Big data is not just a buzzword anymore, but a new tool for business life — one that requires having strategies in place for managing large volumes of both organized and unorganized data.

With the reality of big data comes the challenge of analyzing it in a way that brings real business value. During Data Innovation Day on Jan. 22, data scientists, technologists, civic leaders and other experts discussed how data-driven innovation is helping to grow the economy and create a better world through the "Netflix experience."

The Center for Data Innovation brought together industry experts to discuss "Data for Public Good: Healthcare, Education, Public Safety and the Environment." While each panelist had the same consensus that data is continuously being innovated, they also noted that it's taking the route of bettering communities and organizations around.

So how can you get your foot in the door to ensure your organization leverages the use of data?

Max Richman, chapter leader of DataKind DC and chief data scientist for GeoPoll, stated that since becoming a part of the data-driven environment is time-consuming and costly, it's important to see what's out there to benefit you and your organization. Tap into your local communities of geeks and volunteers to see if you can recruit help. "You'll be illuminated" with the success you can pull together.

"Expectations are being raised by commercial Web technologies that are out there," Richman said. "People want the 'Netflix experience' for their businesses, start-ups, social sector organizations, etc."

Businesses can use data to "suggest" items to customers the same way Netflix curates data about your movie and TV interests to determine what you might like to watch. This Netflix experience also creates options for customers that can suit their needs easily.

Jesse St. Charles, director of data science at Knewton, added that it's important for businesses to have a specific question they want answered when approaching data analysis. You don't want to go into a project with a broad spectrum because you'll be searching around for the right answer. If you have a specific question of what your customers want or what you're trying to find out, you'll have more concrete evidence being pulled together to benefit your organization.

St. Charles emphasized his point by giving the examples of data being used for good within education. Big data can benefit students in tracking how they're working, what helps them the most in lessons, etc., but it's also helping the educators discover what the students are paying the most attention to and how to take the lesson to the next level. It's the extra guidance for the students

Being able to understand the concept of data usage in your organization can be tough, but St. Charles states that "it just takes time and being exposed to it" in order to build the trust in data.

"The shift in perception is coming," he said. "it’s just taking the time to try out the different ways of implementing data into your organization and understanding what it means for you in the long run — beneficial."

How will this benefit the government as well as organizations?

Customers are wanting this "Netflix experience" not only with organizations they're part of, but also with the government. Customers want to hear "try this and try that" from their leaders because they trust that they'll know what is really going on within their industry and what customers are wanting to hear about.

Andrew Zaleski, a freelance journalist, described the "government as a data curator" because the different municipalities will come together to create one local collection of data with all of their information to benefit the community. Coming together with their data will allow the governments to be able to find ways to run their offices better and more efficiently.

"Data paired with a policy shift can drive public good," Zaleski said.

Zaleski used the example of using the information in police departments. If an officer patrolled a block of a neighborhood and noticed that there was more crime during a specific time, that data is inputted into a system — along with the other officers' information around the area — and the department can see when and where to enforce more patrols.

Stefan Heeke, executive director of SumAll.org, shared his organization's use of data in order to curate information about homelessness within the area. With the collections of data, they were able to predict the amount of homelessness in an area four months before it was to occur. Their data is helping clean the streets of communities and helping homeless individuals better themselves.

With these and many other examples discussed, the data that's being curated by people, machines and other sources doesn't provide executives and other decision-makers with valuable insights on its own. The data must be gathered, organized, made interpretable and then analyzed and acted on to provide any meaningful value.

In order to do so, you have to be able to make decisions quickly and interpret the data in real time. In order to get on this spectrum of business, you need the designated time and volunteers to see through your goals and questions.

Data is about personalization and figuring out what your consumers want and need. There are creative ways to get involved within the data analysis industry and use it for the better use of your specific industry. You just have to get your foot in the door using the right information and tools.

So, use this as a starting point for the change in your business. Just as Richman shared in the discussion, once you tap into the local resources for help in implementing data into your business, "you'll be illuminated."