To most, the idea of “Big Data” is difficult to quantify. In the same way that we may not understand the specific mechanics that make our car drive, or the scientific theory that goes into our lights turning on, we benefit from that which we frequently don’t understand.

Simply put, experts describe Big Data as larger and more complex data sets that assist analysts in making more calculated, educated, and impactful future decisions.

The power of an organization firmly lies in the quality of its data and its data analysis technology. The financial and banking sectors have benefited most from all that Big Data has to offer. No matter the nature of the decision being made, an enterprise’s ability to leverage big data makes for a Herculean impact. Some even say adoption is not a matter of if, but when.

Big Data and financial institutions. Financial institutions handle some of the most intimate and secure data. Some may argue that this may also render them more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, fraud, and hackers. Big Data has been instrumental in helping them adhere to security protocols and requirements. Some banking institutions have even gone as far as to adopt software that allows them to make review every document that enters their domain (SmartDataCollective). Big Data also allows banking, for example, to streamline their financial services on a global scale.

What does Big Data look like? It is not an accident that 71% of financial service firms have already taken the plunge to adopt Big Data and analytics (SmartDataCollective). Big Data technology offers a wide variety of techniques that help organizations optimize their data analytic systems. At the end of the day, efficiency is the goal. This technology allows financial institutions to become more data driven, strategic institutions. This often helps them secure a competitive advantage. It also enables them to increase the standards and quality of their services, as well as the consistency of their performance across all departments. This helps all the other departments run more smoothly and productively, as well. It has been reported that through the use of Big Data, banks have specifically been able to improve their automated routine tasks and current data trends (SmartDataCollective). This has allowed them to bolster their sales and maintain a competitive advantage.

Risk management is more predictable than ever. Whether it be to provide a loan or help you predict the returns you’ll make from a sizable financial investment, the success of the banking and financial sectors is largely contingent on their ability to efficiently assess risk. Big Data offers these industries predictive models that allow them to improve response timelines in their systems, thereby improving their productivity and effectiveness (SmartDataCollective). It allows them to automate this process — which in turn — makes it easier for them to offer their customers better risk coverage and more intelligent risk management insights (SmartDataCollective). There are countless applications for the risk management properties associated with Big Data’s offerings.

Employees, galore! Big Data makes locating and onboarding new employees easy as pie! What if I told you that Big Data was able to better assess the working experience and work quality produced by employees in the office? It is true. It can even be helpful in analyzing, tracking, and sharing metrics associated with employee performance (SmartDataCollective).

Get to know your clients. Big Data could possibly be the single most helpful thing in understanding your clients and the services that will best serve their needs. It allows executives to establish predetermined performance indicators with any given project, while also streamlining the internal processes that are required to maximize what you already know about your customer and their needs. In turn, this helps improve insights and more effectively meets the demand of operational needs l (SmartDataCollective). The applications of Big Data are endless within the client management sector.

Thinking Big Picture. Big Data allows industries to stay relevant, expand into new markets, offer real time customer behavior insights, and adhere to better decision making. On a granular level, this may look like risk reduction and management, better service delivery, engagement personalization, and improved product innovation (BigData). The bottom line is that big data offers a competitive edge across all departments, alike.

Big Data… what can I say? It’s kind of a big deal.

The Systech Solutions, Inc. Blog Series is designed to showcase ongoing innovations in the data and analytics space. If you have any suggestions for an upcoming article, or would like to volunteer to be interviewed, please contact Olivia Klayman at oliviak@systechusa.com.