AI and Data Products Are Driving Key Innovations Modernizations in BI & Analytics
BARC today announced the release of the eleventh edition of its BARC Score Enterprise BI & Analytics Platforms. The report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the leading platforms in a market undergoing a wave of modernization and innovation.
The Score highlights a pivotal moment in the evolution of business intelligence. While mature platforms continue to provide reliable reporting, dashboarding, and self-service analytics, the market is being fundamentally reshaped by the rapid integration of generative AI (GenAI), agentic AI, and the strategic adoption of data product thinking.
Generative AI Unlocks New Business Value
According to the report, nearly all leading vendors are embedding GenAI capabilities into their platforms to simplify user interaction to help users unlocking new business value. Technologies like large language model (LLM) enhanced Natural Language Query (NLQ) are delivering more precise, context-aware insights. Furthermore, AI-driven assistants now support users across the entire analytics workflow, from data preparation and code generation to automated insights and data exploration. .
“We are witnessing a dual trend in the BI and analytics space,” said Larissa Baier, lead author of the report. “On one hand, AI is making sophisticated analytics more accessible and intuitive for all users. On the other, the rise of data product concepts and Analytics as a Service (AaaS) is enabling organizations to deliver governed, reusable data assets at scale, transforming how data is structured, managed, and consumed.”
Navigating Complexity with Strategy and Governance
The report also addresses the challenges accompanying this rapid innovation. The increasing complexity of data ecosystems requires modern platforms to combine robust technical foundations, including governed semantic layers, data catalogs, and lineage analysis, with highly integrated modules that serve diverse user needs. The BARC Score emphasizes that successful BI & analytics initiatives depend on comprehensive strategies that encompass governance, organizational design, and a strong data culture.
This BARC Score serves as an essential guide for decision-makers, analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, and strategic positioning of the market’s leading vendors to help organizations select the right platform to support their complex and evolving requirements.
