The Future of Big Data: Trends and Innovations for 2023 and Beyond

Shivam Kumar Manglam | May 16, 2023 | 10012 views | Read Time : 10:00 min

The Future of Big Data: Trends & Innovations for 2023 and Beyond
Discover the latest trends and innovations shaping the future of big data beyond 2023. Discover how these advancements are revolutionizing the way businesses operate and unlock the full potential of big data for your organization.

Contents

1 Big Data Driving Changes
2 Big Data's Relevance to Businesses and Organizations
3 Trends & Innovations for 2023 and Beyond 4 Final Thoughts

1. Big Data Driving Changes

Although the concept of big data is not new, the exponential growth in the volume and diversity of data generated by individuals and companies is causing significant changes across various industries. By utilizing big data, companies are able to make informed decisions, optimize processes, and promote innovation, ultimately transforming how businesses operate and compete.

The ability to collect and utilize data to its full potential has the power to enhance operations in any industry, from manufacturing to transportation and even agriculture, driving innovation and empowering businesses globally. As big data continues to evolve, it is anticipated to improve all business sectors, regardless of their size.

Over time, several companies are emerging, offering solutions for managing massive datasets and gaining valuable insights. As a result, the contribution of big data to technological advancements, business growth, and sector profitability is immense.

2. Big Data's Relevance to Businesses and Organizations

In the current business landscape, where data plays a vital role in decision-making, big data has assumed a critical role for enterprises and organizations. Companies can utilize big data to gain valuable insights, elevate customer experiences, and gain a competitive edge by employing the appropriate tools and procedures. Moreover, it can help businesses minimize costs, enhance operational efficiency, and create new revenue streams. Big data's benefits extend to a wide range of industries and organizations.

Companies that make advanced use of big data have reported tangible business benefits, including:

  • Heightened efficiency
  • Improved visibility into rapidly changing business environments
  • Optimization of products and services for customers
  • Identifying market trends
  • Precise information on customer behavior and shifting market situations
  • Predict and monitor the impacts of decisions
  • Enhanced accuracy of insights
  • Risk management and improved agility

3. Trends & Innovations for 2023 and Beyond

The business world has come to realize the significance of big data and analytics, underscoring the importance of staying abreast of the latest trends in the field. Numerous significant big data trends such as NLP, AI/ML and predictive analytics exist, each with the potential to help organizations overcome obstacles and attain desired advantages. While approaches may vary among firms, the ultimate aim is always to seize new opportunities or refine existing business models, allowing them to maintain a competitive edge in the constantly evolving business environment.

3.1 The Rise of Edge Computing

Edge computing is a technology trend rapidly gaining traction in the big data landscape. It involves processing data at the network's edge, which is closer to the data's source, as opposed to in a centralized data center. This approach allows benefits such as reduced latency, improved security, and the ability to process big data in real time.

Edge computing is a highly efficient method for processing large quantities of data while minimizing bandwidth usage. It can also reduce organization development costs and allow software to run in remote locations. In addition, edge computing optimizes performance and storage by reducing the need for data to travel through networks, thereby decreasing computing and processing expenses, particularly concerning cloud storage, bandwidth, and processing costs.


3.2 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Despite the fact that machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have been in existence for some time, their true potential is just beginning to emerge. These innovations in the big data landscape are altering how businesses operate and make decisions, and their impact will continue to grow beyond 2023. A symbiotic relationship between big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence is observed due to the abundance of data.

AI and machine learning are essential for gaining insights and utilizing large amounts of data. They allow for the identification of large-scale patterns and opportunities to optimize processes and increase revenue. As big data continues to expand, increasingly potent artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to optimize various business processes and applications will be developed, and the expansion of one will sustain the growth of the other.


3.3 The Growing Importance of Data Privacy and Security

Data privacy and security have become crucial concerns for businesses and consumers alike. With data breaches occurring more frequently, companies must invest heavily in security measures to protect sensitive information. This aspect is highly valued by organizations, as disclosing customers' data without their permission can harm their reputation and ability to retain customers. In addition, as big data continues to grow, companies must ensure that they collect and process data ethically and securely. In the future, we can expect an increased emphasis on privacy and security in the big data landscape. As a result, companies will need to implement more robust security measures and comply with stricter regulations to prevent data breaches and maintain consumer trust.

3.4 Increased Cloud Adoption

The cloud has become an indispensable part of the big data landscape, and this trend is expected to persist. Cloud-based solutions offer businesses the agility, scalability, and flexibility they need to manage big data effectively. Moreover, moving to the cloud can significantly benefit organizations by enabling them to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and rely on external services to address security concerns. One of the most significant big data trends is the ongoing push for cloud adoption, and as more firms adopt cloud-based solutions, further innovations and developments can be anticipated in this field.

3.5 Natural Language Processing

Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology empowers computers to comprehend human language. It is already revolutionizing how businesses function, facilitating more personalized client interactions. NLP is expected to have a more prominent role in the big data arena in the future, as it helps to humanize technologies like big data, AI, IoT, and machine learning. With NLP, even novice users will be able to communicate with intelligent systems, and businesses can employ it for sentiment analysis to gain a deeper understanding of their customers' perceptions of their brands.

3.6 Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics is a rapidly growing trend in the world of big data. It uses data, machine learning techniques and statistical algorithms to forecast future outcomes based on past data. Big data analytics has always been an essential tool for companies to gain a competitive edge and achieve their goals. While not a new concept, predictive analytics is increasingly recognized as one of the most significant benefits of big data. As data is now viewed as the most valuable asset, organizations will widely adopt predictive analytics to understand how customers have and will respond to specific events, products, or services. This technology is also essential in predicting future trends in customer behavior, enabling companies to make more informed decisions about product development, marketing, and other business operations.

4. Final Thoughts

Big data is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field that is revolutionizing how businesses operate and make decisions. The emergence of innovative technologies such as AI, machine learning, NLP, and predictive analytics has made it possible for companies to gain deeper insights into their customers' needs, preferences, and behavior. The ability to collect, analyze, and utilize vast amounts of data will remain a critical asset for businesses striving to achieve their objectives.

Looking ahead, It is evident that the future of big data is quite promising, given the exponential increase in the amount of data generated and stored. The potential benefits of big data are enormous, and companies that can effectively leverage its power will undoubtedly gain a competitive advantage in the years ahead.

Spotlight

Excel Big Data

Excel Big Data is a specialty software and services company that provides a comprehensive set of services for companies that utilize Big Data technologies for mission / business critical needs. The technologies we provide services for include Hadoop (HDFS, MapReduce, YARN), Oozie, Zookeeper, HBase, Hive, Pig, Hue, Flume, Sqoop, Storm and Kafka. Specialties Hadoop, HBase, Hadoop Implementation / Support, Hadoop Training, Big Data Implementation/Support.

