How Big Data is influencing web design and what you can learn for it

By Ankit Gupta

Big Data refers to huge volume of data, both structured and unstructured. The volume of data is so massive in scope that it is almost impossible to process it using traditional means. As per Cloud Tweaks, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are produced every single day. Again, as per predictions of experts, 40 zettabytes of data will be in existence by end of 2020. So, basically, big data is everywhere and it’s shaping the internet and influencing the way we do business.

With the help of big data, businesses will produce a data-driven web design that delivers the simplest user expertise. Well, a data driven website design is not only restricted to functionality and visual appeal rather it takes a more scientific approach towards the concept of web design. It closely highlights how through the design a company website can gain more traffic and leads. It has been observed; businesses that make a switch to data-driven web design enjoy higher traffic and thus better ROI.

Before you embark in the designing for big data, there are a few questions you will have to answer.

What are your objectives?
What exactly would you like the design to achieve for you? Do you just want to join different datasets or find information about high-value clients faster? Begin with the end in mind but also be open to redefining those goals as you go through the data you have. You just might find something interesting.

What is the nature of your data?
You need to know where you data is coming from, how much data you have moving through your system and where this data integrate within the current system. This will help you consolidate all the data about each client from all the different sources and convergence points within your current system. This way, you don’t lose any information.

Which platform?
This will be determined by the kind of data you have as well as the volume. Based on this information, you can then decide what will work with you specific needs in order to provide adequate support.Once you have all these questions answered, there are a few things you will have to keep in mind as you start designing your website.

Easy does it
Don’t flood all your information onto your new platform all at once. Bring it in slowly to see how it works and how the staff responds to it. Start offline and in small batches before moving to real-time processing of large quantities of data.

Develop an updating system
Your data will need refreshing from time to time in order to remain current and relevant. You will need to find out how you can make these updates to your big data platform as easily and quickly as possible.

Get a feedback loop
You will need datasets that can make the existing systems smarter and this will be done using a feedback loop. These smaller datasets will be able to improve existing applications by providing real-time information from systems that they were previously impervious to or entire unaware of.

Establishing and evaluating analytics
As your feedback loop grows large enough to link all your data sources, you can start data mining and conducting behavioral analysis to make better predictions and optimize resources. This way, you can stay on top of trends within your industry and give yourself a competitive edge.

Privacy is paramount
With all that information there is a great chance of losing privacy of your users’ information; that must never happen! Emphasize user privacy in your design at every level and especially in niche segments. This is especially true if sensitive user information will be needed during transactions with the website link bank accounts, residential addresses and all that.

Training the users
Big data web design will change how things work. This is because it necessitates greater access by the end users in order to give real time. As a result, it is important for organizations to educate their staff on how to use big data as a team to achieve the set objective.

It’s an ongoing process
Transitioning to big data web design is an ongoing process. There will be some kinks to iron out and you will have to constantly evaluate the system to see if you are getting what you need from it.

At the end of the day, using big data (also known as business intelligence) to develop a web design is all about creating an experience that is attractive and satisfactory to the user. Clients are often more impressed with a personalized experience than a standard, albeit efficient one. The good news is you have all that data; you just need to be smart about how you use it.

(The author is the CEO and VP, WeblinkIndia.net)