11 Great Things Companies Are Doing With Big Data
Just Do It
Nike is using data to create more sustainable designs for its products, including a dye technique which requires no water.
Approval Rating
LendUp, a banking startup, evaluates whether to approve loan applicants according to how a user interacts with its site.
On Schedule
GE monitors the performance of its jet engines to flag maintenance needs (such as blade wear), thus reducing flight cancellations for customers.
Happy Talk
Via language-processing software, United Healthcare analyzes text converted from call center conversations to determine customer satisfaction levels.
Game Plan
The NFL’s Atlanta Falcons uses GPS technology to assess player movements during practices, which helps the coaches create more efficient plays.
Favorable Odds
Looking to maintain customer loyalty, Caesars Entertainment combines patrons’ gambling outcomes with their rewards program information to offer enticing perks to those who are losing at the tables.
Healthy Concept
Google is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control by tracking when users are inputting search terms related to flu topics, to help predict which regions may experience outbreaks.
Going Places, Part I
Norfolk Southern deploys customized software to monitor rail traffic and reduce congestion, enabling trains to operate at higher speeds. The company forecasts $200 million in savings by making trains run just 1 mph faster.
Going Places, Part II
Through telematics sensors in more than 46,000 vehicles, UPS monitors speed, direction and other drive performance metrics to design better routes.
Big (Data) Rewards
Bank of America’s “BankAmeriDeals” provides cash-back offers to credit and debit-card customers based upon analyses of their prior purchases.
Market Watch
Sears has consolidated data relating to customers, products, sales and campaigns to reduce the time needed to launch major marketing campaigns from eight weeks to one.