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Big Data Management, Data Science, Big Data

Leveraging Big Data for Competitive Advantage: Benefits

Article | April 28, 2023

Big Data has grown more valuable, helping businesses grow with features like real-time insights and enhanced decision-making; investing in a data strategy helps to stay ahead of the competition. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Leveraging Big Data for Competitive Edge and Sales Growth 3. Benefits of Big Data Analytics in Businesses 3.1 Improved Customer Insights 3.2 Enhanced Operational Efficiency 3.3 Better Decision-Making 3.4 New Product Development 3.5 Competitive Intelligence and Market Research 4. The Path Ahead 1. Introduction The benefits of big data for organizations have amplified with the advent of digital transformation and the prevalence of cloud technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and ubiquitous internet access. A comprehensive data strategy has become a prerequisite for organizations to retain their competitive edge and leverage big data's advantages. Data analytics is widely employed across different industries and departments, including finance, human resources, and online retail, to glean insights into customer behavior and identify fraudulent activities. In addition, big data in business assumes a critical role in furthering social good by facilitating the monitoring of emissions and pollutants, aiding against climate change. 2. Leveraging Big Data for Competitive Edge and Sales Growth Big data is vital for companies seeking to gain a competitive edge and foster innovation in the current business landscape. By leveraging big data, companies can quickly extract valuable insights from vast amounts of data. This requires investments in tools & technologies, and skilled data analysts & scientists. With a robust big data strategy in place, companies optimize operations, identify new opportunities, and drive innovation. Furthermore, data analytics plays a crucial role in boosting sales by providing insights into customer behavior, preferences, and buying patterns. Companies can optimize their marketing, pricing, and product placement strategies through data analysis, thus leading to increased revenue. Real-time data enables businesses to adapt to market changes quickly, improving their agility and competitiveness. Therefore, developing data analytics capabilities is imperative for businesses to stay ahead and gain a competitive edge. 3. Benefits of Big Data Analytics in Businesses 3.1 Improved Customer Insights Big data has revolutionized how businesses gain a competitive edge through data analytics, offering improved customer insights by analyzing their behavior, preferences, and sentiment toward products. As a result, companies personalize experiences, segment audiences, map customer journeys, and enhance satisfaction. By analyzing data from multiple sources, companies create a 360-degree view of their customers and offer targeted marketing campaigns. 3.2 Enhanced Operational Efficiency Big data improves operational efficiency through predictive maintenance, supply chain optimization, and fraud detection. Predictive maintenance reduces downtime and increases productivity by identifying potential equipment failures. Supply chain optimization streamlines logistics processes, reducing shipping times and costs. Fraud detection identifies and prevents fraudulent activities, protecting businesses from financial losses. 3.3 Better Decision-Making Data-driven decision-making is one of the benefits of using big data, as it provides real-time insights into market trends, customer preferences, and key performance indicators. This helps companies make informed decisions to drive growth and success. Additionally, big data improves decision-making by providing real-time analytics for risk assessment and management, allowing businesses to identify and mitigate potential risks before they become major issues. 3.4 New Product Development Big data uses in businesses enable creation of innovative products and services by analyzing customer feedback and market trends. By gaining insights into customer needs and preferences, businesses identify new opportunities and optimize & innovate their products. 3.5 Competitive Intelligence and Market Research Big data is helpful in providing competitive intelligence and market research. Social listening is a way for businesses to use big data to gain insights into customer sentiment, preferences, and behavior. By analyzing conversations on social media, companies can identify areas for improvement and create effective marketing campaigns. Competitor analysis is another crucial use case for big data in business. By analyzing data on competitors' strategies, businesses can adjust their own strategies and gain a competitive edge. For example, companies can optimize their offerings by tracking competitors' pricing strategies, marketing tactics, and product offerings. 4. The Path Ahead With the continuous evolution of technology, the benefits of big data in business have become increasingly significant in day-to-day operations. The proliferation of digital transformation has provided companies with access to an overwhelming amount of data. In order to maintain a competitive edge, it is imperative for organizations to establish a comprehensive data strategy. However, merely collecting data is insufficient to leverage the potential of big data fully. Companies must possess the necessary tools and expertise to analyze and interpret it. This necessitates investment in advanced analytics tools, as well as the recruitment of data scientists and analysts who can extract valuable insights from the data.

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Business Intelligence, Big Data Management, Big Data

