The Pope's Big Data Connection

Who can resist the aura of the pontiff? With thousands flocking to get a glimpse and even barring prosecution to touch his eminency, it goes without saying his presence commands attention myself included.

After watching him address the most influential bodies in the world, I had to ask myself what could bring so many people to ponder his every word.  I thought perhaps it was his simplicity and the way he embraced every inch of humanity.  Then it dawned on me.  What really draws the crowds, and not just those who subscribe to a faith, is Truth.  There is a clarity that comes from listening to his words.

You are wondering, what does this have to do with Big Data?  Everything I tell you.  With data oozing out of every device we touch these days, there is a real need to sift, sort and understand what it is really telling us.  What can we reliably interpret, validate and predict from this information?  Somewhere in there lies the truth and we are all seeking it.

For companies looking to connect with their consumers, the truth is the difference between profits and losses.  Knowing what product to sell, at what time, and to which customer is expected at this point.  The only problem is that without the right Big Data Foundation the truth is not always part of the equation.

You see there are many issues when it comes to bringing all this information together.  POS data from each of the retailers is formatted differently.  Syndicated and 3rd Party data lack consistent business rules. Social data is unstructured and undefined.  There are shifting dates, currency variables, geo-location and shipment details that don’t line up.  Whether it is from Omni-Channel, Emerging Market or SoMoLo, data that is missing, misaligned and disparate is both frustrating and misleading.

How do we find the truth? Well much like the Pope, we rely on a wiser power.  When it comes to Big Data, the integration, validation, and cleansing process are just what I am talking about. By utilizing an Enterprise Demand Signal Repository, POSmart, we can correct and eliminate the data anomalies thus creating a central repository of truth.  From there tools like BlueSky Analytics are available to bring forth the insights that executives are yearning for.  The Holy Grail shall we say. 

At Relational Solutions, our data experts have addressed the many issues plaguing the data landscape for decades.  For an in-depth look at the issues and solutions we offer read our Full Big Data Blog Series.