FEATURE : BIG DATA
BIG DATA IS A BIG DEAL FOR ALL ENTERPRISES , REGARDLESS OF SIZE , SINCE IT CREATES THE POTENTIAL TO UNLOCK KEY INSIGHTS .
Hadj Batatia , Associate Professor ,
School of Mathematical and Computer
Sciences , Heriot-Watt University Dubai
“ Applications can include customer acquisition and retention , targeted ads , product development , price optimisation , supply chain analytics , and risk management . In governmental agencies , Big Data technologies allow optimising security , improving governance for more efficient public services , and better citizen satisfaction . Applications include citizen sentiment analysis , citizen segmentation , economic analysis , tax fraud detection , Smart City , and cybersecurity .
“ In engineering and industry , Big Data allows for efficient processes , reduced energy consumption , and contribute to sustainability through the discovery of optimal designs , the estimation of optimal control , and the sparse utilisation of resources . In medicine , Big Data methods are key to drug discovery , predictive and preventive practices , and epidemiological research and management . The strong impact of Big Data applies also to all other social and economic domains , as well as to science ,” he said .
Batatia explained that choosing the right tools for Big Data requires understanding the difference between transactional and analytical data . “ Transactional data is that data which supports routine business operations , such as sales , accounting , and banking , whereas analytical data is used to support decisions , such as monthly sales by unit or by geographic location . Transactional or operational data are the result of simple queries , that must run in very short time , to ensure consistency . In contrast , analytical data are dealt with by complex queries for reporting and analytics needs ,” he said .
Abed Hamandi , Senior Director , Professional Services – Emerging EMEA – SAS , said Big Data is a big deal for all enterprises , regardless of size , since it creates the potential to unlock key insights .
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