Reaping the Benefits of Real-Time Analytics

Discussions surrounding big data often mention its three Vs: volume, variety and velocity. The most commonly discussed of those three is obviously volume, which isn't surprising given the name big data. However, variety and velocity are just as important in the equation.

In fact, velocity is too often overlooked. Companies are so focused on gaining as much data as possible from many different sources, they forget about the analytical element. Our world moves at a remarkable speed, which means what might be relevant today could be stale tomorrow. Therefore, real-time analytics is such a powerful tool. The faster companies decipher information, the faster they'll find actionable results and outsmart the competition.

Split Testing

It refers to running a simultaneous experiment between multiple variants to see which performs the best. For web designers, this could be which page layout do people interact better with, or which banner ad has the best click-through rate. Analysts can use this process to test and optimize their products in minutes. This could be very useful for mobile developers looking to monetize their games. In-app purchases are a common source of revenue, so developers could test a number of different purchase buttons or links to see which are the most effective at driving conversion.

This isn't just for game developers; it could be just as useful for online retailers. Researchers could apply the same process to see which page layouts are most useful for their customers. Do people respond better to more search results on a page? Will removing a sidebar and replacing it with recommended items lead to more sales? These are all important questions that split tests can quickly answer, leading to faster turnaround times and getting the right results sooner.

Targeted Content Based on User Preferences

Real-time analytics don't just help create algorithms that sell dish towels and toy cars. They're also a powerful tool in improving target marketing. For online retailers, that means getting the right products in front of the people looking for them, or offering the right promotions to the people most likely to buy. For gamers, that means understanding which types of individuals are playing which game, and crafting an individualized approach to reach them. For example, Microsoft could see who has bought a new game with online capabilities, then offer them an online Xbox subscription right away.

Real-time analytics can have a powerful impact on marketing from targeting content to sentiment analysis with the right technology in place. Big data in the cloud puts business intelligence first and technology second. With the power of a Hadoop cluster as a fully managed service, Hadoop as a Service makes using big data for real-time marketing easy. Learn more about Hadoop in the cloud.

We follow Integration industry best practices to connect disparate on premise and cloud apps such as CRMs, ERPs, Payments, Office 365, Gmail, Slack, Email Marketing etc.