Mastering BI: Key Business Intelligence Events to Attend in 2023

Article | April 27, 2023

Explore top business intelligence events in 2023 to leverage unparalleled networking opportunities, engaging discussions, and cutting-edge technologies. Stay ahead and unlock the true potential of BI. The ability to harness data and make informed decisions has become paramount for success in the increasingly data-driven world. To stay ahead of the curve and leverage the power of data, professionals in this field must actively engage in continuous learning, networking, and exploring the latest trends and technologies. Fortunately, there are numerous business intelligence conferences and events that cater specifically to the needs of business intelligence professionals. These gatherings provide industry experts, thought leaders and practitioners a platform to share their knowledge, exchange ideas, and showcase cutting-edge solutions. This article will explore a curated list of top BI events to attend for business intelligence and analytics professionals. These events are designed to empower professionals in their journey toward data-driven excellence. Delve into the world of business intelligence and analytics and uncover the key features and benefits of each event. 1.2023 International Conference on Business Analytics for Operations Excellence & Resilience (BAOER 2023) July 15 - 17, 2023 | Singapore BAOER (Business Analytics for Operations Excellence & Resilience) is a highly anticipated annual meeting that serves as a premier platform for industry professionals, researchers, and practitioners to gather and explore the latest advancements in business analytics. The event encompasses various engaging activities, including keynote talks, invited talks, oral presentations, poster presentations, and online sessions. One of the distinguishing features of BAOER is its commitment to quality and academic rigor. The conference invites submissions of papers and abstracts on various topics related to business analytics for Operations Excellence & Resilience, which undergo a meticulous peer-review process by the esteemed Conference Technical Program Committee. Accepted papers are not only presented at the conference but also hold the opportunity to be published in the prestigious International Conference Proceedings. By bringing together a diverse group of authors and speakers from across nations and regions, BAOER fosters a vibrant exchange of ideas and fresh perspectives. Attendees can delve into both theoretical and practical aspects of Operations Excellence & Resilience, gaining valuable insights and building fruitful connections. 2.Melbourne Business Analytics Conference August 2, 2023 | Melbourne (Australia) In today's fast-paced world, where AI and automation play a pivotal role, businesses must adapt and embrace data and digital transformation to remain competitive. With this in mind, Melbourne Business Analytics Conference is, focused on the compelling theme of 'Leading the way: Navigating Data and Digital Transformation in the Age of AI & Automation.' This highly anticipated event will bring together esteemed analytics academics, executives, and practitioners from around the globe. The program will feature a lineup of distinguished speakers who will share their cutting-edge research, real-world experiences, and success stories. Over 600 board members, senior executives, and industry professionals will converge for a power-packed, one-day conference. It will serve as an exceptional platform for knowledge-sharing and networking opportunities. The conference aims to equip Australian businesses with the tools and insights needed to gain a distinctive advantage by harnessing the trilingual insights of business, technology, and mathematics. Participants can expect to immerse themselves in the latest advancements in Machine Learning, AI, and advanced Data Analytics business applications. These valuable insights will help organizations optimize their strategies, drive innovation, and make data-driven decisions. 3.OSU Business Analytics Conference 2023 October 4 - 5, 2023 | Portland (Oregon) Prepare to embark on a unique learning journey at the 4th annual Business Analytics Conference hosted by the Oregon State Center for Business Analytics. This in-person event offers an unparalleled experience, allowing participants to learn from esteemed analytics experts in a dynamic combination of hands-on activities and engaging lectures. This year's conference will strongly emphasize on AI trends, forthcoming technical breakthroughs, innovative applications of AI, and the implications and opportunities it presents for businesses. The panel sessions will feature industry experts alongside faculty members from the College of Business, Engineering, and Liberal Arts. This diverse range of perspectives ensures a comprehensive exploration of the subject matter. Gain invaluable insights into integrating AI programs into your daily operations & long-term planning, along with the growing impact of AI on business strategies, operations, and the workforce. The event will serve as a platform for stimulating discussions around the changes and opportunities that AI can bring and equip organizations with the knowledge and readiness required to navigate the AI landscape effectively. 4.Future Data Driven Summit 2023 September 27, 2023 | Online The Future Data Driven Summit is a prestigious online event that centers around the Microsoft Data Platform, offering attendees an unparalleled opportunity to stay updated on the latest developments in the field. This highly anticipated summit aims to provide valuable insights and knowledge pertaining to Data & AI, DevOps, PowerBI & Visualization, Integration & Automation, and cloud infrastructure. Catering to a diverse audience of IT professionals, data engineers & analysts, data scientists, AI & machine learning engineers, business analysts, and developers, the Future Data Driven Summit will ensure that each participant can derive immense value from the event. With its comprehensive range of topics and sessions, this summit will cater to the needs and interests of professionals across various domains within the data ecosystem. Attendees will be privileged to engage in informative sessions led by subject matter experts, witness hands-on demos of cutting-edge technologies, and gain profound insights from industry leaders' keynote speeches. By participating in these activities, attendees can expand their knowledge base, enhance their skill sets, and stay abreast of the latest trends and advancements in the Microsoft Data Platform. 5.TDWI Executive Summit for Analytics August 7 - 8, 2023 | San Diego (California) The TDWI Executive Summit for Analytics is an interactive and highly curated event specifically designed for business leaders, data science professionals, and IT executives who bear the responsibility of selecting, managing, and extracting value from analytics applications, AI/ML, business intelligence, and the underlying data that powers them. Organizations today constantly rely on analytics to drive innovation, attract and retain customers, improve operational efficiency, and effectively manage risk. However, TDWI has identified a common challenge many organizations face—struggling to progress in their analytics journey. These difficulties often result in user frustration, errors, and increased costs. By attending the TDWI Executive Summit for Analytics, participants can acquire invaluable knowledge on accelerating their analytics journey and achieving optimal business outcomes. The event places a specific focus on deriving the highest value from data assets through analytics and AI/ML into strategies for fostering stakeholder collaboration and effectively scaling analytics and AI/ML initiatives, including the implementation of MLOps—a methodology for managing the machine learning lifecycle. Additionally, the summit will explore emerging trends and technologies, such as generative AI, enabling attendees to stay ahead of the curve. 6.Business Intelligence & Analytics Conference Europe November 7 - 10, 2023 | London (UK) The Business Intelligence & Analytics Conference Europe presents a unique and immersive four-day experience focused on learning and networking. This exceptional business intelligence event offers attendees unparalleled opportunities to connect and collaborate with professionals from Europe and beyond. The conference will encompass five tracks and hosts over 45 sessions, ensuring a comprehensive and diverse range of topics to explore. Through a myriad of fascinating case studies, attendees can learn from various organizations' past successes and challenges. This firsthand knowledge-sharing provides invaluable practical insights that can be applied in real-world scenarios. Broadening knowledge and gaining insights from internationally renowned experts is a key highlight of the event. These experts bring their wealth of experience and expertise to the forefront, sharing innovative approaches and best practices that can drive success in business intelligence and analytics. A notable roster of esteemed organizations participated in the previous year's conference edition. Among notable names were Aizonic, Allianz, AstraZeneca, Bank of England, Dufrain, Volva Penta and many more. The presence of such esteemed organizations further reinforces the conference's credibility and significance within the industry. 7.Data & Analytics Live July 25, 2023 | Online Data & Analytics Live is a highly immersive event that brings a multitude of data and analytics professionals from across North America, offering a full day of learning, networking, and collaboration, catering to newcomers to the field and seasoned industry leaders. Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights and takeaways from renowned speakers sharing their insights into the solutions required to address the most pressing challenges faced by the data and analytics community. These thought leaders will provide invaluable perspectives and expertise, guiding participants toward effective strategies and innovative approaches. One of the key highlights of Data & Analytics Live is the opportunity to discover the latest trends and solutions provided by leading industry providers. Navigating uncharted territory in the data and analytics landscape can be complex, but this event will equip attendees with the knowledge and resources to navigate confidently. Data & Analytics Live will offer a glimpse into how data and analytics are revolutionizing businesses across industries and serves as a unique platform to interact with industry leaders, influential technologists, and pioneering data scientists shaping the future of data and analytics. 8.Customer Analytics Summit September 10 - 12, 2023 | Jersey City (New Jersey) The Customer Analytics Summit is an exciting event designed specifically for professionals in the data and customer insights community. Tailored to address the most pertinent issues in this field, the summit provides a unique opportunity to gain insights from highly successful leaders in data and customer insights. This event will offer an authentic peer-to-peer learning experience, fostering meaningful exchanges among professionals who understand the challenges and opportunities within the data and analytics space. The Customer Analytics Summit showcases renowned industry leaders who will share their expertise and experiences in maximizing the potential of data-driven insights. Attendees will discover how these leaders have harnessed data-driven, actionable insights to unlock exceptional customer value. In addition to insightful presentations, the summit will also provide focused individual discussion groups. These groups offer a platform for in-depth conversations on topics currently shaping the data and analytics landscape. Moreover, the summit will include interactive workshops that provide hands-on training on the latest tools, techniques, and strategies in data and analytics. The Customer Analytics Summit is a must-attend event for professionals seeking to stay at the forefront of the data and customer insights industry. 9.BI Innovation & Tech Fest September 18 - 19, 2023 | Sandton (South Africa) The business intelligence, analytics, and data environment is undergoing an extraordinary transition in today's rapidly evolving world. In this context, the annual BI Innovation & Tech Fest stands out as a premier event that celebrates and empowers individuals passionate about driving innovation in the business intelligence function from multiple perspectives - people, processes, and technology. This extraordinary BI event will provide attendees with a world-class experience, offering an unparalleled agenda that covers a wide range of topics critical to the industry. Whether exploring the latest advancements in AI and machine learning applied to business intelligence, mastering data reporting, visualization, and time analytics or delving into cloud-based BI and self-service BI, the event will present a comprehensive platform to stay ahead of the curve. One of the highlights of BI Innovation & Tech Fest is its emphasis on creating opportunities for networking and collaboration. Attendees will gain access to leading partners and vendors in the business intelligence space, providing valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies, tools, and solutions. The event will foster an environment where professionals can exchange ideas, forge new connections, and engage in meaningful conversations that drive innovation and excellence. 10.Big Data LDN (London) September 20-21, 2023 | Olympia London Big Data LDN (London) is the preeminent free-to-attend conference and exhibition in the UK, dedicated to data, analytics, and AI. With a host of renowned experts in these fields, the event equips attendees with the necessary tools to drive their most effective data-driven strategies. It will bring together over 180 leading technology vendors and consultants, providing a platform for in-depth discussions about business requirements and the latest advancements in the industry. One of the event's key highlights is the opportunity to hear from 300 expert speakers across 15 technical and business-led conference theatres. These speakers will present real-world use cases, share insights, and engage in panel debates, providing attendees with valuable knowledge and practical examples to apply in their organizations. In addition, the event offer exceptional networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect with their peers, industry experts, and thought leaders. This networking aspect is invaluable for fostering collaborations, exchanging ideas, and building relationships to drive future field success. Big Data LDN goes well beyond the conference sessions and exhibitions by offering free on-site data consultancy services. Conclusion Business intelligence and analytics are evolving unprecedentedly, driven by technological advancements, data availability, and the growing need for data-driven decision-making. Attending industry conferences and events is crucial for professionals in this field to stay abreast of the latest trends, learn from experts, network with peers, and discover innovative solutions. Attending these top business intelligence events allows professionals to gain the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary to excel in their roles. These conferences provide a platform for sharing ideas, learning best practices, and exploring the latest advancements in the field. They serve as catalysts for growth, enabling individuals to unlock the full potential of data and analytics in their organizations. In this era of data-driven decision-making, seize the opportunities, and embark on a journey of continuous learning and professional development through these top business intelligence events in the BI and analytics domain.

