Big data has been completely disrupting the way we do business as a society for the last several years. Like many things that disrupt business as we know it, big data has also become mainstream recently ”every company wants to leverage its power, and for good reason. Now that the industry is growing in popularity, however, some of its limitations are becoming apparent. Some startups are working to fix inherent problems within the industry and evolve the available technology to make big data even more valuable to companies in every industry. One of the biggest problems in big data today is analysis: it’s easy to collect and store data, but figuring out how to analyze and use it can be a major challenge. Taking on that challenge is Neo Technology’s mission ”they’re ready to bring easy big data analysis to any company that wants it.
The Challenges of Big Data
Once the ability to collect, store and analyze large datasets efficiently became available, companies with large budgets began assembling data analytics teams and giant databases. These teams were made up of curious coders who were tasked with finding relevant answers to these companies‘ biggest questions about customer behavior, efficiency, and many other queries, finding evidence within the data sets. Using big data with graph databases helped many companies like Google save and generate millions, making the investment in analytics teams and software extremely worthwhile. However, big companies with deep pockets were once the only organizations that could afford to leverage big data ”small companies often can’t afford a data team at all. Neo Technology’s open-source graph database solution was created to help reduce the impact of these problems within the industry.
Graph Databases
Graph databases are revolutionizing the way big data is analyzed, eclipsing the current technology that is used by many companies (Structured Query Language ”SQL). So what makes a graph database more efficient and relevant than using SQL in big data processes?
Traditional databases uses a table and row system, which can be clumsy and slow when interpreting highly irregular data sets ”data sets that can often yield the most helpful information for companies. Graph databases, on the other hand, function by referencing relationships and connections between data, rather than the value of the data by itself. This makes the system more flexible, agile, and scalable than other databases. A good example of graph database use is retargeting ads ”Google sends users ads after they’ve viewed specific items. The connection between the user’s node and the item is easily referenced by the database for retargeting purposes, and can also help to reference similar items the user might be interested in buying.
Where Neo Technology is Headed
Neo Technology is one of the first companies to work with graph databases for big data ”and they’ve developed an open source database that allows companies to leverage big data, whether they’re a multimillion dollar business or a startup. So what is Neo Technology’s goal in developing their graph databases for large and small companies alike? Just solving the problems they observed in big data analytics. The company offers both their free open-source version of the graph database, alongside premium versions for larger enterprises.
An Ever-Changing Industry
Of course, big data is always evolving, and there’s no telling what breakthroughs will disrupt the industry next. Neo Technology may be moving big data in a certain direction, but as this technology becomes commonplace, more innovation is inevitable ”and we’ll be seeing disruption once again. For now, Neo Technology and other startups like it are making it easier than ever for businesses to enjoy the benefits of big data.
