Analytics Bellwether Teradata Champions the DATA Act: for Social Good, Economic Good

WASHINGTON, July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 10 Teradata (NYSE: TDC) will showcase the positive rewards that integrated, detailed data visibility can bring to decision makers in government agencies and U.S. citizens through the DATA Act (H.R. 2146).  Teradata, the analytic data solutions company, will continue its support for the DATA Act with a presentation by Bill Franks, its Chief Analytics Officer for Global Alliances and the author of a new book on data analytics.  Franks will showcase the valuable insights made possible with integrated data and analytics on a large, national scale. The technologies and insights are not futuristic but are a reality in government organizations today whose successful projects have proven to be virtually self-funding.

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Teradata will call attention to the benefits of integrated data analytics for the social and economic good by urging the Senate to pass H.R. 2146 and adopt an innovative process already successful among multiple state revenue agencies – which have collectively recovered $1.8 billion in unpaid taxes owed their respective state governments.

Teradata and other technology firms will make presentations to government agency staff members, the Recovery Board, congressional committees and various media outlets on July 10th, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Microsoft's Innovation and Policy Center, 901 K St NW, 11th floor, Washington D.C. The event, known as DATA Act Demo Day, is sponsored by The Data Transparency Coalition, the only group unifying the technology industry in support of federal data reform. Technology can do a great deal of good, economically and socially, say participants and supporters of DATA Act Demo Day activities.

"Government agencies are among the world's largest creators and consumers of data, and the time is quickly coming when their performance will be linked to how well they manage and leverage their data to better serve Americans," said Tim Day, vice president of Public Affairs for Teradata. "The DATA Act will accelerate the government's ability to meet this important milestone through data management at the federal level – while providing important benefits to American citizens who desire more government transparency and a more judicious use of public funds." 

A dramatic example of government using data strategically is found in the state of Michigan.  Since 1996, Michigan has expanded its core Teradata data warehouse to reduce health care costs and a drive a 25 percent reduction in administrative costs. It has also helped the state in many other smart ways, increasing the high-dollar recoveries for Medicaid fraud, moving from "last to first" in child immunization rates, while identifying more than 70 million dollars in fraudulent child care. A report for the state said that the financial return on their Teradata investment is $1 million every day.

"Imagine these million-dollar benefits achieved by Michigan – taken to the highest level – at the billion-dollar scale of the federal government," Day said. "However, our first step is to get the DATA Act signed into law – soon. The rise of big data could soon overwhelm many federal decision-makers at every level. It's time to turn chaos into clarity."

A recent study by MeriTalk estimates that government agencies will add a petabyte of data in the next two years, but 'the promise of big data is locked away in unused or inaccessible data.'

Confirmed presenters at the DATA Act Demo Day event include Teradata, Microsoft, IPHIX, Level One Technologies, Synteractive, MarkLogic, and Elder Research, Inc.

The DATA Act passed in the House of Representatives unanimously on April 25th and next is headed for a Senate vote. It will transform the way the U.S. government's spending information is reported, analyzed, and used, establishing a new entity, the Federal Accountability and Transparency Commission (FAST Commission). The commission will have the authority to set data standards for all federal spending, including both external grants and contracts and internal expenditures.

Relevant Links

• State of Michigan Realizing ROI of $1Million a Day with Teradata
• Teradata to Congress: Adopt Big Data Analytics and Pass H.R. 3339
• Report to the President: Every Federal Agency Needs a 'Big Data' Strategy
• Smarter Government Via Smarter Technology: Teradata Testimony at U.S. House Urges Rapid Action
• Bill Franks' new book webpage – the first comprehensive book on big data analytics
• U.S. Postal Service Goes Live With New Teradata Capabilities

About the Data Transparency Coalition

The Data Transparency Coalition is the only trade association that advocates data reform for the U.S. government. The Coalition brings together technology companies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals to support policies that require federal agencies to publish their data online, using standardized, machine-readable, nonproprietary identifiers and markup languages. The coalition is steered by a board of advisors. For more information, visit http://datacoalition.org/.

About Teradata

Teradata Corporation (NYSE: TDC) is the world's leading analytic data solutions company focused on integrated data warehousing, big data analytics, and business applications. Teradata's innovative products and services deliver data integration and business insight to empower organizations to achieve competitive advantage.  Visit teradata.com for details.

Teradata is a trademark or registered trademark of Teradata Corporation in the United States and other countries.

SOURCE Teradata