Intel's Chris Shaw on getting into big data

When 'double digit growth' in data just isn't enough, new plans are needed...

Last week's IT Leaders Summit, hosted by Computing in London, brought a lot of hot issues bubbling to the surface.

While many were concerned with the IT chief's place physically and psychologically within the organisation, others were preoccupied with data.

That's nothing new, of course. 'Big data' has been the industry-wide buzz phrase for at least four years now.

But when talk turns to whether the CMO of an organisation could replace if you if you're not data savvy, or that the data science skills gap may be holding organisations back, it's generally a good idea to stay as far on top of the ‘big data revolution' as you can.

Intel, of course, is already leading the field in such matters. The Internet of Things is almost synonymous with the company's very name, and there's not a lot Intel doesn't know about shifting data and shifting the shifting of that data into an even higher gear come 2015.

But what about internally? Does Intel's strategy match its product outlook and if so, what can we expect it to be focusing on as it moves into next year and beyond?

Computing sat down with Chris Shaw, Intel IT director for EMEA and APAC to find out more.

For a start, explains Shaw, Intel doesn't just look at "next year" and leave it at that.

"Every year we look at a three year horizon as well as the upcoming year," he tells Computing.

"We have some audacious goals that we're looking at for 2017/2018, but for 2015 there's a few things [in focus].

"We believe we're in a really good position when it comes to governance of data and the way we're working with it, in terms of our internal data, which has various customer data and therefore huge privacy implications."

Being international, Shaw continues, Intel also has to look across many legislative bodies in order to stay compliant. "But I think we're in a good place there," he enthuses.

But it's marrying data together from a range of sources that proves one of Intel's sharper focuses. With so much flowing in from an increasing number of devices, sensors and simply more IT in the world, careful management is paramount to extract the maximum value.

"One of the challenges we still face is getting the insight from a lot of the data that we've both got internally, and that we're bringing in from external vendors," says Shaw.

"We want to be able to transform what the organisation is able to do to give them better insights into the customers that our company is trying to sell products to. That's a completely different challenge to ones we've faced in the past."

Shaw cites a need for a strong level of business acumen and an "inquisitive nature" to "understand what you're trying to achieve", as well as the question the organisation is trying to answer, based on the increasing amounts of data Intel has.

"We've started that ball rolling, and have invested in various capabilities that have enabled the business to recognise areas of potential revenue growth, and we've probably hit in the double digit million area in that space," reveals Shaw.

But for a company that typically has revenues around $50bn in total, it's understandable that Shaw believes there's still work to do.

"We're trying to find the compelling insights that give the business a clear steer of where we need to invest in the future," he says.