Capability Smart on Route to Becoming New Buzzword
December 21, 2012
The countdown to 2013 is here in the form of predictions of technology trends. This year ‘capability smart’ popped up on Gartner’s recent list. Soon after,Connotate posted a recent article called, “Gaining Insights from Big Data and Analytics Requires Companies to be “Capability Smart.”
We learned how Connotate sees this idea manifesting at their company: partnerships. They have partnered with Clarabridge, Crowdsource, Digital Reasoning, Luminoso, SJV Associates, and Temis.
While capability smart veers off into many possible directions as far as a definition, the most fundamental level suggests:
“[T]hat we shouldn’t spin our wheels trying to build in-house solutions when there is a perfectly good commercial technology available that can do what it is that you need. For instance, when it comes to leveraging Web data for your Big Data projects, it’s not necessary to ask IT and Developer resources to build web scrapers to monitor products, pricing, reviews, asset sales, inventories or any other kind of accessible Web data, you can use a commercial solution.”
Now that Gartner has called 2013 the year where vendors must become capability smart, we might be seeing this phrase more often than big data. Capability smart means, amongst other definitions, that buzz words still work.
Megan Feil, December 21, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
PolySpot Connects Data from Across the Enterprise and Beyond with Over A Hundred Connectors
December 20, 2012
It is no secret that big data is the hot topic in every business and technology oriented publication around the world. However, many businesses remain in the dark with their unanswered questions regarding the ideal information management solutions or infrastructure components to free big data from information silos. All Things D reports on information management as it pertains to our current era of big data in the article, “A New Storage Paradigm for Big Data.”
The article summarizes some of the common and notable variables that can change how a company develops their strategy for utilizing big data:
As a result of this “free” data capture, increasing information granularity, more frequent usage and extended data value, businesses, research institutions and governments are growing enormous stores of large unstructured data (increasingly video) that needs to be stored and managed. This result presents a number of challenging data storage problems: extreme scalability; affordability (in general); managing the balance between cost and easy online access; maximizing application and user access; and assuring data durability.
Solutions from big data vendors such as PolySpot serve as an ideal technology component for an enterprise that needs to enable real-time access to data for analysts to make important decisions. One highlight of this solution lies in the numerous connectors provided; we are talking about a library of over 100 connectors.
Megan Feil, December 20, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
PolySpot Puts Information to Work within the Enterprise with Their Unique Big Data Solution
December 19, 2012
Leveraging the power of big data is huge in terms of any discussion related to business processes and business strategy today. The Harvard Business Review carries on this conversation with their article and webinar on “Organizational Imperatives in the Era of Big Data.” This webinar from Thomas Redman discusses key organizational issues you must resolve in order to leverage big data.
Technological challenges were put into perspective with this article:
The technological challenges are legion, but they pale in comparison to the organizational challenges. From a lack of analytically capable analysts, managers, and leaders, to organizational structures that inhibit data sharing, few of today’s organizations are capable of taking advantage of the opportunities presented by “Big Data.” Resolving these challenges and readying an organization is among the most important management challenges of our times.
Companies must leave the technological challenge of creating technologies that can utilize big data to existing big data vendors such as PolySpot. Many enterprises have discovered that solutions such as PolySpot’s Information at Work aid in both the organizational aspect of locating data in near real-time when it needs to be utilized and in enriching big data so that it is primed to deliver meaning.
Megan Feil, December 19, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Using Solutions to Make Big Data Meaningful Proves to be a Competitive Advantage
December 18, 2012
While some say that big data will hurt small businesses while elevating larger enterprises to the top, we now see a different opinion emerging. The CEO of Intuit, Brad Smith believes that consumers and small businesses will benefit from the big data revolution. Read Write published the article “Intuit CEO: Big Data Can Be ‘The Great Equalizer’” on the subject that delves into more detail.
Smith’s opinions are informed by a recent study, “The New Data Democracy: How Big Data Will Revolutionize The Lives Of Small Businesses and Consumers,” which was conducted by Emergent Research. This study blends a mix of research and forecasting. The article alludes that forecasting might be more closely described as “wishful thinking.”
Steve King, partner at Emergent Research conducted the research in the study and told Read Write:
‘Big data is definitely going to kill some small businesses. Small businesses that don’t get with this will be severely disadvantaged, ‘especially firms reliant on location or opaque pricing. They’re going to get hammered. On the other hand, small companies that do manage to take advantage of big data will have an advantage compared to other small businesses, and be better positioned to compete with big businesses.’
Having the tools in place to utilize big data in meaningful ways puts a company at a huge advantage in the current market. PolySpot provides a solution in this arena that many companies look to for disseminating enriched data ready for analysts to use in churning out insights.
Megan Feil, December 18, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Another Partnership Locked in for Tableau
December 18, 2012
The press release published on CTOLabs announces the partnership between Karmaspehere and Tableau. The release entitled, “Karmasphere and Tableau Partner to Deliver Rich, End-to-End Big Data Analytics Solution,” posits a current era of transition into a new world of big data analytics.
The selling point and the feat these two companies have accomplished by working together is the self-service ability without any IT involvement. The analytics workflow includes data ingestion, exploration, analysis, reporting and visualization – all without reliance on IT.
Chief Executive Gail Ennis is quoted by the release:
“It is time to bridge the gap between Big Data Analytics and BI. Tableau is the world’s fastest growing BI company with industry-standard reporting and visualization capabilities. Customers who live in this BI world will now be able to access the power of Hadoop through Karmasphere, and get their Big Data analytics delivered seamlessly through Tableau.”
