Let us consider to define these two terms:
According to dataversity.net, Streaming Analytics is the ability to constantly calculate statistical analytics while moving within the stream of data. Streaming Analytics allows management, monitoring, and real-time analytics of live streaming data.1
Real-time analytics, on the other hand, is defined by Gartner as the discipline that applies logic and mathematics to data to provide insights for making better decisions quickly. For some use cases, real time simply means the analytics is completed within a few seconds or minutes after the arrival of new data. On-demand real-time analytics waits for users or systems to request a query and then delivers the analytic results. Continuous real-time analytics is more proactive and alerts users or triggers responses as events happen.2
By combining the two definitions, it is clear that streaming analytics power up continuous real-time analytics, but on-demand real-time analytics can stand on its own. Now, did it make things more confusing? 😅
To put things into simplicity, let us define the two terms using use cases.
Streaming Data Analytics
We use streaming analytics if there is a need to analyze data that are transmitted and received in a steady and continuous flow. By analyzing streaming data, it allows us to process a massive amount of data to detect and discover events as the data comes in, allowing the organization to take action as it happens. The focus is behavior patterns, regardless of the source.
Use cases that can be delivered as data are captured
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Discover abnormalities in mobile data usage in a specific geographical area
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Detect fraudulent Credit Card transactions based on historical behavior
Real-Time Analytics
Real-Time analytics, on the other hand, allows the organization to act based on a specific action. The action it triggers can come directly from the user or upon detecting a particular behavior. Real-time analytics requires an effort to trigger an event.
Use cases that can be delivered using real-time analysis
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Recommend next best offer to a customer that got declined on a loan application
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Notify VIP subscribers of potential network congestion in their area
In summary, both streaming and real-time analytics, despite the similarities, are two particular areas of analytics and should not be confused with each other. So instead of just focusing on the technical definitions, it is wise to have an understanding of how it works to create more valuable use cases for your organization.
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