What is Datafication? 3 Things You Need To Know About The Data Revolution

 

I am happy to come back on the scene in time to see datafication, and the data revolution is here. Years earlier, about 1997, my goal was to get certified as a Microsoft Office User Specialist. As an administrative assistant, I worked with advanced tools in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Access.

I did not use Access for any admin duties in the office. Therefore, I created a database of all the movies my family watched. To make a long story short and to get on with this article, databases became my passion. Also, I went further to become certified as a Microsoft Access 97 Expert. Then life happens, and years pass as the market becomes flooded with certifications. When it seemed that getting certified was overrated, now there are more certifications just for analyzing data. No doubt, collecting massive amounts of data is changing our lives. What do you need to know about the data revolution?

What is Datafication?

Now that the background info is out of the way, what is datafication? My research indicates it is the process of tracking our daily decisions. For companies, it is collecting and using data to determine our needs and wants. Also known as "datafication." Datafication has grown in popularity because it's a cost-effective way for companies to accurately target potential buyers. Datafication, the revolution of data, refers to the process of converting qualitative data into quantitative data.

What are the Benefits of Datafication?

I know you're asking what that means. It means that our personal accounts, email accounts, and subscription accounts are gathered into databases and then measured and analyzed. This process is either manual or through software. For instance, Netflix used to be a physical business model. Do you remember when we used to get physical disks in the mail? And we could order another disk once Netflix receives the previous disk? Well, not these days, Netflix started converting to digital formats, and now our favorite movies, shows, documentaries, etc., are available instantly.

Let's get back to datafication and the future of data. Our choices are recorded, never forgotten, and can now be used "against us." Actually, our options lead to offering suggestions on entertainment just for "us." That's the "Data of Us" at its best.

Let's get back to datafication and the future of data. Our choices are recorded, never forgotten, and can now be used "against us." Actually, our options choices lead to offering suggestions on entertainment just for "us." That's the "Data of Us" at its best.

So, the benefits of datafication for companies are the continual collection of data to analyze and make more informed decisions and predictions and take advantage of opportunities by using the information collected by their systems in real-time.

How does datafication relate to a data-driven society work?

A data-driven society relies on two things:

• 1) The availability of large amounts of data
• 2) The use of algorithms to analyze this data and derive insights

I can recall years ago when I was first asked for my phone number (I would make up a number) while purchasing something. Later, cashiers asked for my email address. So, in case you didn't know, we are and have been living in a data-driven world in which the "data of us" is driving all aspects of our lives.

As I mentioned above, data is anything from the data that we produce ourselves to the data created by others and available online. Data is not just limited to numbers and figures. It also includes sequences of words, images, sounds and videos. Data-driven societies rely on data to make decisions and solve problems and let's not forget to look into the deepest part of our souls (but that's another story).

Governments, corporations, and individuals collect data and use it to make better decisions. Weather forecasts, security camera footage, online shopping habits, stock prices, and more are data.

How to Prepare for the Revolution?

Data is used more than ever these days due to the rise of big data analytics. With the help of big data analytics and artificial intelligence companies are able to predict future trends based on past data. Data has had a huge impact on society because it is shaping the way we live our lives, how we make decisions and even how we interact with each other.

As we continue, it is important to be prepared. There are so many sources of data that it can be hard to keep up with all the information. We need to know how to protect our data and reduce the risk of threats and attacks. Please see this article! for security tips.