AI and analytics systems need data – lots of it. CRN’s annual Big Data 100 takes a look at the developers of data analysis tools, database systems, data management software and other technologies in the big data arena that solution providers should be aware of.

The rush to develop and implement artificial intelligence and generative AI systems has made clear the critical importance of data.

Prior to last year businesses and organizations had already come to see data as a strategic asset, perhaps as important as their workforce or financial capital, for a range of purposes including data analysis tasks and digital transformation projects.

But with the tsunami of AI and GenAI initiatives in the last 18 months or so, the need for huge volumes of data has become paramount. AI systems and the large language models that power them need lots of data for training and operations and that’s fueling demand for platforms and tools to collect and manage all that data.

Collecting, managing, preparing, analyzing and sharing data has become a humongous task, however. The volume of data created, captured, copied and stored is projected to reach 175 zettabytes by 2025, according to an International Data Corp. “Datasphere” forecast, or exceed 180 zettabytes by that year, according to researcher Statista.com.

Adding to the data management challenge is the fact that an increasing amount of data – structured, semi-structured and unstructured – is often dispersed across many locations in multiple cloud and on-premises systems.

Not surprisingly, as businesses and organizations wrestle with big data challenges, demand for big data products will soar. Market researcher MarketsandMarkets is forecasting that spending for big data tools, software and systems will grow at a CAGR of 12.7 percent from $220.2 billion last year to $401.2 billion in 2028.

To help solution providers that operate big data practices—or are thinking of starting one—CRN provides the Big Data 100, an annual list of leading vendors in the big data space with innovative, forward-thinking products and services that solution providers can offer their customers for managing, utilizing and analyzing big data.

As in prior years, this 12th edition of the Big Data 100 list includes many of the IT industry’s biggest vendors and established suppliers of data management and business analytics products. But it also includes startups and young companies that are developing breakthrough technologies that solution providers can adopt to provide their customers—and themselves—with a competitive edge.

This year’s Big Data 100 list is made up of six technology categories: data analytics tools, database systems, data warehouse and data lake platforms, data management and integration software, data operations and observability software, and big data systems and cloud platforms. Slide shows for each technology category, along with a slide show of the key startup big data vendors across all categories, will be running throughout the week.

Big data and artificial intelligence, as noted above, are closely intertwined. This list, in some previous years, included a list of vendors with machine learning products. This year CRN launched its AI 100 list of companies with artificial intelligence offerings in cloud, security, software, data and analytics, and data center and edge. Not surprisingly some companies appear on that list and the Big Data 100.

The Coolest Business Analytics Companies Of The Big Data 100
Part 1 of CRN’s 2024 Big Data 100 includes a look at the vendors solution providers should know in the business analytics space.

The Coolest Database System Companies Of The Big Data 100 (publishing 4/22)

Part 2 of CRN’s 2024 Big Data 100 includes a look at the vendors solution providers should know in the database system space.

The Coolest Big Data System And Cloud Platform Companies Of The Big Data 100 (publishing 4/23)

Part 3 of CRN’s 2024 Big Data 100 includes a look at the vendors solution providers should know in the big data system and cloud platform space.

The Coolest Data Management And Integration Software Companies Of The Big Data 100 (publishing 4/23)

Part 4 of CRN’s 2024 Big Data 100 includes a look at the vendors solution providers should know in the data management and integration software space.

The Coolest Data Warehouse And Data Lake System Companies Of The Big Data 100 (publishing 4/24)

Part 5 of CRN’s 2024 Big Data 100 includes a look at the vendors solution providers should know in the data warehouse and data lake systems space.

The Coolest Data Observability Companies Of The Big Data 100 (publishing 4/24)

Part 6 of CRN’s 2024 Big Data 100 includes a look at the vendors solution providers should know in the data observability space.

The Coolest Stellar Startups Of The Big Data 100 (publishing 4/25)

Part 7 of CRN’s 2024 Big Data 100 looks at the big data companies founded between 2018 and 2024.