Big Data in Practice

Big Data in Practice

by Bernard Marr
Released May 2016
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119231387

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Book description

The best-selling author of Big Data is back, this time with a unique and in-depth insight into how specific companies use big data.

Big data is on the tip of everyone's tongue. Everyone understands its power and importance, but many fail to grasp the actionable steps and resources required to utilise it effectively. This book fills the knowledge gap by showing how major companies are using big data every day, from an up-close, on-the-ground perspective.

From technology, media and retail, to sport teams, government agencies and financial institutions, learn the actual strategies and processes being used to learn about customers, improve manufacturing, spur innovation, improve safety and so much more. Organised for easy dip-in navigation, each chapter follows the same structure to give you the information you need quickly. For each company profiled, learn what data was used, what problem it solved and the processes put it place to make it practical, as well as the technical details, challenges and lessons learned from each unique scenario.

  • Learn how predictive analytics helps Amazon, Target, John Deere and Apple understand their customers
  • Discover how big data is behind the success of Walmart, LinkedIn, Microsoft and more
  • Learn how big data is changing medicine, law enforcement, hospitality, fashion, science and banking
  • Develop your own big data strategy by accessing additional reading materials at the end of each chapter

Table of contents

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. What Is Big Data?
    2. Big Data Opportunities
  2. 1: WALMART: How Big Data Is Used To Drive Supermarket Performance
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  3. 2: CERN: Unravelling The Secrets Of The Universe With Big Data
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  4. 3: NETFLIX: How Netflix Used Big Data To Give Us The Programmes We Want
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  5. 4: ROLLS-ROYCE: How Big Data Is Used To Drive Success In Manufacturing
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  6. 5: SHELL: How Big Oil Uses Big Data
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  7. 6: APIXIO: How Big Data Is Transforming Healthcare
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  8. 7: LOTUS F1 TEAM: How Big Data Is Essential To The Success Of Motorsport Teams
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  9. 8: PENDLETON & SON BUTCHERS: Big Data For Small Business
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. Notes
    10. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  10. 9: US OLYMPIC WOMEN’S CYCLING TEAM: How Big Data Analytics Is Used To Optimize Athletes’ Performance
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  11. 10: ZSL: Big Data In The Zoo And To Protect Animals
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  12. 11: FACEBOOK: How Facebook Use Big Data To Understand Customers
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  13. 12: JOHN DEERE: How Big Data Can Be Applied On Farms
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  14. 13: ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND: Using Big Data To Make Customer Service More Personal
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  15. 14: LINKEDIN: How Big Data Is Used To Fuel Social Media Success
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  16. 15: MICROSOFT: Bringing Big Data To The Masses
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  17. 16: ACXIOM: Fuelling Marketing With Big Data
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  18. 17: US IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS: How Big Data Is Used To Keep Passengers Safe And Prevent Terrorism
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  19. 18: NEST: Bringing The Internet of Things Into The Home
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  20. 19: GE: How Big Data Is Fuelling The Industrial Internet
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  21. 20: ETSY: How Big Data Is Used In A Crafty Way
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  22. 21: NARRATIVE SCIENCE: How Big Data Is Used To Tell Stories
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  23. 22: BBC: How Big Data Is Used In The Media
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  24. 23: MILTON KEYNES: How Big Data Is Used To Create Smarter Cities
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  25. 24: PALANTIR: How Big Data Is Used To Help The CIA And To Detect Bombs In Afghanistan
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  26. 25: AIRBNB: How Big Data Is Used To Disrupt The Hospitality Industry
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  27. 26: SPRINT: Profiling Audiences Using Mobile Network Data
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  28. 27: DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT: How Big Data Is Used To Gain Performance Insights Into One Of America’s Most Successful Restaurant Chains
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  29. 28: CAESARS: Big Data At The Casino
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  30. 29: FITBIT: Big Data In The Personal Fitness Arena
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  31. 30: RALPH LAUREN: Big Data In The Fashion Industry
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  32. 31: ZYNGA: Big Data In The Gaming Industry
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  33. 32: AUTODESK: How Big Data Is Transforming The Software Industry
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  34. 33: WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS: How Big Data Is Transforming Our Family Holidays
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  35. 34: EXPERIAN: Using Big Data To Make Lending Decisions And To Crack Down On Identity Fraud
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  36. 35: TRANSPORT FOR LONDON: How Big Data Is Used To Improve And Manage Public Transport In London
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  37. 36: THE US GOVERNMENT: Using Big Data To Run A Country
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  38. 37: IBM WATSON: Teaching Computers To Understand And Learn
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  39. 38: GOOGLE: How Big Data Is At The Heart Of Google’s Business Model
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  40. 39: TERRA SEISMIC: Using Big Data To Predict Earthquakes
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  41. 40: APPLE: How Big Data Is At The Centre Of Their Business
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  42. 41: TWITTER: How Twitter And IBM Deliver Customer Insights From Big Data
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Are The Technical Details?
    6. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    7. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    8. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  43. 42: UBER: How Big Data Is At The Centre Of Uber’s Transportation Business
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  44. 43: ELECTRONIC ARTS: Big Data In Video Gaming
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  45. 44: KAGGLE: Crowdsourcing Your Data Scientist
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  46. 45: AMAZON: How Predictive Analytics Are Used To Get A 360-Degree View Of Consumers
    1. Background
    2. What Problem Is Big Data Helping To Solve?
    3. How Is Big Data Used In Practice?
    4. What Were The Results?
    5. What Data Was Used?
    6. What Are The Technical Details?
    7. Any Challenges That Had To Be Overcome?
    8. What Are The Key Learning Points And Takeaways?
    9. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
  47. FINAL THOUGHTS
  48. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  49. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  50. Index
  51. EULA

Product information

  • Title: Big Data in Practice
  • Author(s): Bernard Marr
  • Release date: May 2016
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119231387