Book excerpt: Big Data collected by customer-facing organisations – such as smartphone logs, store loyalty card transactions, smart travel tickets, social media posts, or smart energy meter readings – account for most of the data collected about citizens today. As a result, they are transforming the practice of social science. Consumer Big Data are distinct from conventional social science data not only in their volume, variety and velocity, but also in terms of their provenance and fitness for ever more research purposes. The contributors to this book, all from the Consumer Data Research Centre, provide a first consolidated statement of the enormous potential of consumer data research in the academic, commercial and government sectors – and a timely appraisal of the ways in which consumer data challenge scientific orthodoxies. Praise for Consumer Data Research 'An insightful, state-of-the-art guide into the social and commercial value of applying geographical thinking to the study of consumer data.' Professor Richard Harris, University of Bristol 'An excellent guide to leveraging the value of academic research on valid data. Partnerships based around consumer data should be encouraged and supported by all and their outputs used to better the way we manage the world we live in.' Bill Grimsey, retailer and author of The Vanishing Highstreet 'The use of data from everyday consumer transactions is a potential game-changer for understanding economic and social patterns and trends. This is an excellent overview of the field.' Dr.Tom Smith, Managing Director, Office for National Statistics Data Science Campus