US$278bil worth of data dividend potential in APAC: IDC, Microsoft

• US tech giant delivers data platform for the era of ‘ambient intelligence’
• Businesses with comprehensive approach to data can see 60% increase in data ROI

NEW IDC research shows companies that take a comprehensive approach to data stand to realise an additional 60% return on their data assets, an opportunity worth US$278 billion in Asia Pacific, according to Microsoft Corp.
 
Data is currency for business today, Microsoft said in a statement. New research it commissioned, conducted by IDC, estimates that organisations could realise a ‘data dividend’ of roughly US$1.6 trillion.
 
This dividend comes in the form of additional revenue, lower costs and improved productivity over the next four years.
 
However, to realise this dividend, companies would need to put in place a holistic approach to data that spans datasets, analytics and more.
 
In Asia Pacific, the potential data dividend is US$278 billion over the next four years, Microsoft said as it recently launched new data platform solutions in conjunction with the recent Big Data Week 2014 @ Kuala Lumpur series of events this week.
 
Research findings
 
The IDC research was conducted among more than 2,000 mid-sized and large organisations in 20 countries worldwide. More information on the methodology can be found at the Microsoft Cloud & Enterprise News Bytes Blog.
 
According to the survey, the key opportunity areas for organisations in unlocking its data dividend are:

• US$29 billion in customer-facing data scenarios, such as using data to improve customer acquisition, retention, support and pricing optimisation.

• US$88 billion in operations data scenarios, such as using data in process or operations optimisation; plant, facilities, equipment maintenance or utilization; demand or supply chain management, logistics and more.

• US$42 billion in innovation data scenarios, such as leveraging data in product or service improvement or innovation; research and development innovation.

• US$120 billion in productivity data scenarios, such as using data in human capital, IT optimisation, regulatory compliance and more.

“Customers which take a comprehensive approach to their data projects realise a higher data dividend than customers which take a point-by-point approach,” said Dan Vesset, programme vice president, Business Analytics and Big Data, at IDC.
 
“This new research shows that by combining diverse data sets, new analytics and insights to more people – at the right time – businesses worldwide can tap into a more than trillion-dollar opportunity over the next four years,” he said.
 
Ambient intelligence

The new data platform solutions Microsoft launched include SQL Server 2014, Microsoft Azure Intelligent Systems Service (ISS) which enables Internet of Things; and Analytics Platform System (APS), a low cost big-data-in-a-box appliance.
 
Nations, businesses and communities are living in a mobile-first and cloud-first world surrounded by technology that is increasingly connected, Microsoft said.
 
In this new world of ubiquitous computing, data is the fuel for intelligent systems and services to improve how we work, live and play. Microsoft said it envisions a world where we are surrounded by intelligent computing, ushering in an era of ambient intelligence.
 
“The era of ambient intelligence has begun, and we are delivering a platform that allows companies of any size to create a data culture and ensure insights reach every individual in every organisation,” said Microsoft Malaysia managing director Carlos Lacerda (pic above).
 
Built for the era of ambient intelligence, Microsoft’s data platform includes new Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities and provides customers with the building blocks they need to connect their data, refine and analyse it, and deliver insights to people who can take action, the company claimed.
 
The new products and services include:

• Launch of SQL Server 2014. The latest version delivers real-time performance with built-in in-memory technology and public cloud scale and disaster recovery with Microsoft Azure.

• Limited public preview of the Microsoft Azure Intelligent Systems Service (ISS). This new Azure service helps customers embrace the Internet of Things and securely connect to, manage and capture machine-generated data from sensors and devices, regardless of operating system, the company claimed.

• General availability of the Analytics Platform System (APS), which Microsoft said combines the best of its SQL Server database and Hadoop technology in one low-cost offering that delivers ‘big data in a box.’

“Microsoft’s … aim is to help customers increase the return on the data currency by connecting data across their company, connecting it to the world’s data, enriching it through analysis and delivering insights to as many people as possible – as quickly as possible,” said Arun Ulagaratchagan, general manager of the Cloud and Enterprise Division at Microsoft Asia Pacific.
 
Related Stories:
 
Disrupt: IoT to be a goldmine for app developers
 
Government regulation key factor for IoT to bloom
 
Big data hype slowly but surely melting away
 
New Microsoft CEO Satya has to step out to step up
  
 
For more technology news and the latest updates, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Like us on Facebook.