Nowadays, most big European and American firms use big data to boost their efficiency. The significant volume of information collected and analyzed online allows them to develop targeted strategies focused on their respective markets. In Morocco, the idea of proceeding this way to improve efficiency is spreading within local firms. The technology was at the center of the meeting entitled “Big data, business and industry” that took place on April 11, 2016 at the headquarters of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM in French).

During the event, President of Moroccan Federation for ICT and Offshoring, Salwa Kerki-Belkeziz declared: “data is the new dark gold (…) Moroccan firms must invest in this segment which will generate, in 2016, a global turnover of $24 billion”. With big data, Moroccan companies will be able to identify potential business niches, adapt to the changes in the day-to-day life of their clients, better identify their needs, etc.

However, before investing in big data, professionals of the segment must be recruited. According to Anass Bensrhir, founder of Moroccan start-up Bold Data which specializes in big data, cited by telquel.ma Morocco, unfortunately, is yet to have enough data professionals to efficiently exploit the segment. A challenge which was overcome this year as a course on big data was introduced in universities. SAS Institute, Microsoft and IBM are taking part in this project, Minister of Higher Education, Lahcen Daoudi, told L’Economiste during an interview last January.