Big Data: The New Natural Resource

Big data is the digital convergence of structured data found inside databases and unstructured data flowing from new sources like social networks, mobile device sensors, radio-frequency identification (RFID), smart meters and financial systems.

The digital universe will grow to 2.7 zettabytes in 2012, up 48 percent from 2011, moving toward 8ZB by 2015.

More than half of business leaders are not capitalizing on big data.

Users of analytics are 2.2 times more likely to outperform their peers.

Organizations have to put big data to work for their benefit.

Medical images and electronic medical records are just two types of data for which there is a growing need for analysis.

Big data analytics can help organizations deliver better customer service by delivering real-time information.

Analytics can help insurers better detect fraud.

The financial services industry produces an enormous amount of data daily that must be sifted through and analyzed.

Analytics can help retailers better understand customer wants and needs, thus leading to more sales.

The communications industry is responsible for gobs of data, much of which can be used to deliver more personal experiences.