Big Data refers to vast volumes of structured and unstructured data generated at unprecedented rates from various sources such as social media, sensors, IoT devices, and more. Traditional data processing tools can’t handle these enormous datasets effectively. This is where Big Data technologies like Hadoop and Spark come into play. Big Data is valuable because it enables organizations to gain insights that can drive decision-making, identify trends, and even predict future events.

For example, in retail, analyzing large datasets can reveal consumer preferences, optimize inventory management, and enhance the customer experience. In healthcare, Big Data helps in improving patient outcomes through predictive analytics. Essentially, Big Data allows industries to operate more efficiently, predict market trends, and innovate faster. Companies that harness the potential of Big Data can gain a significant competitive advantage.