The hype may be fading, but 'big data' is here to stay

Big data has become a catchword in business circles. One often hears of companies, enterprises or even governments going gaga over the technology and the innumerable economic benefits it brings in its train.

Like most of my peers, I have employed the term often, without really understanding what big data has in store.

So I was a bit taken aback when my old school friend called me up to get my take on big data and how it is being used effectively in China.