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How Big Data Can Influence Decisions That Actually Matter | Prukalpa Sankar | TEDxGateway


[Applause]

[Applause] my Marge was in the middle of a

my Marge was in the middle of a

my Marge was in the middle of a nationwide census its first one in 30

nationwide census its first one in 30

nationwide census its first one in 30 years suddenly the advanced technology

years suddenly the advanced technology

years suddenly the advanced technology backbone of the entire census completely

backbone of the entire census completely

backbone of the entire census completely failed any guesses

failed any guesses

failed any guesses this technology pencils the country had

this technology pencils the country had

this technology pencils the country had run out of pencils an emergency

run out of pencils an emergency

run out of pencils an emergency international procurement of 170,000

international procurement of 170,000

international procurement of 170,000 pencils was made an entire workforce was

pencils was made an entire workforce was

pencils was made an entire workforce was hired just that they could sharpen

hired just that they could sharpen

hired just that they could sharpen pencils fast enough so that the census

pencils fast enough so that the census

pencils fast enough so that the census could be completed on time and when the

could be completed on time and when the

could be completed on time and when the data from the Census finally came in the

data from the Census finally came in the

data from the Census finally came in the country was in for a big shock mine ma

country was in for a big shock mine ma

country was in for a big shock mine ma had previously thought its population

had previously thought its population

had previously thought its population with 60 million people when the data

with 60 million people when the data

with 60 million people when the data came in turned out there were only 51

came in turned out there were only 51

came in turned out there were only 51 million people in Myanmar the government

million people in Myanmar the government

million people in Myanmar the government had been planning every budget every

had been planning every budget every

had been planning every budget every intervention for 9 million people 15

intervention for 9 million people 15

intervention for 9 million people 15 percent of its population that just did

percent of its population that just did

percent of its population that just did not exist sounds like a story from the

not exist sounds like a story from the

not exist sounds like a story from the early 1900’s right after all today we

early 1900’s right after all today we

early 1900’s right after all today we live in the world of unprecedented big

live in the world of unprecedented big

live in the world of unprecedented big data the world of Facebook Twitter

data the world of Facebook Twitter

data the world of Facebook Twitter Google this was the year 2014 2014 the

Google this was the year 2014 2014 the

Google this was the year 2014 2014 the same year the Germany use big data to

same year the Germany use big data to

same year the Germany use big data to win the FIFA World Cup it’s crazy how

win the FIFA World Cup it’s crazy how

win the FIFA World Cup it’s crazy how big data is used today to solve some

big data is used today to solve some

big data is used today to solve some kinds of problems and not others as a

kinds of problems and not others as a

kinds of problems and not others as a college student in Singapore I interned

college student in Singapore I interned

college student in Singapore I interned at Goldman Sachs where I saw how

at Goldman Sachs where I saw how

at Goldman Sachs where I saw how real-time data was used every second to

real-time data was used every second to

real-time data was used every second to make both important and not so important

make both important and not so important

make both important and not so important decisions in the finance world but

decisions in the finance world but

decisions in the finance world but whatever other was worth like health

whatever other was worth like health

whatever other was worth like health care education environment crime data

care education environment crime data

care education environment crime data just isn’t used in the same way and so

just isn’t used in the same way and so

just isn’t used in the same way and so my co-founder Warren and I founded

my co-founder Warren and I founded

my co-founder Warren and I founded social cops to empower our world leaders

social cops to empower our world leaders

social cops to empower our world leaders with the information that they need in

with the information that they need in

with the information that they need in real time to make some of the most

real time to make some of the most

real time to make some of the most complex decisions facing our world we

complex decisions facing our world we

complex decisions facing our world we move to India after we graduated and

move to India after we graduated and

move to India after we graduated and spent an entire you’re doing pilots to

spent an entire you’re doing pilots to

spent an entire you’re doing pilots to try and understand

try and understand

try and understand it was so easy to use data and football

it was so easy to use data and football

it was so easy to use data and football but not in decisions that mattered we

but not in decisions that mattered we

but not in decisions that mattered we found that the single biggest bottleneck

found that the single biggest bottleneck

found that the single biggest bottleneck was the data itself in most places in

was the data itself in most places in

