One-third of firms have no plans for big data – survey

13 Dec 2013

While almost 80pc of IT decision-makers around the world believe big data will improve decision making, 29pc have no plans to deploy big data. Some 82pc of Singapore companies believe they have the right big data skills, compared with 52pc of Irish firms.

The survey of 10,700 business and IT management executives from a variety of industries in 50 countries found that 76pc believe technology investment is a strategic way to achieve their goals.

Three-quarters of respondents report that ensuring skills keep pace with the rate of IT innovation will be a challenge for their organisations over the next three years.

Eight per cent of respondents agree that IT is now equipped to handle the most essential business priorities – and that now, the biggest barrier is cultural.

Some 79pc of businesses surveyed reported that better uses of big data will lead to better decision making.

Fifty-eight per cent of respondents believe big data will be a key factor in determining winners and losers in their industry.

But nearly one-third (29pc) of companies surveyed have no current plans for implementing big-data technology.

“We weren’t surprised to see that three-quarters of businesses see IT as key to meeting their goals in the next two years – after all, IT can help businesses find efficiencies in a challenging economic climate while providing a platform for innovation for products and customers,” said Hélène Barnekow, senior vice-president of World Wide Field & Partner Marketing, EMC Corporation.

“It was surprising, however, to see that one-third of businesses are not considering big data solutions – we expect this to change in the near-term as individuals and companies hear more about the transformative benefits that are achievable with big data analytics technology.

“The survey also reminds us that to realise the full benefits of IT transformation, organisations must transform the technology layer while transforming the people and process layers,” Barnekow said.

In the clouds image via Shutterstock

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com