“Big Data” is the flavor of the moment, but it’s not always clear what the term means. I’ve worked with dozens of companies, and more often than not “big data” means the kitchen sink approach, i.e. let’s just collect everything in case we need it.

That’s fair enough, but using big data intelligently involves more than just a big database and tons of stored information. It means collecting the right kinds of data that answer specific questions addressing specific business needs — and when you collect the right information, big data can provide invaluable insight into your user base and help you predict the future actions and behaviors of your users. It’s all doable, but it requires planning and smart decisions up front that take into account the nature of your customers.

Source: datanami.com
Author: Dmitri Williams