Transforming Raw Records into Actionable Insights – Using Structured Data for Data Science Applications
In the field of data science, raw data—often referred to as "raw records"—is rarely useful in its initial form. To derive meaningful insights and actionable information, data scientists must transform this raw data into structured formats that can be analysed, interpreted, and visualised. Structured data, which is organised in a defined format such as tables or spreadsheets, is essential for data science applications because it allows for more efficient analysis and decision-making. But how exactly can raw records be transformed into insights that drive business outcomes? Let’s explore the process and importance of this transformation. The Challenge of Raw Data Raw data often comes in many forms: logs, sensor data, user behaviour, transaction records, and more. This data can be messy, inconsistent, and unorganised, making it difficult to analyse directly. In many cases, raw records are unstructured or semi-structured, meaning they lack a fixed schema and are not easily interp...