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Business Intelligence, Big Data Management, Data Science

Implementing Data Analytics: Emerging Big Data Tools in 2023

Article | May 2, 2023

Discover the prominent big data analytics tools in 2023 and unlock the full potential of big data. Leverage data-driven decision-making to gain insights and implement strategies to accelerate growth. Adopting Big Data Analytics Tools In the current data-driven world, organizations increasingly recognize the value of data analytics in driving businesses’ success. As the volume and complexity of data continue to grow, staying at the forefront of data analytics tools and technologies becomes crucial for businesses to gain actionable insights and make informed decisions. As we delve into 2023, it becomes paramount for businesses to keep pace with emerging cutting-edge big data tools. These tools serve as catalysts for enterprises to harness the power of data analytics effectively. By adopting the right tools and technologies, organizations gain a competitive advantage, foster innovation, and make data-driven decisions that accelerate their growth in an ever-evolving digital landscape. This article delves into the realm of data analytics and explores the emerging big data analytics tools poised to have a significant impact in 2023. From sophisticated machine learning algorithms that push the boundaries of analysis to robust data visualization platforms that bring insights to life, these tools present captivating opportunities for organizations to unlock the full potential of their data and derive actionable intelligence. Exploring Key Trends and Emerging Tools One of the key trends in the data analytics landscape is the rise of cloud-based analytics platforms. These platforms provide scalability, flexibility, and accessibility, allowing businesses to leverage the power of distributed computing and storage for their data analysis needs. With cloud-based tools, organizations can easily process and analyze large volumes of data without significant infrastructure investments. Another emerging trend is integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into data analytics workflows. AI-powered analytics tools enable businesses to automate data processing, uncover hidden patterns, and generate predictive insights. ML algorithms can learn from vast amounts of data, continuously improving accuracy and enabling organizations to make data-driven decisions with precision. Furthermore, big data visualization tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated, enabling users to transform intricate data into interactive visual representations. These tools facilitate enhanced comprehension and interpretation of data, allowing stakeholders to swiftly extract insights with efficacy. Moreover, the convergence of big data and internet of things (IoT) technologies is creating new opportunities. As IoT devices generate vast amounts of data, organizations can leverage tools for big data analytics to capture, store, and analyze this data, uncovering valuable insights and driving innovation in various industries. Top Big Data Tools to Lookout For: 1. Talend Data Fabric Cloud Integration Software by Talend Talend Data Fabric is an integrated data management and governance platform that enables organizations to access, transform, move and synchronize big data across the enterprise. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools and technologies to address data integration, quality, governance, and stewardship challenges. The platform allows users to access and work with data, regardless of location or format, whether in traditional databases, data lakes, cloud environments, or even in real-time streaming sources. This flexibility empowers organizations to leverage their data assets more effectively and make data-driven decisions. 2. Alteryx Platform Predictive Analytics Software by Alteryx Alteryx is a user-friendly data analytics platform that enables efficient processing and analysis of large datasets. It empowers users to quickly derive valuable insights from data without extensive coding skills. Alteryx facilitates the automation of analytics tasks at scale and enables intelligent decision-making across the organization. The platform provides a comprehensive set of tools, including automated data preparation, analytics, machine learning capabilities, and AI-generated insights. Its intuitive interface enables seamless data access from diverse sources like databases, cloud-based data warehouses, and spreadsheets. Alteryx simplifies data blending and preparation from multiple sources, ensuring high-quality and analysis-ready data for enhanced decision-making. 3. Adverity Data Integration Platform Adverity is a comprehensive data platform that automates data connectivity, transformation, governance, and utilization at scale. It simplifies the arduous task of cleansing and merging data from diverse sources, encompassing sales, finance, and marketing channels, to establish a reliable source of business performance information. The platform seamlessly integrates with multiple databases and cloud-based software, providing access to previously inaccessible data. Adverity empowers users to efficiently analyze incoming data from any source and format, facilitating the discovery of patterns, trends, and correlations. Its robust dashboard enables real-time interaction with data, empowering businesses to make faster, smarter decisions. 4. GoodData Cloud BI and Analytics Platform GoodData is an advanced cloud-based analytics platform that offer intuitive and user-friendly tools for data analysis, embeddable data visualizations, and seamless application integration solutions. Its API-first approach enables users to effortlessly aggregate, analyze, and visualize its data in real time, facilitating swift and effective decision-making. In addition, the platform's microservice-based architecture integrates seamlessly with existing ecosystems, providing a comprehensive end-to-end data analytics solution. With its scalable architecture and straightforward setup, GoodData is an excellent choice for businesses seeking powerful insights without expensive infrastructure investments. 5. Datameer Data Preparation Tool Datameer is an advanced analytics and data science platform designed to help businesses quickly discover insights in their enterprise data. It enables users to connect to multiple data sources effortlessly, employing a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface to transform data and create interactive visualizations and dashboards. The platform also offers access to various analytics tools, including predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms. By simplifying the data exploration process, Datameer provides an intuitive and robust environment for loading, storing, querying, and manipulating data from any source. This streamlined approach aids businesses in reducing time-to-insight by revealing previously concealed relationships and trends. Final Thoughts In the dynamic and data-intensive landscape of 2023, organizations must prioritize the integration of data analytics and adopting emerging big data tools. Adopting emerging tools for big data analytics empowers organizations to seamlessly collect, store, process, and analyze vast volumes of data in real time, providing valuable insights and enabling timely decision-making. However, to fully capitalize on the benefits of these tools, organizations must invest in skilled data professionals who can adeptly leverage these tools to extract meaningful insights. Data literacy and cultivating a data-driven culture within the organization are pivotal components for success in the data-driven landscape of 2023. Organizations can thrive in the ever-evolving realm of data analytics by fostering an environment where data is valued and utilized to drive business outcomes.

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Business Intelligence, Big Data Management, Big Data

