The document discusses the growing importance and opportunities of analytics for businesses. It notes that there is a widening performance gap between top performers and bottom performers in their use of data and analytics. While the amount of data is growing exponentially, there is also a significant skills gap in having enough talent to effectively analyze and use data. The document outlines several major themes where businesses are applying analytics, including customer insights, risk management, operations, and product design. It argues that analytics can drive significant business value when integrated into operations and transformations.