was the data itself in most places in the developing world data is still

the developing world data is still

the developing world data is still recorded on registers like these most of

recorded on registers like these most of

recorded on registers like these most of this data will never make it to a

this data will never make it to a

this data will never make it to a digital format even if this data does

digital format even if this data does

digital format even if this data does make a to a digital format

make a to a digital format

make a to a digital format it’s often thought like this

it’s often thought like this

it’s often thought like this unstructured local language impossible

unstructured local language impossible

unstructured local language impossible to extract and even if the data somehow

to extract and even if the data somehow

to extract and even if the data somehow does make it to a consumable format it’s

does make it to a consumable format it’s

does make it to a consumable format it’s often stored in siloed disconnected

often stored in siloed disconnected

often stored in siloed disconnected systems that just never talk to each

systems that just never talk to each

systems that just never talk to each other for example the district of Nagpur

other for example the district of Nagpur

other for example the district of Nagpur alone in Maharashtra has 32 different

alone in Maharashtra has 32 different

alone in Maharashtra has 32 different health data systems and just when you

health data systems and just when you

health data systems and just when you think that it can’t get worse it does

think that it can’t get worse it does

think that it can’t get worse it does the first time that we match two

the first time that we match two

the first time that we match two datasets at a village level in India

datasets at a village level in India

datasets at a village level in India imagine this table with village names

imagine this table with village names

imagine this table with village names table with village names join the two

table with village names join the two

table with village names join the two tables sounds really simple right we got

tables sounds really simple right we got

tables sounds really simple right we got a 15 percent match why because in a

a 15 percent match why because in a

a 15 percent match why because in a country like India one data set would

country like India one data set would

country like India one data set would call Mumbai Mumbai the other Bombay one

call Mumbai Mumbai the other Bombay one

call Mumbai Mumbai the other Bombay one data set would spell pomper now with OB

data set would spell pomper now with OB

data set would spell pomper now with OB the other pompona with appeal matching

the other pompona with appeal matching

the other pompona with appeal matching these data sets together is a complete

these data sets together is a complete

these data sets together is a complete nightmare it was as a search to a

nightmare it was as a search to a

nightmare it was as a search to a solution to some of these problems that

solution to some of these problems that

solution to some of these problems that a data Intelligence Platform at social

a data Intelligence Platform at social

a data Intelligence Platform at social Cox was born we believe that if we could

Cox was born we believe that if we could

Cox was born we believe that if we could somehow bring together all of these data

somehow bring together all of these data

somehow bring together all of these data sets and showcase it to decision-makers

sets and showcase it to decision-makers

sets and showcase it to decision-makers in an easy intuitive fashion it would

in an easy intuitive fashion it would

in an easy intuitive fashion it would help them make more accurate data-driven

help them make more accurate data-driven

help them make more accurate data-driven decisions now well as an organization

decisions now well as an organization

decisions now well as an organization our focus is to empower leaders and

our focus is to empower leaders and

our focus is to empower leaders and decision-makers behind each of these

decision-makers behind each of these

decision-makers behind each of these decisions each of these data points are

decisions each of these data points are

decisions each of these data points are people people whom we may somehow

people people whom we may somehow

people people whom we may somehow sometimes never know people like Sunita

sometimes never know people like Sunita

sometimes never know people like Sunita Sunita is a 35 year old woman mother

Sunita is a 35 year old woman mother

Sunita is a 35 year old woman mother go cooks for her children morning and

go cooks for her children morning and

go cooks for her children morning and night her equipment this this is a Chula

night her equipment this this is a Chula

night her equipment this this is a Chula traditional firewood that’s used in many

traditional firewood that’s used in many

traditional firewood that’s used in many parts of rural India cooking on a Chula

parts of rural India cooking on a Chula

parts of rural India cooking on a Chula is equal to smoking 400 cigarettes and

is equal to smoking 400 cigarettes and

is equal to smoking 400 cigarettes and other but the only alternative for

other but the only alternative for

other but the only alternative for Sunita is to leave her remote tribal

Sunita is to leave her remote tribal

Sunita is to leave her remote tribal village walk 20 kilometres to the

village walk 20 kilometres to the

village walk 20 kilometres to the nearest LPG gas centre pick up a 14 kilo

nearest LPG gas centre pick up a 14 kilo

nearest LPG gas centre pick up a 14 kilo gas cylinder put it on her head and walk

