Data Quality Beats AI Hype: Where Data Leaders Focus Their Efforts
BARC releases the Data, BI and Analytics Trend Monitor 2026
1,579 Experts Confirm: Data Quality, Security, Governance and Culture Remain the Foundation for Analytics and AI.
BARC has published the Data, BI and Analytics Trend Monitor 2026, the world’s largest survey on trends in data and analytics. Based on feedback from 1,579 professionals worldwide, the study reveals a consistent picture. Companies continue to focus on data fundamentals as the enablers of innovation.
Data quality management has reclaimed the top position in 2026, followed closely by data security and privacy, both with importance ratings of 7.9 out of 10. Data-driven culture, data and AI governance, and data and AI literacy complete the top five. These results highlight a market that is focusing on the essentials rather than chasing hype.
“Everyone is talking about AI, but the data shows that organizations have understood that the challenges to successfully implement it are in the fundamentals: clean data, secure data and people who can work with it,” says Dr. Carsten Bange, Founder and CEO of BARC. “AI initiatives can only succeed if these prerequisites are in place. What we are seeing in 2026 is not resistance to innovation but a disciplined approach to building trust in data.”
How important are the trends in data, BI and analytics?
Governance and trust define maturity
The study also shows that maturity gaps persist. Best-in-class companies rate data quality, governance and culture higher than average, but they also emphasize monetization, decision intelligence and embedded analytics. Less mature organizations remain focused on compliance and infrastructure.
“This dual focus on governance and innovation is what separates leaders from laggards,” says Dr. Carsten Bange. “The winners are not those who chase every new trend, but those who secure the basics and then build new value on top.”
How have the trends in data, BI and analytics changed in importance?
About the BARC Data, BI and Analytics Trend Monitor 2026
Every business is a data business. The primary role of data is to empower decision-makers across all levels with reliable, actionable insights. While automation is an emerging trend, staying competitive requires organizations to continually evolve their data capabilities, transforming raw information into insights that drive decision-making and long-term success.
However, becoming data-driven presents challenges. The BARC Data, BI and Analytics Trend Monitor 2026 shows that while AI and automation trends are gaining prominence, they do not overshadow the continued importance of fundamental data practices like security, quality and governance. These foundational aspects, alongside developing a data-driven culture and boosting data literacy, are still seen as vital to long-term success.
With 1,579 participants from across industries and regions, the BARC Data, BI and Analytics Trend Monitor 2026 reveals how data, BI and analytics professionals prioritize these trends globally. Their input helps distinguish between hype and enduring trends, offering crucial insights for organizations navigating the evolving landscape. Our time series comparisons also show how trends have developed, making it possible to distinguish hype from stable trends.
