Big data’s importance in corporate decision-making is growing dramatically, but making sense out of the tsunami of numbers is becoming increasingly challenging. Companies are drowning in data, but within the numbers lay opportunities waiting to be unleashed. The ability to parse, visualize, share, and collaborate around data is a must have for any enterprise. The underlying promise of visual communications is the ability to reveal the trends and potential of big data, in real time, and get that content in front of key decision makers concisely and quickly. However, making a better decision faster requires another key informational component: context.
The corporate communications channel is the presentation and distribution mechanism for getting focused, well-visualized big data onto all stakeholder screens. The data alone reveals only a part of the big picture, but by adding other contextual content to the channel, the trends are brought to life. This can be as straight forward as displaying target numbers and using visualization to display gaps or goals. Animation can also be used to bring disparities or achievements to the viewer’s attention in order to motivate a more rapid response. Content feeds such as industry sector news, upcoming trade events, sales forecasts, and analysts’ reports can all be used in conjunction with corporate data to provide a deeper understanding of the numbers and how they fit in with long-term business objectives. It is by displaying all of this content together on one screen that a new perspective is formed.
Traditional methods of data distribution to stakeholders do a fairly good job at providing a historical snap shot of data, but business is moving faster than ever. There is a need for real-time numbers, professionally visualized for greater awareness and response. Most importantly, there is a need for a sense of context that provides viewers with the entire business story, which will ultimately be the catalyst for faster and better decision making.
Vern Freedlander is vice president of production services for Montréal-based X2O Media, a Barco company. X2O Media is a leading software developer of real-time visual communications solutions that significantly improve communications throughout the enterprise. With more than 20 years of broadcast television experience as a producer, director and executive, Freedlander oversees all of X2O Media’s content initiatives. He can be reached at [email protected].
