Big Data And Mobility: How Well Will They Work Together? It Could Depend On Your Mobile Device

By Bob Ashenbrenner, President of Durable Mobility Technologies, LLC.

In 2012, the NY Times reported on Big Data efforts at the retailer Target. Their analysis was able to determine which of their shoppers was pregnant, based only in changes to items purchased. These were not obvious changes like the addition of baby wipes, but subtle changes in shoppers’ baskets. The article (“ How Companies Learn Your Secrets” ) documented one case where Target knew that a teen shopper was pregnant before her parents knew. This just shows that there can be a wealth of information hidden in a forest of data.

Which is why we are seeing Big Data “mining” techniques applied in industries like manufacturing where highly automated factories could use the uncovered insights to support customization and optimize precise assemblies, things like jet engines, communications equipment, and premium automobiles to name a few. It’s also why this trend to use data to analyze, adjust and maintain equipment is such a central part of the Industry 4.0 initiative, of which we’ve written about recently (in blog links below).

However, it’s important to note that we are now seeing Big Data-type techniques appear in Utilities. Though their potential applications are interesting, especially considering the extreme mobilization of the industry’s workforce.