Unstructured data contains different types of data that is not contained in structured databases, and makes up over 90% of social media data. Analyzing unstructured data from sources like social media, emails, and documents can provide insights into customer perceptions and improve productivity. Common types of unstructured data include text files, photos, videos, and audio. Tools for analyzing unstructured data include R, RapidMiner, Weka, Python, and Hadoop, each with different strengths and specializations. Sentiment analysis of social media data can help companies in sectors like insurance understand customer opinions.