Big Data is exactly what it says. In simple terms, in today’s ever expanding world of digital technology, businesses are discovering that they are having to cope with an ever growing and increasingly complex amount of data sets, Big Data.
What is the Big Data?
However, it is not the quantity of data that is valuable but what can be done with it that is of paramount importance. The analysis of this diverse information can allow all manner of businesses to plan new strategies to reach out to potential customers in a timely and cost-effective manner. The significance of this is a greater need, not just for more sophisticated data processing software, but for highly skilled specialists in the Big Data field. So who are these specialists and what are their roles? Some of the roles sound very similar so let us try and define each role. More information ? Check the website about bigdata-toronto.com.
The Data Scientist
Although it is widely held that the Data Scientist is a new concept to go with modern day digital technology, they have, in fact, been around for a long time. Alan Turing, by many believed to be the father of theoretical computer science, a brilliant mathematician, logician and theoretical biologist, was plying his skills during the world war two. In the world of Big Data, those are the skills needed by the data scientist.
They have both the analytical and technical skills to be able to plunge into the vast ocean structural and unstructured that is Big Data and transform it into comprehensive information by using scientific methods and processes as well as extracting knowledge and trends. With the use of these complex algorithms, the data scientist is able to produce intelligence that is both advantageous and profitable for business in a format that is both actual and understandable.
The Data Engineer
It is very easy to confuse the role of a data engineer with a data scientist as their roles can appear to be very similar. Like the data scientist, the data engineer writes code. However, the data engineer’s roles and responsibilities diverge here to resemble something closer to the work of a software engineer and can be defined thus. They are the ones who are closely involved in the development of the data management system.
From the initial designing stages to constructing and testing the system and making any necessary changes. They build the tools, infrastructure and framework, thereby ensuring that the system is highly scalable, robust and in particular, continue to function efficiently in the event of any component failure. They are also responsible for the smooth integration of different programming languages, ensuring that the system is user friendly and in establishing disaster recovery techniques.
The Developer
This is yet another role where the dividing line can appear blurred. The specific role of the big data developer will depend on the industry. Basically, their first priority is to ensure that company’s digital and technological infrastructure performs in a coherent and consistent manner to make sure that the business goals are being met.
This can involve a variety of tasks, from writing code and investigating new ways to ensuring business needs are maintained, to supervising training sessions and acting as team leader to junior personnel. Big Data developers must have strong analytical abilities as they are required to evaluate companies requirements and thereby develop a company’s business strategy. They also require excellent interpersonal skills in order to work effectively with other personnel involved.
The Growth Hacker
Growth Hacking is the bringing together of hacking big data and driving business growth. The Growth Hacker, who can be a marketing expert, product manager or specialist engineer, is the one who carries out this role. This involves using big data from across a wide range of marketing and product development channels and identifying those that are the most cost-effective and efficient strategies and campaigns.
With the explosion in recent years in the use of social media and targeted advertising, businesses have been quick in exploring new ways of reaching potential customers in a more cost-effective and timely manner, without the need for the more traditional and costly advertising campaigns of previous years such as television, radio and newspapers.
In the world of marketing, a marketer has to concentrate on name and product recognition – hence the traditional advertising campaigns. The growth hacker comes at it from a mindset of finding the greatest opportunities of business profit. Their experiments and strategies are data driven with the monitoring of channels and websites for visits and the amount of time people spend on them, click-through-rates and retention levels.
Many growth hackers work independently of the developers and engineers, therefore it is important that they have some technical skills in programming and automations. These can range from basic HTML, design and understanding of branding etc. to building websites and the use of Artificial Intelligence in marketing.
Conclusion
Big Data analytics is the future. The requirements of businesses, both large and small, in reaching and maintaining their goals and potentials, is reliant on bringing together those experts and specialists across the spectrum of data collection.
The sophistication of the enormous data sets available from such a wide range of sources now requires highly skilled analysis techniques. From the data scientist to the growth hacker the aim of all these skilled personnel is the same – to find comparative connections and relational interpretations that will highlight trends and consumer preferences. From this information businesses are able to create their business goals and explore new business opportunities.