BARC data, BI and analytics trends for 2025
BARC is back again this year with its Data, BI and Analytics Trend Monitor, an analysis of a questionnaire answered by over 1,500 people (1,795 participants this year, to be exact). Here's what it says:
Although generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is popular, the most important topics still remain the fundamental subjects of data security, quality and governance.
The study also explains that the balance between people and technology remains necessary for companies' success, emphasizing the importance of building a data-driven culture and increasing data literacy.
Data-driven culture refers to the values, beliefs and behaviors that an organization promotes, and which encourage the effective and ethical use of data for decision-making, process improvement and innovation (BARC). Data culture enables employees to make decisions based on data, rather than going with their gut instinct.
Data literacy, on the other hand, is the ability to read, analyze, interpret, visualize and communicate data effectively in order to ask questions, make informed decisions and communicate relevant actionable findings (insights) (StatCan). Increasing data literacy within an organization therefore enables its employees to improve their understanding of the information they are given to make decisions.
A comparison of industries
Here are the preferences for each industry:
Financial sector
Advanced analytics
Machine learning
Utilities and communications
Real-time analytics
Streaming
Public sector and retail
Operational BI
Embedded analytics
Healthcare
Security due to sensitive patient data
Manufacturing
Data-driven culture
Governance
All industries
Data quality management
Data security
What leaders think
This year, while many organizations recognize the importance of artificial intelligence, the most successful companies prefer to focus on decision intelligence, leveraging AI to automate and improve decision-making. This is how we understand that a good data foundation combined with cutting-edge technology makes them forward-thinking companies.
Hot topics
Data security and confidentiality
Data quality management
AI and machine learning
Data governance
Data literacy and AI
Self-service data analysis and discovery
What ADNia thinks
At ADNia, we're not surprised to see that “foundation” elements such as governance, quality, security and the organization of a data culture are currently top priorities for leading companies. These essential elements are the cornerstone of any successful business intelligence or artificial intelligence project, where the well-known “garbage in, garbage out” rule applies with full force.
We agree with BARC's trend analysis: before implementing emerging technologies, it's crucial to prioritize the fundamentals. Poor-quality data can compromise business decisions. Inadequate security can affect customer confidence, while a lack of governance can expose organizations to serious risks.
Our conviction: Investing in foundations such as data governance, quality, security and culture is not just about meeting operational or regulatory requirements. It's a strategic choice that helps build an ecosystem where innovation can really take hold. These solid foundations create a favorable environment for the harmonious integration of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), avoiding the pitfalls associated with poorly managed or low-quality data.
Would you like to deepen your analysis of these issues and discuss strategies adapted to your context? Contact us today.
References
BARC. (2024). Data, BI and Analytics Trend Monitor 2025. Berlin. Retrieved from https://barc.com/research/bi-trend-monitor-2025/
Statistics Canada (2024, April 26). Data literacy training. Retrieved from Statistics Canada: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/fr/afc/litteratie-donnees
100% made by humans