SAS big analytics tackles big data, speeds analysis

New capabilities simplify big data management and allow businesses to derive insights from all of their data, not just a sample. Companies like Expedia can now use their data in ways that were not previously possible.

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CARY, NC (Jul. 12, 2011) - A powerful new release of SAS® software helps enable faster, better decision making by improving analysis of vast and growing amounts of data. Whether a retailer optimizing pricing for thousands of items, a hospital identifying which treatment plans improve patient health, or a government agency fighting fraud, SAS, the leader in business analytics, helps organizations scour "big data" through "big analytics" and data management to reveal hidden insights and produce better decisions.

New capabilities in SAS simplify big data management and allow businesses to derive insights from all of their data, not just a sample. Enterprises such as online travel site Expedia can now use their data assets in ways that were not previously possible.

"Expedia tracks and measures everything," said Joe Megibow, VP & General Manager, Expedia US. "We rely on SAS to handle Expedia's big data. SAS predictive analytics and data mining analyze nearly 200 terabytes of customer and clickstream data in our data warehouse. Customers need a reason to do business with Expedia. Analytic insights help us deliver the value and convenience that earns customer loyalty and boosts bookings and revenue."

Available now, the upgrade has features that help organizations tackle massive volumes of structured and unstructured data, including business transactions, social media, location and multimedia.

With a unique ability to analyze larger volumes of data - all available data without sampling - the improved software produces even more accurate results. Business processes such as customer credit scoring, inventory optimization and real-time risk management will benefit from increased precision.

The upgrade includes enhancements to the following SAS product suites: SAS Predictive Analytics and Data Mining Suite, to uncover unknown patterns, opportunities and insights; SAS Data Management, to empower organizations with consistent, accurate and timely data; SAS Text Analytics, to maximize information buried within large text collections; and SAS Forecasting, to understand the likely range of future behavior to improve planning.

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