Business Intelligence for Actionable Insights: Top BI books to Explore

Article | July 4, 2023

In the fast-paced world of data-driven decision-making, having a solid understanding of BI is essential. Explore a handpicked selection of top books that cover everything a data professional needs. In today's data-driven landscape, businesses face the ongoing challenge of deriving meaningful insights from vast amounts of data to facilitate informed decision-making. This is where the field of business intelligence (BI) becomes crucial. Business intelligence encompasses a range of processes, technologies, and strategies that empower organizations to transform raw data into valuable insights, thereby driving business success. Access to comprehensive and insightful information is critical whether you're new to the field and seeking foundational knowledge or an experienced professional aiming to enhance your skills. This article will explore a curated selection of the best business intelligence books that offer valuable knowledge, practical guidance, and strategic insights. These books cover various facets of BI, including fundamental concepts, methodologies, agile approaches, data mining techniques, and cultural considerations. By delving into these essential resources, you will learn the tools and understanding necessary to navigate the complex realm of business intelligence, harness the full potential of your organization's data assets, and propel your business forward. 1. Business Intelligence Elizabeth Vitt, Michael Luckevich, Stacia Misner ‘Business Intelligence, 1st Edition’ presents a comprehensive approach to empower readers with the vital knowledge and expertise needed to thrive in the dynamic field of business intelligence (BI). Co-authored by Elizabeth Vitt, Michael Luckevich, and Stacia Misner, this BI book is an invaluable resource catering to both beginners and seasoned professionals within the realm of business intelligence. Setting the stage, the book lays a solid foundation by illuminating fundamental concepts in business intelligence. It adeptly demonstrates how organizations can harness the power of massive data repositories to glean invaluable business insights, enabling them to make informed decisions swiftly and effectively regarding customers, partners, and operational aspects. 'Business Intelligence' guides readers through the intricacies of leveraging business intelligence insights to seamlessly amalgamate information, individuals, and cutting-edge technologies. Armed with this knowledge, readers gain the confidence to devise and execute successful business strategies with precision. 2. Business Intelligence: Data Mining and Optimization for Decision Making Carlo Vercellis In the book 'Business Intelligence: Data Mining and Optimization for Decision Making,' Carlo Vercellis explores the crucial intersection between data mining, optimization techniques, and decision-making processes within the field of business intelligence. The author starts by laying the groundwork for business intelligence and introduces key concepts such as data warehousing, data mining and its applications, machine learning, supply optimization models, decision support systems, and analytical methods for performance evaluation, setting the stage for a holistic approach to business intelligence. The book emphasizes the practical application of data mining and optimization techniques through real-world examples and case studies. 'Business Intelligence: Data Mining and Optimization for Decision Making' though aimed at postgraduate students, is an essential resource for professionals and researchers interested in harnessing the power of data mining, optimization, and decision support systems. 3. Business Intelligence: An Essential Beginner’s Guide to BI Richard Hurley 'Business Intelligence: An Essential Beginner's Guide to BI, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Machine Learning, Data Science, Data Analytics, Social Media, and Internet Marketing,' provides a comprehensive introduction to the diverse and interconnected world of modern business intelligence. As the title suggests, this business intelligence book goes beyond traditional BI and explores emerging technologies shaping the business landscape. It delves into big data, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with processing and analyzing massive datasets. Hurley introduces artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and pattern recognition to explain their potential applications in driving business intelligence and decision-making. The book also addresses the critical roles that social media and internet marketing play in the growth of BI and how these platforms can be leveraged to gather valuable business intelligence insights and engage with customers effectively. 4. Business Intelligence: And How It Can Help You Grow Your Business Johan Faerch This book offers a practical and insightful guide to leveraging business intelligence strategies and techniques to drive business growth. This BI book is designed to empower entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions and unlock the full potential of their organizations. It begins by introducing the concept of business intelligence and its significance in today's competitive marketplace and explains how BI goes beyond mere data analysis and reporting, acting as a catalyst for growth and innovation. The author highlights the transformative power of BI, demonstrating how it can provide a deep understanding of market trends, customer preferences, and internal operations. 'Business Intelligence: And How It Can Help You Grow Your Business' is a highly accessible and practical resource that bridges the gap between theory and real-world application. Johan Faerch's expertise and experience in the field, shines through as he provides valuable business intelligence insights and actionable strategies for harnessing the power of BI to achieve business growth. 5. Growing Business Intelligence Larry Burns 'Growing Business Intelligence: An Agile Approach to Leveraging Data and Analytics for Maximum Business Value' offers a comprehensive guide to unlocking the full potential of business intelligence (BI) through an agile and adaptable framework. This BI book provides practical insights and strategies for effectively utilizing data and analytics to drive continuous growth and optimize business value. With a keen focus on core principles, the book highlights the importance of navigating the complexities of BI architecture to find the most suitable path for each unique organization. The book serves as a trusted resource, guiding readers on effectively managing the risks associated with disruptive technologies and adopting agile methodologies to deliver on the promises of BI and analytics in a rapid, concise, and iterative manner. 'Growing Business Intelligence' is an invaluable asset for business leaders, managers, and data professionals involved in BI, analytics, or Big Data projects. It also caters to organizations aiming to maximize the value derived from their data and investments in BI technology. 6 Business Intelligence: A Comprehensive Approach to Information Needs, Technologies, and Culture Rimvydas Skyrius 'Business Intelligence: A Comprehensive Approach to Information Needs, Technologies, and Culture' by Rimvydas Skyrius delves deep into the multifaceted realm of business intelligence from various perspectives. This book looks at BI as a process driven by the synergistic blend of human capabilities and technological advancements and emphasizes the complex nature of information needs and decision-making support within organizations. It begins with a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental concepts of BI and related areas of information processing, navigating through the intricacies of BI, addressing data integration, information integration, and the processes & technologies involved. It further explores the maturity and agility of BI, delving into the components, drivers, and inhibitors of BI culture, as well as the soft factors like attention, sense, and trust that shape the BI landscape. Rimvydas, in this book, presents a holistic perspective view on business intelligence, possible structures and tradeoffs within the field of BI, providing readers with valuable insights. 7. Business Intelligence Strategy: A Practical Guide for Achieving BI Excellence John Boyer, Bill Frank, Brian Green, Tracy Harris, Kay Van De Vanter 'Business Intelligence Strategy: A Practical Guide for Achieving BI Excellence' serves as a comprehensive and practical guide for organizations aiming to develop and implement a successful business intelligence strategy that drives excellence and delivers tangible results. The book begins by emphasizing the strategic importance of BI in modern organizations, highlighting its role in enabling informed decision-making, improving operational efficiency, and fostering a data-driven culture. It guides readers through the process of creating business alignment strategies that help prioritize business requirements, build organizational & cultural strategies, increase IT efficiency, and promote user adoption. The authors emphasize the importance of engaging stakeholders and fostering collaboration between business and IT teams to ensure the strategy's effectiveness and long-term success. 'Business Intelligence Strategy' equip readers with the right tools and strategies to develop and implement a robust BI strategy that drives excellence and delivers measurable value to their organization. 8. Fundamentals of Business Intelligence (Data-Centric Systems and Applications) Wilfried Grossmann, Stefanie Rinderle-Ma 'Fundamentals of Business Intelligence' serves as a comprehensive and systematic introduction to the dynamic field of business intelligence , providing readers with strong foundational knowledge. This business intelligence book focuses on the transformation of process-oriented data into valuable information crucial for decision-making across diverse domains. The authors, Grossmann and Rinderle-Ma, follow a step-by-step approach to develop models and analytical tools that enable the acquisition of high-quality data structured in a manner conducive to applying complex analytical techniques. Covering a wide range of essential topics, the book delves into the fundamental concepts of business intelligence, the data-centric nature of BI, exploring various approaches to modeling in BI applications, data provisioning, data description, visualization, reporting, and more. The book seamlessly blends theoretical explanations with practical examples and compelling case studies to further enhance comprehension. 9. Business Intelligence: The Savvy Manager's Guide 1st Edition David Loshin 'Business Intelligence: The Savvy Manager's Guide' is an insightful resource offering, practical guidance and strategic insight to assist managers in comprehending, implementing, and maximizing the benefits of BI. Loshin initiates the journey by clearly describing the fundamental architectural components of a business intelligence environment. Topics covered range from traditional subjects such as business process modeling and data modeling to more contemporary areas like business rule systems, data profiling, information compliance and data quality, data warehousing, and data mining. The book follows a logical progression, starting with the establishment of a robust data model infrastructure, followed by data preparation, analysis, integration, knowledge discovery, and ultimately the practical utilization of the acquired knowledge. Loshin adeptly provides clear explanations devoid of technical jargon, coupled with in-depth descriptions that articulate the business value of emerging technologies while offering the necessary introductory technical background. The true strength of this book lies in its ability to bridge the gap between technical and managerial perspectives. 10. Business Intelligence: The Savvy Manager's Guide 2nd Edition David Loshin 'Business Intelligence: The Savvy Manager's Guide' by David Loshin is a comprehensive resource that equips managers with the knowledge and insights necessary to effectively navigate the field of business intelligence.The book covers the basics of a BI program, from the value of information and the mechanics of planning for success to data model infrastructure, data preparation, data analysis, integration, knowledge discovery, and the actual use of discovered knowledge. The author also explores key factors to be taken into account in the planning and execution of a successful BI program, considerations for developing a BI roadmap, the platforms for analysis, such as data warehouses, and the concepts of business metadata. 'Business Intelligence: The Savvy Manager's Guide' serves as an accessible resource for BI professionals, including senior and middle-level managers, Chief Information Officers, Chief Data Officers, senior business executives, business staff members, database or software engineers, and business analysts seeking to harness the power of BI in their organizations. Conclusion The field of business intelligence is ever-evolving and plays a vital role in the current data-driven business landscape. The books highlighted in this article provide a wealth of knowledge and insights for individuals at various stages of their BI journey. These business intelligence books collectively offer a comprehensive and diverse range of perspectives on business intelligence to promote growth and expertise. Whether you are a beginner seeking fundamental knowledge or a seasoned professional aiming to enhance your skills, these resources provide valuable insights and guidance for harnessing the power of BI to drive success in the modern business landscape.

