Using text-mining algorithms, researchers culled more than 10, 000 mentions and summarized the most relevant comments.

WSJ: How Big Data Is Changing the Whole Equation for Business

"The use of text-mining algorithms was critical in this endeavor and helped secure a complete picture that would not have been available using traditional market research, " says Michael Cavaretta, Ford's technical leader for predictive analytics and data mining.

WSJ: How Big Data Is Changing the Whole Equation for Business

As a result, they can do what-if analysis, model data, and run sophisticated data mining and forecasting algorithms that return answers within minutes, enabling them to fine-tune and refine their offers and service bundles to accurately reflect the needs of their subscribers.

FORBES: Big Data: A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Instead, Target has a central system where all data is analyzed and pushed back out to support day-to-day operations, mining purchasing data, tying it to specific individuals and using algorithms to predict future outcomes.

FORBES: Digitizing Doctors and Hospitals? Think Like Target