Big Data: The Next Bubble

April 18, 2012

A colleague in Europe sent me information about a new study sponsored by SAS. To tow the line, I have done work for SAS in the past and we use SAS technology for certain types of analytic work. Nevertheless, the SAS report surprised me with its robust estimate of the uptake of big data, which is now the buzzword and trend poster child for 2012. The report was generated by CEBR, which is an azure chip outfit performing various analyses for government entities and enterprisers.

First, you will need to snag a copy of the report “Data Equity: Unlocking the Value of Big Data.” SAS did not “know” me, so I had to register again and you may have to jump through hoops as well. I don’t know if SAS will call to sell me something, but you may get a ringy dingy. Don’t blame me.

The main point of the study is that every industrial sector will be forced to deal with big data. Okay, as news flashes go, this is not one which lit up the Beyond Search editorial team. We did notice a number of interesting charts. The one reproduced below shows how much uptake in big data occurs by industrial sector today and in 2017. The key point is that the numbers and bars show big data becoming a “big” deal.

My view is that the study is interesting. Omitted is obvious weightings which consider:

Economic downturns in the broad economy
Facts which suggest even laggard sectors like manufacturing will embrace the big data shift
Exogenous factors such as war in the Middle East or in the volatile areas bordering on China.

So big estimates go with big data. Big dreams are useful. Reality? Well, that is often different.

Stephen E Arnold, April 17, 2012

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Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky. He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues worldwide to make this Web log useful to those who want to go "beyond search". Contact him at sa [at] arnoldit.com. His Web site with additional information about search is arnoldit.com.