Big Data

The term Big Data is not clearly defined and is subject to continuous change. Big Data is often used as a collective term. Three common usages of Big Data are:

• large amounts of data "mass data" that are too extensive and complex to be processed manually.
• technologies needed to collect and evaluate large amounts of data.
• technologies that influence both digital communication and social interaction.

However, the definition of Big Data as an application in logistics presents itself somewhat differently. The 'Big' here refers to three dimensions (see also Gartner IT Glossary):

• the volume and data quantity,
• the speed at which the data is collected and transmitted, and
• the variety of data types and data sources.

However, the crucial component of Big Data is the quality of the collected data and the business value that can be derived from it. Ultimately, Big Data is about the collection and accumulation of large amounts of data for further use for business purposes.