about many situations where Big Data comes into play. With all of the applications that we used, the idea of Big Data was present in all of them. From data visualization to SAS, each of these applications are specific examples of just how Big Data can be used, and how helpful it can really be. Through the use of these hands on applications we were able to see just how much Big Data is driving the interests of businesses currently, because the benefits are astounding.

Big Data has a strong presence in the food industry, providing businesses with information about customer’s activity, likes, and preferences for different items. For example, McDonalds uses data analytics to figure out what is going on in their stores. They use this information to optimize different aspects of their business, such as the drive-thru. McDonalds designs the drive-thru around three different items from Big Data: design, information provided, and the different types of people who order from the drive-thru. By analyzing this information, McDonalds can cater to an even broader crowd then they currently do, making sure that they are doing the right thing not only for their business but also for their customers. Instances like this allow companies to really get the information that they need from customers, rather than playing a guessing game. Big Data will change the way businesses conduct their practices, and it has already begun.