BARC Score: AI and Automation Propel Data Intelligence Platforms Forward
Würzburg, February 24, 2025 – BARC has unveiled its latest BARC Score Data Intelligence Platforms 2025 report, offering a comprehensive market overview and comparing leading vendors that deliver enterprise-wide data intelligence capabilities. In the third edition of this study, new providers who meet the necessary criteria have been added, underscoring the market’s dynamic evolution.
The analysis evaluates platforms that support search & discovery, data governance, metadata collaboration and data marketplaces. Notably, the assessment now includes AI governance – a reflection of the increasing emphasis on reliable data foundations for AI initiatives.
Timm Grosser, Senior Analyst for Data & Analytics at BARC, explains, “AI/ML is rapidly integrating into systems. It’s not only automating governance processes but also creating innovative user experiences, for example, through natural language processing. This trend is just beginning and is set to accelerate further.”
Key insights from BARC Score Data Intelligence Platforms 2025
- A shifting market: AI/ML is playing an ever greater role in automating data intelligence platforms, especially in the areas of metadata capture, maintenance and utilization.
- Emerging AI governance strategies: Companies are increasingly implementing transparent, controllable mechanisms to ensure that AI-driven analyses are both secure and trustworthy.
- Focus on user adoption: Vendors are enhancing their offerings with robust programs – including consulting, training, templates and best practices – to boost user acceptance.
- Data products take center stage: Organizations are beginning to manage the entire lifecycle of data products – from creation and optimization to eventual retirement – while new marketplaces are improving their discoverability and usage.
- Shifting provider focus: Google and AWS have been excluded from this evaluation because their solutions concentrate primarily on technical and operational metadata, setting them apart from other providers. Instead, several specialized vendors offering innovative data intelligence solutions have been added.
Grosser adds, “Compared to last year, we’ve seen significant improvements in feature sets and connectivity. Enhanced AI/ML integration and support for data products signify clear progress. Moving forward, we expect an even greater focus on AI governance and further automation.”
Recommendations for companies evaluating data intelligence platforms
- Define clear objectives: Determine whether your priority is governance support or improving the discoverability of data assets, and identify the specific business challenges you aim to address.
- Ensure seamless integration: The platform should integrate effortlessly with your key operational and analytical systems to facilitate a rapid rollout.
- Prioritize scalability: Confirm that the solution can handle multiple domains and a high volume of users.
- Utilize structured market analysis: Leverage detailed comparisons, such as the BARC Score, and conduct proofs of concept with various vendors to support informed decision-making.
- Secure early user adoption: Successful implementation depends on establishing clear governance roles, engaging business users early and adopting an iterative approach to metadata management.
The complete report, including the graphic and English-language software evaluations, is available from February 24, 2025, at www.barc.com/score.
The BARC Score Data Intelligence Platforms 2025 review examines solutions from Ab Initio, Alation, Alex Solutions, Ataccama, Atlan, Collibra, DataGalaxy, data.world, IBM, Informatica, Microsoft, Precisely, OvalEdge and erwin by Quest. Journalists may request the unredacted graphic by contacting Axel Bange at [email protected]. For further details and to access the complete software evaluations, please visit BARC’s product page.
