The need for big data solutions has become greater than ever before as companies step into a new era where information is crucial to success. Big data is by no means a secret by now, yet many businesses still struggle with implementing it. Considering the cutting edge technology involved and the complexity associated with big data analytics, perhaps this shouldnt come as a surprise.
To overcome the challenge, many companies are turning to big data vendors to better utilize big data without needing to fully master it. Choosing the right big data vendor, however, is far from an easy task. There are many factors to consider when making this important decision. Getting it wrong can set your organization back, while the correct choice could lead to many years of success at a new level.
Before looking at big data vendors, youll need to establish what your companys needs are in the first place. Big data has a lot to offer, but its versatility can become overwhelming if you dont know what your goals are. Each industry will have different needs, some varying greatly from the others. For example, a financial company will want to use big data for many different reasons when compared to a healthcare institution. In response to this, big data vendors offer different solutions as well. Once you know exactly what your company wants to do with big data, itll be easier to identify the vendor that has the right solution for you.
This level of thinking applies equally to finding out what types of technology a prospective vendor uses. For example, youll want to determine what database technology the vendor prefers, and considering the choices out there, there are a lot of possibilities. Does the vendor use a relational or non-relational database? What cloud services do they use? Is Google Cloud SQL the preferred option, or do they tend toward Microsoft Azure? What tools are used?
Is it a question of a vendor using Hadoop vs. Spark or do they use them both? All of these are important questions to ask and should affect your decision. Based on the technology they use, they may be better suited for your specific industry. Youll also want to know if theres anyone within your organization that can actually use the technology.
One of the most important steps you can take in the process of choosing a big data vendor is research. This goes beyond finding out the tools and technologies provided by the vendor. Youll also want to determine what levels of support a vendor will provide after youve selected them. Some vendors take a more hands-off approach once they have your business. If you encounter any problems or issues, dealing with poor customer service can be detrimental to your operations.
On the other hand, some vendors go above and beyond in their level of support for customers, even going so far as to offer advice on how best to use their products. Comparing the level of value youll get from each vendor is simply a must, but each vendor will obviously tout itself as the best. Thats why you need to rely on independent assessments and reviews to make a more informed decision.
These independent sources can look at levels of support, how easy it is to use the product, how successful implementation usually is, and many other factors. Without this informed opinion, you would have to take vendors at their word, which doesnt always pan out.
Your organization will also need to consider where all that data being used is stored. Big data vendors store data in the cloud, but that only means its being kept on a server. Depending on where the physical server is located, numerous legal implications could be raised. Sensitive company data needs to be protected, and legal protections might not be extensive enough depending on which country that data is being stored in. These are the kind of details you must know before committing to a big data vendor.
As can be seen, choosing a big data vendor is a crucial decision with a lot at stake. That means youll want to take your time to ensure youre making the right choice. With so many factors to consider, doing so in haste is simply poor strategy. Have patience, do your research, and know what to look for, and youll be better prepared to make a decision that brings big benefits to your organization.
