How the Government Uses Big Data to Save People Money and Improve Efficiency

The Federal Government’s Big Data Research and Development Initiative is one example of the ways big data can be used to improve efficiency and save money. The federal initiative outlined the interdisciplinary use of big data to increase the pace of discovery in science and engineering, strengthen national security and transform teaching and learning across disciplines. In all, six Federal departments and agencies provided a $200 million commitment toward improving the hardware and software tools needed to get the most out of what big data has to offer.

The amount of new data potentially created every day is estimated to be 2.5 quintillion bytes, and 90% of the world’s data today has been created in the last two years alone. Extracting the useful, profitable and meaningful data from this huge amount of raw information can be extremely important for organizations around the globe. As a result, the need for skilled data scientists is growing exponentially. Business intelligence professionals are needed across industries to assist organizations in their efforts to get the most out of this new big data revolution.

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In addition to the marketing data that can be useful to corporations, the availability of big data is also important to organizations with a interest in national security. Well-trained professionals are needed to recognize patterns that may exist in raw data.

A Smarter Infrastructure With Big Data

In addition to national security, organizations like the United States military can use big data to save money related to operating costs. Once a smarter infrastructure is in place and inter-organization IT products become more compatible, analysts indicate that the potential savings can approach $500 billion. The main areas that the military can help address with big data applications are:

• Organizational redundancy, fraud, waste and abuse of resources
• Transportation infrastructure and transportation management
• Improving efficiency and effectiveness of intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance missions

With the budgetary savings potential that is made available by harnessing the power of big data, private companies and entities such as the U.S. military are investing in training professionals in the area of business intelligence.

In order for organizations to accurately interpret and react appropriately to information revealed through accurate reading of big data, inter-agency cooperation is often necessary. The divisions between disciplines, agencies and job titles can be blurred with a need for business intelligence professionals to work in cooperation with one another. Especially in the field of security, big data means developing ways to coordinate data using secure platforms. In the wake of high-threat events, local, national and international organizations are often seeking ways to read data faster, identify important signals from the noise and then coordinate an effective and timely response.

In fields like healthcare, business intelligence professionals are needed to help create a more intelligent and responsive healthcare data information management system. With the passing of the Federal mandate for electronic medical record-keeping, those with a variety of big data skills are needed to implement and manage these new systems. From improving the efficiency of day-to-day operations of large organizations like the U.S. military, to increasing the readability and accessibility of healthcare records, to devising a more comprehensive infrastructure for reading data related to national security, business intelligence professionals are often in high demand.

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Because this field is rapidly evolving, it’s important to acquire business intelligence training through programs that are designed to adjust with the advancement of new knowledge. Online programs taught by industry leaders not only can offer a flexible schedule, but also provide a dynamic learning environment that can be adapted to reflect the most current advancements. For IT professionals and other interested career changers looking for a job on the edge of emerging technology and knowledge, pursuing additional training as a business intelligence professional could provide a rewarding and successful career.