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Excel Big Data

Excel Big Data is a specialty software and services company that provides a comprehensive set of services for companies that utilize Big Data technologies for mission / business critical needs. The technologies we provide services for include Hadoop (HDFS, MapReduce, YARN), Oozie, Zookeeper, HBase, Hive, Pig, Hue, Flume, Sqoop, Storm and Kafka. Specialties Hadoop, HBase, Hadoop Implementation / Support, Hadoop Training, Big Data Implementation/Support.

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AtScale Collaborates with Dataiku to Deliver on the Promise of Everyday AI

Businesswire | June 28, 2023

AtScale, the leading provider of semantic layer solutions for modern business intelligence and data science teams, today announced a referral partnership with Dataiku, the platform for Everyday AI, to help speed enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and empower companies to easily create business value from their organization’s data. According to IDC, worldwide spending on AI-centric systems will surpass $300B by 2026 with a 26.5% 5-year CAGR. However, the same study concluded that only 25% of AI initiatives – and only 36% of AI models – had been deployed in production. Their research also indicated that 50% of businesses are planning to use AI in their business functions over the next 12 months. “The continued investment in AI, combined with the complexity of model deployment highlights just how critical it is for organizations to take an active approach to driving value from AI,” said Gaurav Rao, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Machine Learning and AI at AtScale. “AI isn’t just something you can just turn on and instantly see business results from. Enterprises need to surround their AI with tools that make it easier to access and use data – and then apply those insights back into the organization. The lack of understanding and integration is one of the biggest reasons AI deployments are not successful.” By combining Dataiku’s single data and AI platform with AtScale’s universal semantic layer and AI-Link, organizations will be able to improve data science productivity with business-vetted features for AI model training and feature management. Additionally, the integrated capabilities enable business analysts to seamlessly incorporate AI insights directly into common business intelligence tools such as Tableau, PowerBI, and Excel, on their cloud warehouse of choice, including Snowflake, Databricks, and Google BigQuery. Key Benefits of AtScale’s integration with Dataiku include: Production-Ready, Enterprise Grade Feature Store: The productivity of data analytics is improved through the use of an integrated feature store. Important features include: Simplified and automated feature creation through a no-code/low-code interface helps to simplify the creation and use of complex dimensions, metrics, and hierarchies. Advanced feature management, including feature serving and sharing, helps make data easily consumable across Dataiku projects, pipelines, and use cases. Advanced Time-Series Modeling: Dataiku’s autoML capabilities are combined with a semantic layer understanding of complex time hierarchies, making business forecasting easier and more efficient. Best-In-Class MLOps: The integrated solution gives enterprises the ability to publish insights generated in Dataiku ML pipelines directly to business users, in their business intelligence tools of choice. This gives business analysts the ability to conduct advanced predictive and prescriptive analyses more efficiently. Query Push Down: AtScale + Dataiku enables a governed and performant query to push down across an enterprise’s AI and BI workloads, ranging from data preparation to MLOps, across the most popular cloud warehouse partners. This helps speed the process and decision-making time for users. “There is a palpable momentum across all industries in integrating AI, especially Generative AI, into their operations,” said Abhijit Madhugiri, VP of Global Technology Alliances at Dataiku. “In today’s dynamic business environment, the need to adapt existing processes and equip teams to leverage this advanced technology is not just a strategy, but a necessity for staying competitive. Our collaboration with AtScale aims to simplify this transformation, providing a clear pathway for enterprises to harness the potential of AI, drive lasting business impact, and avoid the risk of being left behind.” About Dataiku Dataiku is the platform for Everyday AI, enabling data experts and domain experts to work together to build AI into their daily operations, from advanced analytics to Generative AI. Together, they design, develop and deploy new AI capabilities, at all scales and in all industries. Organizations that use Dataiku enable their people to be extraordinary, creating the AI that will power their company into the future. Founded in 2013, Dataiku has proven its ability to develop its founding vision for Everyday AI, and to execute on its growth. With more than 500 customers and more than 1,000 employees, Dataiku is proud of its rapid growth and 95% retention of Forbes Global 2000 customers. Connect with Dataiku on their blog, Twitter (@dataiku) and on LinkedIn. About AtScale AtScale enables smarter decision-making by accelerating the flow of data-driven insights. The company’s semantic layer platform simplifies, accelerates, and extends business intelligence and data science capabilities for enterprise customers across all industries. With AtScale, customers are empowered to democratize data, implement self-service BI and build a more agile analytics infrastructure for better, more impactful decision making. For more information, please visit www.atscale.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.

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Big Data Management, Data Science, Big Data

Mixpanel adds generative AI so companies can 'chat with their data'

Prnewswire | July 07, 2023

Mixpanel, the event analytics* pioneer, has integrated generative AI so companies can 'chat with their data'. The move makes it easier for companies to quickly understand the impact that product and marketing decisions have on their customers' experience and their company's bottomline. Mixpanel's application of generative AI allows queries built by AI to be reviewed so people can understand the source and accuracy of the report created, without the need to expose their proprietary data to the Large Language Model (LLM). Now, anyone using Mixpanel can clearly understand every customer's experience by asking plain English questions to OpenAI's 'GPT-3.5 Turbo' model, removing yet another barrier for companies that want to understand how people use their apps. For example, a non-technical employee at a ride hailing firm might ask: "Which group of users most frequently convert when we apply surge pricing across our key markets?" A marketer can quickly understand trends relating to advertising spend or a salesperson can see changes in revenue over time. Generative AI builds the required query, which is executed in Mixpanel, returning the relevant chart in an instant to visually display conversion trends for different cohorts across different markets. Amir Movafaghi, CEO, Mixpanel said: "Generative AI is the next interface to computing, and it's unlocking huge productivity gains. In our world, this means it's much easier for anyone to query their data in plain English by asking the AI a question. Making analytics accessible, so literally everyone can participate, will significantly improve decision making across companies." Prioritizing privacy and validating accuracy Despite the huge opportunity generative AI represents, it isn't always accurate. That's why Mixpanel queries built using generative AI allow people to check the source of their answer to understand how a report was generated. While the AI feature will be made available to all Mixpanel users, it will also be optional, so people can choose to build queries using AI or continue with the existing user interface. Mixpanel is trusted with user behavior data and provides insights to 8,000 paying customers, including large enterprises and the world's most successful digital leaders, such as CNN, Uber and Yelp! That's why Mixpanel's introduction of generative AI prioritizes privacy. Mixpanel customers will not need to contribute their data to the Large Language Model, instead the AI increases the speed and ease with which queries are built, and it's Mixpanel that actually analyzes the underlying data. "Generative AI is a bit like electricity, you can build it into other products to make things faster and easier. We're using it to speed up workflows and simplify how people ask questions of their data. But this is just the start, and we expect LLMs will enhance analytics for years to come." added Movafaghi. Traditionally, data analysts using Business Intelligence tools needed to write complex SQL queries when analyzing data, a requirement that made analytics a niche discipline and prevented companies from getting fast answers from data at scale. Mixpanel changed this with its event-based analytics system, which non-technical employees use to ask questions of their data with drop-down menus. The introduction of generative AI reimagines the data analytics process again, so anyone can use Mixpanel to support better decision making by easily asking questions of their data. The new Mixpanel generative AI interface is currently being used by a select group of customers as part of a closed Beta program. The capability will be made available as an optional interface, at no additional cost, to all Mixpanel users over the coming weeks. *About Event analytics Event analytics captures every action (or event) that each user performs within a digital product, like an e-Commerce site or a ride hailing app. This very granular view helps companies understand how different groups of users behave at various points during their experience, to answer questions like: which cohorts of users drop off during sign-up? Using Mixpanel, it's now also possible to understand the knock-on revenue impact of such customer experience issues. This approach is much faster and easier than traditional Business Intelligence (BI) tools that require data to be prepared and tabulated, with BI queries coded in SQL. While BI analysis can provide a view of how many customers churned, it doesn't allow exploration of why users are behaving in certain ways. That's why event analytics is so crucial for product teams that create and continually improve the world's most successful digital products. About Mixpanel Mixpanel is an event analytics platform that allows anyone to get answers from their customer and revenue data in seconds. It offers powerful real-time charts and visualizations of how users interact with digital products. Regardless of technical expertise, anyone can focus on what's working, and spend more time on their best ideas with Mixpanel. To learn more visit: www.mixpanel.com

