Big data provides detailed information (the "what") that can help people understand why things happen. There are three characteristics of big data: volume, variety, and velocity. Big data is high-volume, high-variety, and high-velocity information that can provide insights and improve decision making. Examples of how big data can benefit organizations include optimizing delivery routes, predicting natural disasters, and understanding customer preferences. Challenges with big data include integrating diverse data sources, privacy and security issues, and a lack of skills. To take advantage of big data, people and organizations need tools that provide quick insights and enable fast action.

1. Big Data: The
Good, The Bad &
The Ugly
Alan Chan
National Technology Officer
Microsoft Hong Kong Limited
6/6/2014

3. 1854 London data map

4. Data gives you the WHAT,
so people can uncover the WHY
Data science process

5. Hurricane Sandy path tracking

6. Data gives you the WHAT, so people can
uncover the WHY
Data science process

7. How can we make the right forecasts?

8. VOLUME
(10X increase every
5 years)
VARIETY
(85% data from
new data types)
VELOCITY
(4.3 connected
devices/adult)
What is Big Data? - The 3 Vs
Value!
“Big data is high-volume, high-velocity and high-variety information assets that demand cost-
effective, innovative forms of information processing for enhanced insight and decision making.”
- Gartner

9. Data overload becomes focused insight
Big data Weather
Holiday inventory
Delivery times
Ship more inventory
to NE distribution
center to meet
anticipated demand,
shorten shipping
times, improve
customer satisfaction

10. How do I optimize my
fleet based on weather
and traffic patterns
using GPS data?
Which major
airports should we
put our next theme
restaurants?
How Big Data can benefit us?
How do I predict
where the next
earthquake will hit
and when?

11. DEMO
When Urban Air Quality Meets Big Data

12. Challenges to
unlocking data
insights
Integration &
collaboration
41%
Security, privacy &
manageability
37%
Lack of skills
& knowledge
59%
Access
everywhere
4.3 Devices/adult
Source: Big Data & CIO Adoption Quantitative Research, Sept 2012, Microsoft

13. So what do we need?
People need speed to insights and action

14. DEMO
Big Data: Hurricane Sandy disaster evacuations

16. DEMO
NGO - How to serve the seniors better?

17. In conclusion: Harnessing BIG Data now
"The new source of power is not
money in the hands of a few, but
information in the hands of
many." - John Naisbitt

18. achan@microsoft.com