gas cylinder put it on her head and walk

gas cylinder put it on her head and walk back to her home it was in order to

back to her home it was in order to

back to her home it was in order to ensure that Sunita and millions of women

ensure that Sunita and millions of women

ensure that Sunita and millions of women like her get easy access to clean

like her get easy access to clean

like her get easy access to clean cooking fuel that the Ministry of

cooking fuel that the Ministry of

cooking fuel that the Ministry of Petroleum and the three oil companies in

Petroleum and the three oil companies in

Petroleum and the three oil companies in India decided to open the next 10,000

India decided to open the next 10,000

India decided to open the next 10,000 LPG centers to identify where these LPG

LPG centers to identify where these LPG

LPG centers to identify where these LPG centers should be opened they partnered

centers should be opened they partnered

centers should be opened they partnered with us now we have to consider several

with us now we have to consider several

with us now we have to consider several things on one side these LPG centers

things on one side these LPG centers

things on one side these LPG centers were operated by a small entrepreneurs

were operated by a small entrepreneurs

were operated by a small entrepreneurs and so they needed to be profitable and

and so they needed to be profitable and

and so they needed to be profitable and sustainable on the other hand we needed

sustainable on the other hand we needed

sustainable on the other hand we needed to ensure that every one of the 1.2

to ensure that every one of the 1.2

to ensure that every one of the 1.2 billion people living in India get

billion people living in India get

billion people living in India get access to an LPG Center within 10

access to an LPG Center within 10

access to an LPG Center within 10 kilometers of their homes now usually

kilometers of their homes now usually

kilometers of their homes now usually this decision would take over two years

this decision would take over two years

this decision would take over two years involve thousands of field officers and

involve thousands of field officers and

involve thousands of field officers and hands on maps like these we wanted to

hands on maps like these we wanted to

hands on maps like these we wanted to transform the way this decision was made

transform the way this decision was made

transform the way this decision was made through a data Intelligence Platform we

through a data Intelligence Platform we

through a data Intelligence Platform we started by bringing together the data

started by bringing together the data

started by bringing together the data that we already had we partnered with

that we already had we partnered with

that we already had we partnered with the oil companies and pulled together

the oil companies and pulled together

the oil companies and pulled together data from scattered internal data

data from scattered internal data

data from scattered internal data systems about sales and profitability

systems about sales and profitability

systems about sales and profitability and supply demand a number of consumers

and supply demand a number of consumers

and supply demand a number of consumers but typical market data would only care

but typical market data would only care

but typical market data would only care about profitability it would never put

about profitability it would never put

about profitability it would never put an IP G center near Sunita’s home and so

an IP G center near Sunita’s home and so

an IP G center near Sunita’s home and so we mapped every one of India six hundred

we mapped every one of India six hundred

we mapped every one of India six hundred and forty thousand villages every dot on

and forty thousand villages every dot on

and forty thousand villages every dot on the screen is a village in India we

the screen is a village in India we

the screen is a village in India we project together with six hundred

project together with six hundred

project together with six hundred external data sources about population

external data sources about population

external data sources about population as

as

as infrastructure LPG penetration and just

infrastructure LPG penetration and just

infrastructure LPG penetration and just when we thought that we had all the data

when we thought that we had all the data

when we thought that we had all the data we needed we realized we didn’t we

we needed we realized we didn’t we

we needed we realized we didn’t we didn’t actually know the exact locations

didn’t actually know the exact locations

didn’t actually know the exact locations of the existing LPG centers and so

of the existing LPG centers and so

of the existing LPG centers and so within a month seventeen thousand

within a month seventeen thousand

within a month seventeen thousand distributors across India downloaded our

distributors across India downloaded our

distributors across India downloaded our Android app submitted their location

Android app submitted their location

Android app submitted their location coordinates and map every LPG Center in

coordinates and map every LPG Center in

coordinates and map every LPG Center in the country and with that we finally had

the country and with that we finally had

the country and with that we finally had all the data that we needed but it

all the data that we needed but it

all the data that we needed but it wasn’t enough now we actually had to

wasn’t enough now we actually had to

wasn’t enough now we actually had to make these data sets talk to each other

make these data sets talk to each other

make these data sets talk to each other this is where the intelligence of a

this is where the intelligence of a

this is where the intelligence of a platform kicked in so it knows that Palm

platform kicked in so it knows that Palm

platform kicked in so it knows that Palm Bay changes name to Mumbai in 1995 and

Bay changes name to Mumbai in 1995 and

Bay changes name to Mumbai in 1995 and pompona is often spiritus you know

pompona is often spiritus you know

pompona is often spiritus you know pumper now by many people using all

pumper now by many people using all

pumper now by many people using all these intelligent algorithms we were

these intelligent algorithms we were

these intelligent algorithms we were finally able to bring all of this data

finally able to bring all of this data

finally able to bring all of this data together and make a talk to each other

together and make a talk to each other

together and make a talk to each other and now the last step do we actually

and now the last step do we actually

and now the last step do we actually open their Fiji centers I’m zooming into

open their Fiji centers I’m zooming into

open their Fiji centers I’m zooming into the district’s under guard one of 640 in

the district’s under guard one of 640 in

the district’s under guard one of 640 in India the one that Sunita lives in these

