*This week’s post is brought to you by [David Spring](https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=53978168&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=tR4f&locale=en_US&srchid=443967161395944256019&srchindex=1&srchtotal=89&trk=vsrp_people_res_name&trkInfo=VSRPsearchId%3A443967161395944256019%2CVSRPtargetId%3A53978168%2CVSRPcmpt%3Aprimary), Optis' Business Development Analyst.*
You’ve probably heard the buzz about big data analytics. Is it a fad? Is it here to stay? Should you dive in? Yes, it’s time to take the plunge and start using big data analytics for making human resource program decisions.
It’s Time to Take the Plunge: How HR Can Migrate to Big Data Analytics
Data Conversion Rundown
*This week's post is brought to you by Andy Kersh, Optis' Senior Data Analyst.*
Data conversion is a concept that’s been used for decades in the HR Tech realm. But, what *exactly* does it mean?
Simply put, data conversion is the transformation of data from one format to another. There are many types of data conversions - file type, database type, or even a whole system of data.
Making Big Data Accessible in HR
If you work in HR, you’ve most likely heard of the term “big data.” It’s a common term used to describe the massive amounts of information which is generated in everyday life. This data is getting so “big” that we need different tools to help us manage it to make more educated decisions.
We recently read a Workforce.com article entitled, “The Promise of Big Data in Workforce Management” by Sarah Fisher Gale.
Industry Trends in 2012
2012 will likely be a year of change. As the economy slowly continues to recover, we’ll be evaluating our country’s leaders and making decisions that will surely impact the HR, employee benefits, and risk management professions.
In addition, the technology landscape will continue to evolve and create opportunities that have never existed before.
The Missing Piece: Data Integration
Recently, [we discussed](http://web.oci.com/blog/bid/142928/Ch-ch-ch-Changes-in-FMLA) how a good leave management system can help you put together the pieces of managing absence to view a clear picture of your company’s leave landscape.
There are some leave systems out there that can provide you with the tools necessary to track FMLA and direct some of the day-to-day activities of managing leave. But most are missing a key piece of the leave management puzzle: data integration.
As most leave managers know, managing absence in an organization isn’t limited to FMLA.