Walmart’s Secret Weapon: Real-Time Data
The Data Café Revolution
Walmart’s analytics hub, the Data Café, processes 2.5 petabytes of data hourly. It spots sales dips—like a grocery pricing error—and fixes them in 20 minutes, not weeks. Real-time insights are their edge over competitors.
From Hurricanes to Halloween
During Hurricane Sandy, Walmart’s data revealed a spike in Pop Tart sales. Now, they monitor weather, social media, and sales to predict demand. One Halloween, they caught unshelved cookies before sales tanked.
Lessons for Everyday Businesses
You don’t need Walmart’s scale to use real-time data. Small shops can track trends with simple tools, proving Big Data isn’t just for giants—it’s about acting fast on what you know.
Read also How Big Data Powers Your Netflix Binge
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