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Big Data Management

Microsoft's AI Data Exposure Highlights Challenges in AI Integration

Microsoft | September 22, 2023

AI models rely heavily on vast data volumes for their functionality, thus increasing risks associated with mishandling data in AI projects. Microsoft's AI research team accidentally exposed 38 terabytes of private data on GitHub. Many companies feel compelled to adopt generative AI but lack the expertise to do so effectively. Artificial intelligence (AI) models are renowned for their enormous appetite for data, making them among the most data-intensive computing platforms in existence. While AI holds the potential to revolutionize the world, it is utterly dependent on the availability and ingestion of vast volumes of data. An alarming incident involving Microsoft's AI research team recently highlighted the immense data exposure risks inherent in this technology. The team inadvertently exposed a staggering 38 terabytes of private data when publishing open-source AI training data on the cloud-based code hosting platform GitHub. This exposed data included a complete backup of two Microsoft employees' workstations, containing highly sensitive personal information such as private keys, passwords to internal Microsoft services, and over 30,000 messages from 359 Microsoft employees. The exposure was a result of an accidental configuration, which granted "full control" access instead of "read-only" permissions. This oversight meant that potential attackers could not only view the exposed files but also manipulate, overwrite, or delete them. Although a crisis was narrowly averted in this instance, it serves as a glaring example of the new risks organizations face as they integrate AI more extensively into their operations. With staff engineers increasingly handling vast amounts of specialized and sensitive data to train AI models, it is imperative for companies to establish robust governance policies and educational safeguards to mitigate security risks. Training specialized AI models necessitates specialized data. As organizations of all sizes embrace the advantages AI offers in their day-to-day workflows, IT, data, and security teams must grasp the inherent exposure risks associated with each stage of the AI development process. Open data sharing plays a critical role in AI training, with researchers gathering and disseminating extensive amounts of both external and internal data to build the necessary training datasets for their AI models. However, the more data that is shared, the greater the risk if it is not handled correctly, as evidenced by the Microsoft incident. AI, in many ways, challenges an organization's internal corporate policies like no other technology has done before. To harness AI tools effectively and securely, businesses must first establish a robust data infrastructure to avoid the fundamental pitfalls of AI. Securing the future of AI requires a nuanced approach. Despite concerns about AI's potential risks, organizations should be more concerned about the quality of AI software than the technology turning rogue. PYMNTS Intelligence's research indicates that many companies are uncertain about their readiness for generative AI but still feel compelled to adopt it. A substantial 62% of surveyed executives believe their companies lack the expertise to harness the technology effectively, according to 'Understanding the Future of Generative AI,' a collaboration between PYMNTS and AI-ID. The rapid advancement of computing power and cloud storage infrastructure has reshaped the business landscape, setting the stage for data-driven innovations like AI to revolutionize business processes. While tech giants or well-funded startups primarily produce today's AI models, computing power costs are continually decreasing. In a few years, AI models may become so advanced that everyday consumers can run them on personal devices at home, akin to today's cutting-edge platforms. This juncture signifies a tipping point, where the ever-increasing zettabytes of proprietary data produced each year must be addressed promptly. If not, the risks associated with future innovations will scale up in sync with their capabilities.

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Big Data Management, Data Science, Big Data

AtScale Collaborates with Dataiku to Deliver on the Promise of Everyday AI

Businesswire | June 28, 2023

AtScale, the leading provider of semantic layer solutions for modern business intelligence and data science teams, today announced a referral partnership with Dataiku, the platform for Everyday AI, to help speed enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and empower companies to easily create business value from their organization’s data. According to IDC, worldwide spending on AI-centric systems will surpass $300B by 2026 with a 26.5% 5-year CAGR. However, the same study concluded that only 25% of AI initiatives – and only 36% of AI models – had been deployed in production. Their research also indicated that 50% of businesses are planning to use AI in their business functions over the next 12 months. “The continued investment in AI, combined with the complexity of model deployment highlights just how critical it is for organizations to take an active approach to driving value from AI,” said Gaurav Rao, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Machine Learning and AI at AtScale. “AI isn’t just something you can just turn on and instantly see business results from. Enterprises need to surround their AI with tools that make it easier to access and use data – and then apply those insights back into the organization. The lack of understanding and integration is one of the biggest reasons AI deployments are not successful.” By combining Dataiku’s single data and AI platform with AtScale’s universal semantic layer and AI-Link, organizations will be able to improve data science productivity with business-vetted features for AI model training and feature management. Additionally, the integrated capabilities enable business analysts to seamlessly incorporate AI insights directly into common business intelligence tools such as Tableau, PowerBI, and Excel, on their cloud warehouse of choice, including Snowflake, Databricks, and Google BigQuery. Key Benefits of AtScale’s integration with Dataiku include: Production-Ready, Enterprise Grade Feature Store: The productivity of data analytics is improved through the use of an integrated feature store. Important features include: Simplified and automated feature creation through a no-code/low-code interface helps to simplify the creation and use of complex dimensions, metrics, and hierarchies. Advanced feature management, including feature serving and sharing, helps make data easily consumable across Dataiku projects, pipelines, and use cases. Advanced Time-Series Modeling: Dataiku’s autoML capabilities are combined with a semantic layer understanding of complex time hierarchies, making business forecasting easier and more efficient. Best-In-Class MLOps: The integrated solution gives enterprises the ability to publish insights generated in Dataiku ML pipelines directly to business users, in their business intelligence tools of choice. This gives business analysts the ability to conduct advanced predictive and prescriptive analyses more efficiently. Query Push Down: AtScale + Dataiku enables a governed and performant query to push down across an enterprise’s AI and BI workloads, ranging from data preparation to MLOps, across the most popular cloud warehouse partners. This helps speed the process and decision-making time for users. “There is a palpable momentum across all industries in integrating AI, especially Generative AI, into their operations,” said Abhijit Madhugiri, VP of Global Technology Alliances at Dataiku. “In today’s dynamic business environment, the need to adapt existing processes and equip teams to leverage this advanced technology is not just a strategy, but a necessity for staying competitive. Our collaboration with AtScale aims to simplify this transformation, providing a clear pathway for enterprises to harness the potential of AI, drive lasting business impact, and avoid the risk of being left behind.” About Dataiku Dataiku is the platform for Everyday AI, enabling data experts and domain experts to work together to build AI into their daily operations, from advanced analytics to Generative AI. Together, they design, develop and deploy new AI capabilities, at all scales and in all industries. Organizations that use Dataiku enable their people to be extraordinary, creating the AI that will power their company into the future. Founded in 2013, Dataiku has proven its ability to develop its founding vision for Everyday AI, and to execute on its growth. With more than 500 customers and more than 1,000 employees, Dataiku is proud of its rapid growth and 95% retention of Forbes Global 2000 customers. Connect with Dataiku on their blog, Twitter (@dataiku) and on LinkedIn. About AtScale AtScale enables smarter decision-making by accelerating the flow of data-driven insights. The company’s semantic layer platform simplifies, accelerates, and extends business intelligence and data science capabilities for enterprise customers across all industries. With AtScale, customers are empowered to democratize data, implement self-service BI and build a more agile analytics infrastructure for better, more impactful decision making. For more information, please visit www.atscale.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.

