Splunk CEO aims to make machine data 'sexy' with Splunk Enterprise 6

Godfrey Sullivan makes case for using big data in everything from beer to trains in Worldwide Users Conference keynote

Big data solutions provider Splunk wants to expand its outputs to almost everything IT related, making machine data "sexy" in the process.

That's what CEO and chairman Godfrey Sullivan told the audience during his opening keynote at the Splunk Worldwide Users Conference 2013 in Las Vegas, as the company launched Splunk Enterprise 6, its latest big data and analytics solution.

"Our mission now has evolved and expanded to cover all across IT, beyond IT and even into the internet of things. We've got so many customers around the world doing so many use cases, it's what inspires us as a company to continue to move and innovate as fast as we possibly can," said Sullivan.

The Splunk CEO attributed the rise in the accumulation and exploitation of big data to the rise of intelligent mobile devices, including but not limited to smartphones and tablets, with an increasing number of household appliances now carrying the ability to monitor and transmit data.

"So what's changed over the last four or five years that's made us so cool?," asked Sullivan. "Number one is that so many different types of devices turned digital. Whether it was a thermostat or a mobile device they learned to communicate with us in a new way."

He joked that what his company is doing makes machine data "sexy" and more fun than anything available in the conference's notoriously debauched host city.

"Splunk is able to ingest and make all that data available for analysis and value, so we're making machine data sexy, the most fun you can have here in Las Vegas, right?" said Sullivan.

"It's so much fun to work here but the reason its so much fun is because of our customers, what you do in so many different ways in applying Splunk technology."

Sullivan provided multiple examples of organisations using Splunk, including farmers optimising crop production with analytics from the field. The Splunk CEO even went so far as to suggest big data technology can be used to improve beer fermentation.

Sullivan also demonstrated an example of how Splunk could potentially be used to improve public transport if the data were to be properly analysed and exploited.

"Trains are just another mobile device. Why not Splunk every train in the world?" he asked, suggesting that this could save millions and lead to better-run services.

Sullivan also spoke about Splunk Enterprise 6, the firm's latest platform for analysing machine data.

"Too many organisations are still struggling with a data divide between IT and the business," said Sullivan.

"At Splunk, we understand that the most successful organisations in the world give equal access to the data, regardless of skill level, to drive smart decisions that have true business impact. This is what inspired our product team to build Splunk Enterprise 6," he continued.

"We believe that everyone in the organisation, from the system administrator to the C-level executive, should be empowered to find that ‘aha' moment.

"Splunk Enterprise 6 bridges the data divide and unifies IT and business users around the tremendous value and ROI to be found in machine data," Sullivan added.