You may not have seen, but Microsoft just wrote a check few can imagine. In pursuit of a comprehensive business platform, they are acquiring LinkedIn for a staggering $26.2 billion. In cash.

It would be the largest acquisition in company history, far exceeding the $8.5 billion they paid for Skype. So what can a social media platform for job hunters, executives, general employees, and recruiters possibly have to offer for a software and services firm like Microsoft? I mean, they have Office. What else could they want?

Big Data. Hold on, let me rephrase that. #BigData. Because knowing the trends behind it helps to better understand the rationale. Remember that article CU Insight shared of mine about your members’ data? It’s truly big business, and whatever you aren’t doing, someone else is. Besides, it’s really about better serving your members, and using the information you already have is the best way forward.

I cannot stress enough the importance of embracing data to further your personalized offerings. And once again, you don’t have to be working with millions of people or data points. Just a few carefully-selected points helps you draw incredible conclusions. Sure, it will raise important conversations about member privacy. That’s a good thing. But you have to be doing it.

I’m here to help. Feel free to contact me here (the old-fashioned way) or on Twitter @JoeCUGeek. I promise your credit union can take substantive steps for less than $26B. Trust me, I’m a geek.