Big Data Drives Baidu

Big data has become a serious strategic initiative for leading internet firms such as Baidu, Inc. (BIDU). "2013 through 2020, these technologies will drive around 90% of all the growth in the IT market," said Frank Gens, senior vice president and chief analyst at IDC. "Companies that are not putting 80% or more of competitive energy into this new market will be trapped in the legacy portion of the market, growing even slower than global GDP." The chinese search engine Baidu presently has a market value of $300 million.

Baidu spent at least $22.5 million on acquisitions last year, compared with $356 million in 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Baidu’s 2011 deals included the $306 million purchase of a controlling stake in travel site Qunar.com, the company’s largest deal on record.

Earlier this year, Baidu acquired PPS Net TV, the streaming video service for $370 million. The largest search engine presently competes with company Youku Tudou Inc. (YOKU). Baidu’s plan is to merge PPS Net TV with its other company, iQiyi.com which will become China’s largest internet platform.

Last week according to Bloomberg, “Chinese equities slumped for a third day in New York, driving their valuations to the lowest level in five weeks, as property and Internet companies sank. The Bloomberg China-U.S. Equity Index of the most-traded Chinese stocks in the U.S. fell 0.9 percent to 87.32 as of 12:01 p.m., set for the lowest close in almost two months. “
Data gathering of big data sets are constantly generated by Baidu of its consumers, merchants, and online transactions. Data mining is used by the company to enable more business intelligence to its consumers. Baidu has strategic growth promise by its ability to transform to higher value The company is poised to compete with integrating disruptive trends in mobile, offering new services through big data, hybrid models and developing new monetization models.

Monitoring, tracking behaviour patterns will be challenges for any big data company in the future. The "big data" problems will force organizations such as Baidu to adapt. Whether of still having lack of new technologies, outdated systems, management of big data. Data management and efficiency is crucial.

Innovation of data is competitive leverage. Investing in such innovations, applying the right strategies will poise leading organizations to successful growth. We clearly see today how data fuels all economic channels.