Big Data: Get it and use it, too

https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2017/12/24/53-of-companies-are-adopting-big-data-analytics/#20b5cf8339a1

This article discusses a 36% increase in the use of big data in just 3 years –  and that was nearly a year ago.

Coming across this old Forbes article reminded me of the direction the world is headed and why I am happy to be a part of an organization that is a part of this important movement. If you’re already a CDR client or using big data in other ways, you’ve got a jump on the competition.

The author of the Forbes article points out that the number of companies in various industries with plans to use big data in the next few years has been growing continuously. Construction is not one of the industries cited in this particular article, but there is no doubt that more companies are going beyond lead-generated lists and beginning to look at the big picture via consistent analysis of big data. But the way we see it is: an individual non-union contractor using data to analyze the market, just cannot compete with organized labor and management.  Doing so effectively and strategically using big data TOGETHER will increase market share, grow overall volume, capitalize on market trends and more.

Lately, there has also been a lot of news from the data and business community about companies jumping on the data bandwagon without an understanding of how to use data strategically (see this article from Harvard Business Review as just one example: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/companies-love-big-data-but-lack-strategy-to-use-it-effectively).

At CDR, we help our clients to use data, to infuse it into their daily work in as many ways as they possibly can. We think this is crucial, particularly at a time when organized labor is under attack and when big data is proving to be an effective tool to help companies and organizations meet their goals.

by Amanda Keil, Project Manager