Turning Data into Intelligence

There is something that fascinates me about how technology can help solve community solutions.  I am not talking about posting a cause on Facebook and asking people to "like it."  I am talking about creating a real solution or an aid to a real solution.

However, I will admit, at our DirecRelief Women's Fall Gathering when CEO, Thomas Tighe said he was going to show an interactive map of DRI's response to hurricane Sandy, I wanted to quickly get on with the topic we came to hear about, DirectRelief Women's impact on maternal child health in Africa.  But, as he showed the power of data turned into intelligence for helping DRI distribute medical supplies in response to hurricane Sandy, you could hear the room of almost 70 women gasp in amazement.

This multi-million dollar technology was taking DRI's supply chain information, combining it with partner metrics, and layering open source data on top of it at no cost to DRI.  So what exactly does that mean? 

The technology developed by Palantir, works like this:

1. It takes open source data from government agencies like NOAH and determines the hurricane's path before and after it hits. 

2. It can combine this with data from Universities on the most vulnerable socioeconomic counties to determine where there is the greatest need. 

3. DRI can then look at shipping records and medicine use trends of DRI partners in these areas to identify the most critical needs and immediately start shipping supplies.

To see this technology in action, and more examples, checkout this short video or click here:

TAKEAWAYS:

1.  The ability to use technology to solve community issues should not be underestimated.

2.  This is an excellent example of a cross sector solution.  This technology was developed by a private corporation which is using government and university data to help a nonprofit be as responsive and effective as possible with medicines provided by private corporations.  Wow!  Could we ask for anything more?