Dive Brief:

• Companies are further adopting big data and analytics, using it to produce business metrics and to better understand the consumer, according to a new study from Computing Technology Industry Association, also known as CompTIA. 
• In December, CompTIA surveyed 402 IT professionals and found that 63% "rely on data for day-to-day operations."
• Despite increased use, companies still struggle to manage the deluge of data produced.

Dive Insight:

In 2015, more than half of all respondents said they were undertaking big data projects, while another 36% said they were planning to do so. In 2013, only 42% of respondents had big data projects, according to CompTIA. 

"People have gotten past thinking it (big data) is hype," said Seth Robinson, senior director for technical analysis at CompTIA, in an interview with InformationWeek.

Companies admitted to facing challenges in making good use of all the produced data. About 75% of survey respondents said their businesses “would be stronger if they could harness all of their data.”

Companies "are trying to consolidate data and understand the structure of their data," said Robinson.

The report also found a skills gap exists when it comes to big data and analytics. Forty percent of respondents said they are "moderately deficient” when it comes to in-house Big Data skills.