Analyse that
Tony Lock teases out the strands of current opportunity in big data analytics
Big data is receiving considerable attention from vendor marketing departments. We recently published two papers exploring various facets of the phenomenon. But is this an area resellers can exploit in the coming months, or should you focus elsewhere?
Many early advocates stress that current offerings can help organisations glean insight from the large volumes of unstructured data generated by modern IT systems, notably Sharepoint, Exchange and other email systems, internet resources, log files, and social media.
But while unstructured data is important for some, most organisations we polled retain their most valuable data in structured repositories, especially databases.
Well-established structured data repositories are not expected to become less important in the near future. With many if not all organisations needing to improve their services and top-line revenue, all sources of data must be fully exploited wherever possible.
All charts courtesy and copyright Freeform Dynamics 2012
Just how thoroughly are organisations managing to exploit these resources today?
For most, nowhere near well enough. In our research, fewer than half of respondents indicated they were fully exploiting even their structured information assets. And when it came to making the best possible use of unstructured data sources, more than half of those surveyed accepted they were doing a poor job.
In typical online surveys, early adopters and those with vested interest in the area tend to be over-represented.
It is therefore likely that an even greater proportion of organisations need help analysing the information sources they already hold -- even before they seek to address big data opportunities. So there is likely to be considerable potential for the channel to add significant value to its customer base.
Training is certainly one factor that cannot be overlooked - although experience tells us that even in the best of economic times training budgets can be difficult to get approved - unless an extremely strong business case can be made or regulation necessitates.
Also, IT professionals perceive that the rapid development of big data-focused IT holds potential.
Taking advantage
More than half of the respondents to our poll indicated they understand that developments in the areas of advanced storage and analytics are an opportunity to address business problems previously too difficult or expensive to consider. Perhaps even more significantly, the research also suggested that these developments are recognised as an opportunity to tackle key issues in new ways.
All charts courtesy and copyright Freeform Dynamics 2012
Given that many of the related offerings are relatively recent developments, many organisations will require help to implement them as rapidly as possible and exploit them fully. Indeed, given that many respondents may have been early adopters, many more mainstream organisations may need guidance on what products, services or other offerings suit their needs.
Many organisations may also require considerable help making a business case. It is likely this should prove more straightforward when it comes to making better use of the structured data assets that today comprise the bulk of data resources that have recognisable value.
Working out a business case and how value should be extracted from unstructured data sources will, in most cases, require even greater assistance from channel partners, as many organisations have yet to get to grips with the potential opportunities.
Tony Lock is programme director at Freeform Dynamics