To conclude the second day of BigDataSV 2016 in San Jose, California, a number of customer perspectives were drawn together for a discussion panel open to questions from the audience, probing the utility and openness of Big Data for enterprises.

The panel consisted of Rakesh Kant, head of enterprise data management and analytics technology of U.S. Bank National Association; Matt Olson, principal network architect of CenturyLink; and John Furrier (@furrier), co-CEO of SiliconANGLE Media, moderated by Peter Burris (@plburris), cohost of theCUBE, and chief research officer for SiliconANGLE Media.

Recognizing data-based opportunities

To begin, the group laid out the need for data-reliant companies to stay connected and avoid the apparent simplicity of working on insular apps. “If we focus on the technology in isolation, it inevitably runs aground,” Olson said. Kant agreed, saying that data should be available to drive insights for businesses.

At the same time, Kant felt that security and governance were aspects that couldn’t be ignored, and finding ways of managing that while maintaining accessibility were tricky but important steps as companies prepare to make their data more available.

Breaking down the silos

“The key has been breaking down the silos,” Olson said. “The various silos within the company have their own various datasets. … Specific limited datasets were believed to be related to a specific problem-set,” he continued. “Beginning to engage users with enriched data, with contextual information to join across the various silos … it’s far more than an additive process … establishing not only an infrastructure, but a culture, which allows for a sharing of information across the various silos.”

Journeys and insights

Looking ahead toward the wide sharing of such data and multi-linked silos, Kant expressed his stance as: “It’s a journey, it’s not going to be a ‘point-in-time’ destination. … You need to have that burning use-case that’s going to lift it up. … It’s a collective type of journey.”

Kant continued, saying, “I think the basic lesson for me has been the data’s still important, the quality, the structure. … The same perennial problems that were there don’t just disappear because we have a new technology.”

Furrier agreed, and said, “There’s definitely a problem with getting action out of the insights; insights are easy.” He also felt that content management systems were “built for polling, not push notifications,” and that as a connected problem, “the endpoint really isn’t ready for the insights, so the app can’t receive it.”

Deliberating action

“Actionable insights … sometimes, it needs to be ‘which one should we move on?’” Kant said, something which Olson felt would be easier to answer as the development continued.

“It’s the data flowing from the underlying network and infrastructure that tells us what functions need to be undertaken,” Olson said. “We’re seeing the opportunity to build really intelligent feedback loops and put intelligence in the delivery system.”

Upcoming answers and assessments

Predictive analytics “can only predict extremes” currently, Furrier felt. Kant said that though “slice and dice” of visible data for CEOs/CFOs is something that can be done today, it requires deep awareness of the existing data. “Realistically … I’d say we’re three to five years away [from that functionality],” Kant said.

Olson was also enthusiastic about promising developments. “It’s the continued development and refinement … with an environment which allows for user interaction with that data,” he said. Furrier held a similar hopefulness, saying that based on the words of guests he’s interviewed for theCUBE, “This is the first time in the history of the world that everything can be measured.”

Watch the full interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of BigDataSV 2016. And make sure to weigh in during theCUBE’s live coverage at the event by joining in on CrowdChat.

Photo by SiliconANGLE