Every minute, even every second, millions of pieces of big data are generated around the world, all of which can be stored. Performing this task is what is known as Big Data. Companies are increasingly aware of its importance and the uses they can make of it, and therefore they are paying more attention to it.
Knowing the keys to macro data and knowing how to present it so that companies can use it is a great step in your training. We tell you some keys about the databases and how to give them the usefulness they deserve.
The keys to Big Data
Within the world of Big Data we can find four key points when facing its operation and usability. It is important to save them, classify them, analyze them and of course present them.
Storage of big data
More than 2.5 trillion bytes are generated every day in the form of data on the network, numbers that are growing every year. This implies immense amounts to be processed and in many occasions the inability to do it efficiently. If you have the right training you will be able to face the challenges of the macrodata world.
But companies need to store all that information that users turn to them, which can be complicated. To achieve this, they resort to compression of all of them so that they take up less space, there are two techniques:
- Loss-free compression: If you need to save all the data and not lose any information, this is the best method. It is a widely used option for working with internal databases in which you must resort to complete information.
- Loss compression: The IoT generates a very high amount of data, some of which is totally unnecessary for the company. In these cases you must resort to compression with loss that eliminates superfluous data. Filters and artificial intelligence are used to apply it.
Compression allows you to reduce storage needs, but you have to understand the needs of the company to know which option is more beneficial.
Big data quality
It is essential to have quality big data in order to make a good presentation of the analysis of the big data. To achieve these results it is important to look at these key points:
- Availability. It is necessary to know if the data has a temporary or continuous access and of course the access support.
- Credibility. It is essential to know the sources from which the data come to be able to give them for certain. If you have data from third parties, an audit is not superfluous.
- Reliability. The data must have complete information from the analysis area. In addition, it must be accurate enough to be able to take advantage of it in the analysis.
Analysis of big data
When starting the analysis of the big data obtained, it is essential to know the objective being pursued and the time frame to be studied. Thanks to this, it is possible to start the analytical capacity with classic or advanced techniques.
Arithmetic mean, deviation, sample sizes or regression are classic factors that can be part of the results. Artificial intelligence, neuronal patterns or time series are more advanced and modern techniques that are increasingly relevant.
Macrodata presentation
This is undoubtedly the greatest difficulty presented by large-scale data analysis projects. Creating a visual result that is understandable and adds value to the company is your goal. To achieve this, it is essential to have clear objectives and to know the use given to the reports to determine their relevance.
You must take into account three key criteria when checking the usefulness of the different reports and panels you present:
- Case study. The reports must reflect the requested information, always following the determined specifications. If secondary elements appear that may be useful in the future, it is advisable to keep them for later panels.
- Communication. Communication is key to achieve objectives within the organization. A department is the one that prepares the reports, but usually another one uses them; transmitting the information between both will allow to take better advantage of them.
- Follow-up. Reviewing the use of the reports and following them up properly will allow detecting the degree of use of them.
Visual presentation is fundamental
Shaping all the data to achieve a result that is visual and understandable is one of the great challenges you will face.
The first and most important thing is to understand that the brain is a visual organ. Images are processed and retained more efficiently than sounds. Relying on them is the basis for good results. You can choose different techniques:
- Classic statistics. Bar charts, circles or tracking lines are common and traditional elements. Don’t hesitate to add some color to make them more effective.
- Contextual elements. Adding maps with enhancers helps to highlight geographically important elements. Contextualizing the information with visual images is a great help to make them interpretable at first sight.
- Infographics. They go a step further by complementing the information at different levels and giving it a look that is attractive and easy to retain. Nowadays it is one of the most used techniques to achieve the transmission of information.
Remember to know your audience to know that they can find it more attractive and simple to achieve the results you are looking for.
Future trends
The analysis of big data is booming because it allows companies to make decisions with updated information and in a wide range. To achieve this, it is important to know how to condense it and present it in an attractive and visual way. Databases are a tool for the future and the professionals trained in it are increasingly in demand by companies.
