Big Data Scotland 2016

www.scot-data.com

The evolution of Big Data analytics has been staggering: it has progressed from an underused asset to a vital source of intelligence and insight, driven by improved hardware, cloud technologies and a plethora of specialist software. These technological advances have pushed the boundaries of what is possible, driving new innovation and allowing huge strides forward in fields like Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Computing.

The increasing value attributed to data has changed the perception of analytics within the corporate strategy, transforming the role of the analyst within the organisation. A data-driven approach is now seen as integral practice across operations, from personalised marketing to optimised inventory management. 

There has been a marked acceleration of Big Data deployments, with businesses now utilising their data capabilities as a key source of competitive advantage. Successive reports from McKinsey, Gartner, Bain and BCG illustrate the corporate value of Big Data, and show that companies which have adopted an effective data analytics strategy are reaping the rewards in productivity and performance. The Big Data discussion has also evolved, moving beyond the initial hype around size and potential to focus on delivering tangible business outcomes. This has led to a concerted effort to get usable tools into the hands of frontline workers.

Whilst the progress of Big Data analytics has led to improvement in a number of areas, it has also raised a variety of new challenges, most notably across: security, privacy, ownership and ethics. Gathering customer data can afford a valuable insight into preference and behaviour, allowing an improved understanding and better service provision. But this data gathering must be balanced, it must avoid excessive intrusion and adhere to strict guidelines around user consent. 

This conference will bring together technologists, data experts and business leaders to explore the evolution of Big Data analytics. The conference will contextualise the vast range of analytics tools, and offer practical examples of how they can be applied to specific tasks in processing, mining and visualisation. The event will also provide a unique opportunity for technologists to network, share their views and debate in a friendly, open forum. 

Big Data Scotland is organised by ScotTech Engagement with support from the Data Lab and ScotlandIS. The conference is free to attend for business leaders and technologists. 

Register your free place at www.scot-data.com (please note there is a criteria for free places)