Google has said that too many businesses believe Big Data is not a disruptor, and are suffering because of it.
Speaking at the Gartner Symposium in Barcelona, Jesper Ritsmer Stormholt, who manages Google Apps for the Nordic countries, used this point to illustrate the effectiveness of Google for Work and Google Apps in using Big Data for success.
He said: "One of the things I remember when I joined Google, the first thing I got was a Windows laptop. I had a Nokia, then I got a Blakberry. Two different devices and two different SIM cards.
"In 2007, these were the work tools at Google. We had one app that was a cloud based app, it was a CRM system which was brand new. We were living on-premise. We didn’t even promote Gmail as a business solution yet."
But Stormholt said that with converged devices, each performing their own specific function but collaborating in the cloud, companies can harness Big Data and use the innovation found in their employees to be more successful.
"Fast forward to 2014, when we hire employees things have changed. We don’t have Office on our computers, and we give our employees a Chromebook.
"The phone then becomes the number one work tool. All my collaboration is done on my phone or my tablet. The computer, what is that used for? It has one thing – a keyboard. If you need to create a lot of contact then there’s nothing like that keyboard."
Google recently ran a survey of 200 C-Suite executives which found that 93% do not believe that Big Data is a disrupting force. Stormholt said this figure highlights the misunderstanding firms have in Big Data.
"Businesses don’t understand what it can be used for. Big data is something you can put in the hands of every single employee. It presents access to real time information. We can really get the benefit of that through simple interfaces."
The simple interfaces that Stormholt is alluding to here are Google for Work apps on mobile device and PCs.
"What is Google doing trying to solve this? Empowering employees and by delivering cloud insights," said Stormholt.
"We’re pushing technology using cloud, Google Apps, Drive. Through Chromebooks and other devices.
"Innovation comes from bottom up, and you need to capture ideas from your employees."