India the one that Sunita lives in these

India the one that Sunita lives in these are all the LPG distribution centers in

are all the LPG distribution centers in

are all the LPG distribution centers in the district these are all the villages

the district these are all the villages

the district these are all the villages in Sondergaard now some of these

in Sondergaard now some of these

in Sondergaard now some of these villages already have access to LPG

villages already have access to LPG

villages already have access to LPG centers these are the ones that we need

centers these are the ones that we need

centers these are the ones that we need to provide access to now where is the

to provide access to now where is the

to provide access to now where is the ideal LPG center ideally a place that is

ideal LPG center ideally a place that is

ideal LPG center ideally a place that is centrally accessible a marketplace that

centrally accessible a marketplace that

centrally accessible a marketplace that Sunita already travels to it should have

Sunita already travels to it should have

Sunita already travels to it should have maybe a bank or an ATM good electricity

maybe a bank or an ATM good electricity

maybe a bank or an ATM good electricity good infrastructure a good road so that

good infrastructure a good road so that

good infrastructure a good road so that the truck could easily go in and out it

the truck could easily go in and out it

the truck could easily go in and out it was all of these factors that our

was all of these factors that our

was all of these factors that our algorithm used to compute volumes of

algorithm used to compute volumes of

algorithm used to compute volumes of data and pinpoint the exact final

data and pinpoint the exact final

data and pinpoint the exact final locations to open LPG centers and that’s

locations to open LPG centers and that’s

locations to open LPG centers and that’s how a Center was commissioned in the

how a Center was commissioned in the

how a Center was commissioned in the village guru India just four kilometers

village guru India just four kilometers

village guru India just four kilometers away from Sunita house

this is a picture Sunita when she got a

this is a picture Sunita when she got a TV in her house for the first time she

TV in her house for the first time she

TV in her house for the first time she doesn’t need to use a jeweler anymore

for the past three years at social cops

for the past three years at social cops we’ve had a chance to leverage our data

we’ve had a chance to leverage our data

we’ve had a chance to leverage our data intelligence platform and transform the

intelligence platform and transform the

intelligence platform and transform the way organizations make decisions from

way organizations make decisions from

way organizations make decisions from anvil strategic plans to real-time

anvil strategic plans to real-time

anvil strategic plans to real-time course corrections today a Union

course corrections today a Union

course corrections today a Union Minister is using a platform to track a

Minister is using a platform to track a

Minister is using a platform to track a national program every day every morning

national program every day every morning

national program every day every morning on his tablet an FMCG company is

on his tablet an FMCG company is

on his tablet an FMCG company is prioritizing 2,000 locations out of

prioritizing 2,000 locations out of

prioritizing 2,000 locations out of 200,000 to run an ice cream campaign a

200,000 to run an ice cream campaign a

200,000 to run an ice cream campaign a philanthropic foundation is targeting an

philanthropic foundation is targeting an

philanthropic foundation is targeting an eight million dollar investment in

eight million dollar investment in

eight million dollar investment in agriculture and district collectors

agriculture and district collectors

agriculture and district collectors across India supported by the Tata

across India supported by the Tata

across India supported by the Tata trusts are targeting government benefits

trusts are targeting government benefits

trusts are targeting government benefits to citizens who need them the most

to citizens who need them the most

to citizens who need them the most imagine a world a world where we can

imagine a world a world where we can

imagine a world a world where we can capture criminals at the scene of crime

capture criminals at the scene of crime

capture criminals at the scene of crime not yours later a world where we could

not yours later a world where we could

not yours later a world where we could predict if a child is going to drop out

predict if a child is going to drop out

predict if a child is going to drop out of school before even she knows it a

of school before even she knows it a

of school before even she knows it a world where we can reroute cars in real

world where we can reroute cars in real

world where we can reroute cars in real time to prevent the traffic congestion

time to prevent the traffic congestion

time to prevent the traffic congestion that we all hate so much a world where

that we all hate so much a world where

that we all hate so much a world where we can eradicate a disease as it breaks

we can eradicate a disease as it breaks

we can eradicate a disease as it breaks out not thousands of deaths later a

out not thousands of deaths later a

out not thousands of deaths later a world where data is not just used to

world where data is not just used to

world where data is not just used to incorrectly predict the next president

incorrectly predict the next president

incorrectly predict the next president but where we use data to truly improve

but where we use data to truly improve

but where we use data to truly improve the lives of billions of people thank

the lives of billions of people thank

the lives of billions of people thank you

”

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