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Big Data Management, Data Science, Big Data

Mixpanel adds generative AI so companies can 'chat with their data'

Prnewswire | July 07, 2023

Mixpanel, the event analytics* pioneer, has integrated generative AI so companies can 'chat with their data'. The move makes it easier for companies to quickly understand the impact that product and marketing decisions have on their customers' experience and their company's bottomline. Mixpanel's application of generative AI allows queries built by AI to be reviewed so people can understand the source and accuracy of the report created, without the need to expose their proprietary data to the Large Language Model (LLM). Now, anyone using Mixpanel can clearly understand every customer's experience by asking plain English questions to OpenAI's 'GPT-3.5 Turbo' model, removing yet another barrier for companies that want to understand how people use their apps. For example, a non-technical employee at a ride hailing firm might ask: "Which group of users most frequently convert when we apply surge pricing across our key markets?" A marketer can quickly understand trends relating to advertising spend or a salesperson can see changes in revenue over time. Generative AI builds the required query, which is executed in Mixpanel, returning the relevant chart in an instant to visually display conversion trends for different cohorts across different markets. Amir Movafaghi, CEO, Mixpanel said: "Generative AI is the next interface to computing, and it's unlocking huge productivity gains. In our world, this means it's much easier for anyone to query their data in plain English by asking the AI a question. Making analytics accessible, so literally everyone can participate, will significantly improve decision making across companies." Prioritizing privacy and validating accuracy Despite the huge opportunity generative AI represents, it isn't always accurate. That's why Mixpanel queries built using generative AI allow people to check the source of their answer to understand how a report was generated. While the AI feature will be made available to all Mixpanel users, it will also be optional, so people can choose to build queries using AI or continue with the existing user interface. Mixpanel is trusted with user behavior data and provides insights to 8,000 paying customers, including large enterprises and the world's most successful digital leaders, such as CNN, Uber and Yelp! That's why Mixpanel's introduction of generative AI prioritizes privacy. Mixpanel customers will not need to contribute their data to the Large Language Model, instead the AI increases the speed and ease with which queries are built, and it's Mixpanel that actually analyzes the underlying data. "Generative AI is a bit like electricity, you can build it into other products to make things faster and easier. We're using it to speed up workflows and simplify how people ask questions of their data. But this is just the start, and we expect LLMs will enhance analytics for years to come." added Movafaghi. Traditionally, data analysts using Business Intelligence tools needed to write complex SQL queries when analyzing data, a requirement that made analytics a niche discipline and prevented companies from getting fast answers from data at scale. Mixpanel changed this with its event-based analytics system, which non-technical employees use to ask questions of their data with drop-down menus. The introduction of generative AI reimagines the data analytics process again, so anyone can use Mixpanel to support better decision making by easily asking questions of their data. The new Mixpanel generative AI interface is currently being used by a select group of customers as part of a closed Beta program. The capability will be made available as an optional interface, at no additional cost, to all Mixpanel users over the coming weeks. *About Event analytics Event analytics captures every action (or event) that each user performs within a digital product, like an e-Commerce site or a ride hailing app. This very granular view helps companies understand how different groups of users behave at various points during their experience, to answer questions like: which cohorts of users drop off during sign-up? Using Mixpanel, it's now also possible to understand the knock-on revenue impact of such customer experience issues. This approach is much faster and easier than traditional Business Intelligence (BI) tools that require data to be prepared and tabulated, with BI queries coded in SQL. While BI analysis can provide a view of how many customers churned, it doesn't allow exploration of why users are behaving in certain ways. That's why event analytics is so crucial for product teams that create and continually improve the world's most successful digital products. About Mixpanel Mixpanel is an event analytics platform that allows anyone to get answers from their customer and revenue data in seconds. It offers powerful real-time charts and visualizations of how users interact with digital products. Regardless of technical expertise, anyone can focus on what's working, and spend more time on their best ideas with Mixpanel. To learn more visit: www.mixpanel.com

Read More

Big Data Management

Microsoft's AI Data Exposure Highlights Challenges in AI Integration

Microsoft | September 22, 2023

AI models rely heavily on vast data volumes for their functionality, thus increasing risks associated with mishandling data in AI projects. Microsoft's AI research team accidentally exposed 38 terabytes of private data on GitHub. Many companies feel compelled to adopt generative AI but lack the expertise to do so effectively. Artificial intelligence (AI) models are renowned for their enormous appetite for data, making them among the most data-intensive computing platforms in existence. While AI holds the potential to revolutionize the world, it is utterly dependent on the availability and ingestion of vast volumes of data. An alarming incident involving Microsoft's AI research team recently highlighted the immense data exposure risks inherent in this technology. The team inadvertently exposed a staggering 38 terabytes of private data when publishing open-source AI training data on the cloud-based code hosting platform GitHub. This exposed data included a complete backup of two Microsoft employees' workstations, containing highly sensitive personal information such as private keys, passwords to internal Microsoft services, and over 30,000 messages from 359 Microsoft employees. The exposure was a result of an accidental configuration, which granted "full control" access instead of "read-only" permissions. This oversight meant that potential attackers could not only view the exposed files but also manipulate, overwrite, or delete them. Although a crisis was narrowly averted in this instance, it serves as a glaring example of the new risks organizations face as they integrate AI more extensively into their operations. With staff engineers increasingly handling vast amounts of specialized and sensitive data to train AI models, it is imperative for companies to establish robust governance policies and educational safeguards to mitigate security risks. Training specialized AI models necessitates specialized data. As organizations of all sizes embrace the advantages AI offers in their day-to-day workflows, IT, data, and security teams must grasp the inherent exposure risks associated with each stage of the AI development process. Open data sharing plays a critical role in AI training, with researchers gathering and disseminating extensive amounts of both external and internal data to build the necessary training datasets for their AI models. However, the more data that is shared, the greater the risk if it is not handled correctly, as evidenced by the Microsoft incident. AI, in many ways, challenges an organization's internal corporate policies like no other technology has done before. To harness AI tools effectively and securely, businesses must first establish a robust data infrastructure to avoid the fundamental pitfalls of AI. Securing the future of AI requires a nuanced approach. Despite concerns about AI's potential risks, organizations should be more concerned about the quality of AI software than the technology turning rogue. PYMNTS Intelligence's research indicates that many companies are uncertain about their readiness for generative AI but still feel compelled to adopt it. A substantial 62% of surveyed executives believe their companies lack the expertise to harness the technology effectively, according to 'Understanding the Future of Generative AI,' a collaboration between PYMNTS and AI-ID. The rapid advancement of computing power and cloud storage infrastructure has reshaped the business landscape, setting the stage for data-driven innovations like AI to revolutionize business processes. While tech giants or well-funded startups primarily produce today's AI models, computing power costs are continually decreasing. In a few years, AI models may become so advanced that everyday consumers can run them on personal devices at home, akin to today's cutting-edge platforms. This juncture signifies a tipping point, where the ever-increasing zettabytes of proprietary data produced each year must be addressed promptly. If not, the risks associated with future innovations will scale up in sync with their capabilities.

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