Lately, it's almost impossible to talk about business strategy without mentioning the transformative potential of big data. Many companies are actively using advanced data analytics, and others are just getting started. But as the beginners are finding out, it's not as simple as just buying some new technology and hiring some statisticians.
Analyst insight: As the global competitive landscape evolves, businesses are looking to gain an edge by leveraging big data, using sophisticated analytics to uncover insights and help drive performance. One industry that is behind the curve is manufacturing – primarily automotive, mining, life sciences and consumer packaged goods. But that may be changing as a result of a rekindled focus on improving operational efficiency and the necessity for organizations to utilize their supply chains as a competitive advantage. – Amber Morgan, Senior Manager, Supply Chain Analytics Lead, EY
O'Reilly Automotive has been on a strong growth path for the past couple of years. Adding to the retailer's success has been its rate of growth and technology evolvement. O'Reilly has been keeping up with the pace of change by replacing its POS transaction engine, integrating promotions and incentives into the new system for a seamless customer experience and enhancing its electronic parts catalog.
The exponential growth of data from a widening array of sources is making the term "Big Data" a hot topic among corporate executives from businesses of all sizes across nearly every industry.