As 2014 nears its end, it’s the perfect time for our second annual Technology Predictions series in which industry experts share their predictions about the hot tech trends that they think will take center stage in 2015. We’ll be sharing all of these predictions with you over the next couple of weeks.

This next set of 2015 Technology Predictions on Big Data comes from James Richardson, business analytics strategist at Qlik, a data discovery software provider that offers solutions for self-service data visualization and guided analytics.

.

.

Prediction No. 1: “Information activism” will emerge

We live in a world of data (both at a personal and professional level) and people express themselves through the work they do with it. Inside each organization, users want to be actively engaged with their data; however, they haven’t yet had the technology to do so. In 2015, by having access to Business Intelligence (BI) solutions that allow true self-service, users will move from passively consuming data to actively using it to glean important information.

.

Prediction No. 2: Data will come from external sources, not just internal

“Intelligent” organizations know that smart decisions come from the use of data but where that information comes from matters. To truly gain context around trends and industry happenings, organizations will look to both internal and external data sources in 2015. Simply focusing on their own data and shying away from the accelerating data boom will be a mistake. Organizations who will utilize comprehensive solutions to process the information from multiple sources and in multiple views will be able to stay ahead of the game next year.

.

Prediction No. 3: Data without borders will be possible

In 2015, BI solutions that excel in reporting but lack analysis via interaction will be a thing of the past. The shift in BI platform requirements, moving from reporting-centric to analysis-centric, means companies will expect to be able to digest and gain insights at a glance. Visualization will be key as users need to be able to understand their data in a way that is natural to them. BI solutions in 2015 will look as good as they operate and will operate as good as they look.

.

Prediction No. 4: Governed data discovery will be crucial

As data discovery tools spread to more users across the organization, companies will revamp their governance practices to control the chaos. Data governance, when done right, will be tailored to meet the organization’s specific needs, ensuring the efficient and effective use of data, while enabling users to make smarter business decisions.

.

Prediction No. 5: Data storytelling will enable decisions

When analysis is done in silos, it can be difficult to share findings with others to drive a consensus. BI will no longer be about collecting reports; it will be about interactive decision-making. Therefore, in 2015, data storytelling will be critical as it will allow users to create compelling narratives of their results to convince team members and executives to take action. However, static stories will lead to unanswered questions and to the end of successful meetings. The option to dive into the data to answer questions in real time will be the key to success.

.

2015 Technology Predictions graphic courtesy of SiliconANGLE