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Training Your Employees on Big Data

Tristan Anwyn

September 19, 2014

Does your small business have the skills to handle big data?

Big data offers big advantages for businesses of all shapes and sizes, but with plenty of talk about the "big data skills gap", you might find yourself wondering if embracing big data means employing a whole new team of data scientists.

In actual fact, by training your existing employees on big data, you'll find you can get all the skills you need in-house, and make the most of big data for your business at the same time.

Why should you keep your big data skills in-house and how can you help your existing team get on board with big data?

Does Big Data Mean a Big Skills Gap?

As pointed out in the article "How to Unlock Big Data's Big Potential", businesses can find implementing big data to be a daunting task.

While the big internet companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon have been able to build in big data technology as they go, the chances are your business already has its own technology in place that you and your employees are used to working with.

Changing to big data certainly means a learning curve for all of your team members, but the big data skills gap is nowhere near as dire as it might seem.

Getting Your Team on Side Matters

Big data can mean a big change for your business, but it's an exciting and valuable one that stands to benefit everyone. Using the insights gained from big data, you can build a stronger and more profitable business, which is good news all round.

Getting your existing team on side is vital when it comes to implementing big data in your business.

After all, these are the people who are going to be handling big data, analyzing it and using it for the good of your company.

Big data can only yield the results you want if it's handled correctly, so training your team and explaining why big data matters to them is important.

Your Big Data Specialist is Already Here

If your small business is starting to embrace big data, don't take out an ad for a big data specialist quite yet.

Instead, look to the people who already work for you to find the skills you need to manage and analyze big data.

Your employees working for your company for years - these are the people who know who you are and what you do inside out, and that insight can be valuable when it comes to formulating a big data plan.

From sharp financial skills to a way with technology to a knack for explaining complicated concepts simply, look around and see what talents you already have at your disposal.

Unlocking Your Team's Big Data Potential

The key to unlocking your team's big data potential is good training.

Big data is a learning curve and like any new technology, it can't be understood overnight. But nor does it have to be unreasonably difficult - big data technologies aren't unusually difficult to understand, and you'll find plenty of options for training your staff to work with big data.

There are many companies out there who offer onsite big data training, and you'll also find online courses and expos or conferences. From simple basics to more complicated concepts, there is a training option out there for you and your employees.

Big data is a powerful force for your small business, and introducing it to your employees doesn't have to be a source of stress.

By making big data into a team effort and providing useful training, you'll be able to build in big data skills that will serve your business for years to come.

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