What is more important that Karmasphere customers can now access Hadoop and Tableau customers can now access big data analytics through that platform? Well, this partnership is one of Tableau’s many recent partnership announcements. We are not counting, but they certainly seem to have friends in the right places.
Megan Feil, December 18, 2012
Sponsored by Arnold IT.com, developer of Augmentext
Products and Processes Drive Data so Accessible Data can Drive Success
December 17, 2012
Companies are not receiving accolades for the amount of data they have. When the phrase big data gets thrown around loosely, it can be confusing for people new to the concept as to what value lies in big data. A recent TechCrunch article, “So What If You Have Big Data? Without Processes and Products It’s Useless” drives an important point home related to this misconception. No one is counting terabytes simply for the sake of piling up the most data.
The real value for big data lies in the way it is utilized and the opportunities and insights that can be created from it. The article discusses the two major ways that companies can turn big data into cold hard cash by creating competitive advantages: data-driven processes and data-driven products.
In addition to learning about processes, we also found out more about the landscape of data-driven products:
Twitter, while not a data product itself, licenses its data to providers like DataSift, who then go on to create a data product that companies gobble up for the insight it provides them. Some media companies package up their audience viewership data into products they turn around and sell to channel programmers and content creators.
Whether companies are dealing in data-driven products or data-driven processes, one thing is for sure. An infrastructure component, such as the solution from PolySpot, is integral to connecting every enterprise employee to the information they need to make vital decisions.
Megan Feil, December 17, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Big Data plus European Football Equals Beautiful
December 17, 2012
Of course there is a reason for real-time UK football analysis companies to exist. With the amount of money fueled into this industry and the huge amount of buzz games and predictions draw, it would be silly for a company like Squawka not to be here. The Guardian delves into how this company works in the article, “How Does Big Data Add to the Experience of Watching Football?”
Social analytics expert, DataSift is also on board. On October 28, they tracked over 380,000 Tweets and gained insight on sentiment during the game where Chelsea lost to Manchester United.
The article quotes Squawka’s co-founder and CEO:
“There are so many ways we can use this sort of data, and we’re certainly planning to do more in this area. For example, does a bit of ultimately unnecessary skill boost online reaction more than a simple yet effective pass? Do foreign players get more abuse for diving than their English counterparts? It’s all in the data.”
Squawka will be adding services for cricket and formula one racing due to their success with European football. We find this usage of big data absolutely fascinating and completely beautiful. It is a creative way of adding even more to already amazing games.
Megan Feil, December 17, 2012
Sponsored by Arnold IT.com, developer of Augmentext
Search Framed as Iterative Discovery
December 17, 2012
Finally, we come across an article that puts search at the forefront of big data. The post “Big Data or Big Noise?” from Chilliad discusses a “new” approach to the process of search.
Relevancy has always been an issue in search and this article is nothing short of correct to point that out. This post also points to the idea that irrelevant results can become big noise and it would be a waste of time for users to read that noise.
Chilliad humbly suggests that users do not need to know what we are looking for, where to find it, or how to figure that out:
“In fact, reading is not the next thing I want to do, reading is the last thing I want to do. That is why we approach Big Data as an exploration and provide software that supports an approach we call Iterative Discovery. Iterative Discovery is exactly what it sounds like — I start with a hunch or hypothesis that I wish to validate and that requires exploration and iteration through massive amounts of data.”
The problem we have with this concept is that it does not need as much of an explanation as Chilliad gives it. Iterative discovery is a way of framing search, but it is nothing innovative or out of the box.
Megan Feil, December 17, 2012
Sponsored by Arnold IT.com, developer of Augmentext
Business Process Heightened to Maximum Efficiency with PolySpot Solutions
December 14, 2012
Making a decision in a business can be done in a variety of ways. More often than not, decision-makers look to data to assist them now that there are solutions available to enable such a process. Smart Business reports on “How to Use Big Data to Make Better Business Decisions” in their recent article.
The article discusses what types of decision are made most successfully using big data:
In general, data-driven decision making works better at an operational or tactical level since there are relatively fewer risks involved. In fact, when aided by technology, data makes it easy to automate rudimentary tasks and decisions. For example, it’s hard to imagine how Amazon or Wal-Mart would fare if they relied on managers’ instincts to replenish stock levels, when a computer can synthesize inventory changes and sales trends and place orders automatically.
When the determination to make decisions using data is made, the only remaining variable is the technological solutions that will need to be in place for data access to happen efficiently and effectively. PolySpot solutions are above par in this department, for example. However, companies must research for themselves which one will suit their needs best.
Megan Feil, December 14, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com developer of Augmentext
FirstRain Performinator Delivers Data Directly to CRM Systems
December 14, 2012
We were steered toward a handy product review recently of news aggregator FirstRain and were impressed with the product details and abilities we learned about. In the feature article titled “FirstRain Launches the Performinator” on FreePint, we are informed of the product’s ability to find, filter, and deliver business-relevant Web content. The latest version includes FirstTweets, which is a selection and delivery of relevant and timely Tweets to your organization.
The article tells us more about FirstRain’s flexible deployment options:
“Instead of handing out yet another login on another website, FirstRain delivers content via portal integration. For example, the FirstRain Performinator makes it possible for users to add FirstRain dynamically-updated company profiles and news directly into their CRM systems. Alternatively, users can display the latest breaking market or sector intelligence in their shared enterprise workspaces, such as SharePoint. Finally, FirstRain is optimised for delivery over iPad, iPhone and Android devices, and easily enables users to share this content across their numerous portals and mobile devices.”
We believe this product may potentially help users reduce information overload and increase productivity in the onslaught of data in the business world. This type of targeted, actionable customer intelligence should be a model for others in the industry.
Andrea Hayden, December 14, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
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