intelligent

The importance of data doesn ’ t just apply to large companies and is equally beneficial to SMEs . Despite their size , SMEs produce a significant amount of data . Uwe Kemmer , Director of EMEAI Field Engineering at Western Digital , explains how data can be used for insights in different industries and the benefits of different storage solutions .

WITH RECENT ADVANCEMENTS ,

DATA INSIGHTS

HAVE CREATED NEW OPPORTUNITIES

AND EFFICIENCIES

FOR SMES .

N THE UK , there are over

5,000,000 registered businesses , with 500,000 more expected to be registered each year . Of this , 99.2 % are classified as small businesses , employing 50 staff members or less . Despite their small size , these businesses can produce significant amounts of data needed to help them gain insights , increase earnings or improve the customer experience . However , one aspect that is consistent is the need for tailored and reliable storage solutions which meet the needs of both the business ’ structure and its goals .

When considering the current pace of business and data growth , it is essential that small- and medium-sized businesses ( SMEs ) have the right data storage infrastructure in place , which meets their specific needs . There are many factors to consider including storage capacity , workload , performance , form factor , application and system requirements and overall total cost of ownership ( TCO ). Choosing the right data storage allows SMEs to capitalise on the explosion of data for better business insights and operational improvements .

Growing data within a growing business

With recent advancements , data insights have created new opportunities and efficiencies for SMEs . This includes the development of new products , enabling dynamic pricing and fuelling tailored product or service recommendations . This is demonstrated in modern business infrastructures such as storefronts , offices , factories and distribution centres , for example , most of which now rely on new technology innovations such as Machine Learning , AI , automation , hyperpersonalisation , smart shelves and more . These produce huge amounts of data that