When it comes to appreciating the power of big data, the whistle-blowing activities of WikiLeaks and American computer specialist Edward Snowden have seized the headlines. But the collection and manipulation of massive amounts of digital information is increasingly being applied in more legitimate ways, with savvy businesses investing in innovative tools to unlock real-time information about their operations.  Speed is the crucial factor, according to Felix Tan from the Australian School of Business. “If you can analyse and respond to customer and supplier data almost instantaneously, the better informed your business processes will be. That’s the challenge,” Tan says.