Dresner Advisory Publishes AI, Data, and Analytics Governance Market Study

AI, data, and analytics governance initiatives support a wide range of use cases, according to the Dresner Advisory Services AI, Data, and Analytics Governance Market Study. Executive dashboards and KPI reporting, financial planning and analysis, and operational performance monitoring are the top three use cases, according to this year's survey. AI, data, and analytics governance provides the oversight and operating framework of information-related decision rights, principles, policies, processes, people, and technologies that enables an organization to achieve its business objectives. Dresner's AI, Data, and Analytics Governance study, now in its fourth edition, analyzes end user deployment and sentiment around the governance, including its relative importance, business use cases, governance practices and policies, and solutions support.

Dresner Advisory Publishes 17th Edition Flagship Business Intelligence Market Study

Dresner Advisory's 2026 Business Intelligence (BI) Market Study features in-depth analyses on all aspects of the market. The 17th annual edition covers drivers, targeted users, success with BI, associated budget plans and allocations, objectives and achievements, adoption, product longevity and replacement, and strategic technologies and initiatives. It also features a new section exploring the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on BI. According to the study, AI maturity has seen rapid growth in recent years. While past surveys indicated some reticence from respondents, results in 2026 showed far more maturity in than in past years, with 50% of all respondents indicating their maturity was either "advanced" or "intermediate".

Announcing the Inaugural Agentic AI-Assisted Analytics Market Study Report

While still early, the signal is clear: Agentic AI is poised to fundamentally reimagine what self-service BI means. Vanguard users are already beginning to redefine the category, not as a set of tools which users query, but as an intelligent layer that works on their behalf. The impact will touch every dimension of the BI workflow, from agents that discover and surface relevant data for consumers, to agents that autonomously apply analytical models to analyze and predict outcomes.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 15th Edition Self-Service Business Intelligence Market Study

Dresner Advisory Services today published the Self-Service Business Intelligence Market Study, part of its Wisdom of Crowds® series of research. Self-service business intelligence (BI) builds on collaborative intelligence and strong user governance to create an environment where users can easily find, share, and trust insights. The result is faster, more consistent decision-making that keeps pace with modern business. The study examines end user perception and deployment trends around self-service BI and related technologies including collaborative BI, Guided Analytics®, data governance, natural language analytics (NLA), generative AI, and agentic AI, as well as a robust industry analysis identifying priorities for suppliers of these technologies.

Special Report on Data Catalogs in 2026

For many years, data catalog technologies have been valued by organizations for their ability to enhance data discovery, enable data governance and compliance, foster collaboration, support data integration and analytics, and facilitate data-driven decision making. As a foundational technology, especially when combined with data governance capabilities, data catalog technologies underpin effective data management and utilization of information assets within organizations.

Announcing the 2026 Special Report on Data Observability

Use cases for business intelligence (BI), analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) are growing more complex, involving more data sources, platforms, locations, and a greater variety and number of data producers and consumers. This means data flows are becoming exponentially more complex, transformation logic is much more sophisticated, and more opportunities exist for errors and leaks. At the same time, organizations’ emphasis on data #governance - of quality, security, privacy, lifecycle management, and costs—is also increasing, as data leaders, business leaders, and management teams recognize the importance of leveraging and protecting data assets.

The Semantic Layer + Data Virtualization: From BI Convenience to AI Necessity

Agentic AI systems are designed to do more than retrieve information — they are meant to reason, decide and take action. But they can only do that effectively when they operate from a trusted and shared understanding of the business. If the meaning of key metrics, the right source of truth or the proper business context lives only in scattered teams or individual experts, AI agents will struggle to deliver reliable outcomes at scale.

Special Report: Data Security and Privacy in 2026

Cybersecurity has evolved in distinct stages. It began with firewalls that maintained system integrity and excluded unauthorized users. This “castle and moat” model worked reasonably well as long as there was a clear inside and outside. As landscapes shifted, the era of perimeter defense gave way to access control and identity management, focusing on verifying who could enter and what they could touch. But as threats grew more complex and data became more distributed, protecting systems solely by limiting access proved insufficient for data security or data privacy.

Announcing The 2026 Cloud Computing and Cloud BI Special Report

During the nearly a decade and a half we have spent tracking this space, cloud adoption has reached record levels. Nevertheless, cloud adoption is still not a foregone conclusion for all organizations. A meaningful share continues to want or need on-premises deployment—whether for regulatory, security, cost, cultural, or architectural reasons. These organizations are not lagging behind; many have made deliberate, well-informed decisions about where their data and applications should reside. Unlike other analyst organizations, we have not simply written off the on-premises market. The cloud “refuseniks,” as some might call them, are not going away.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2026 Semantic Layer and Data Virtualization Market Study

The 2026 Semantic Layer and Data Virtualization study examines end user perception and trends around semantic layer and data virtualization technologies, including current and planned adoption; use cases; capabilities; features; integration techniques; and deployment options. It also provides a comprehensive industry section covering supplier priorities and offerings, as well as a Buyer’s Guide.

AI Runs on Data: Why Analytical Infrastructure Determines Who Wins

All forms of AI and analytics — data science and machine learning, generative AI and agentic AI — are built upon a foundation of analytical data infrastructure (ADI). So, as organizations face increasing executive pressure to deploy AI and turn it into a true engine of business value, a critical question emerges: What is the current state of their data infrastructure?

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2026 Supply Chain Planning and Analysis Market Study

Supply chain analytics enables organizations to develop valuable insights associated with the procurement, processing, and distribution of goods. The report, part of Dresner Advisory’s Wisdom of Crowds® annual series of thematic research, examines market requirements and priorities and provides an analysis of the current supply chain analytics usage and future intentions of end user organizations.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2026 Data Engineering Market Study

Dresner Advisory Services today published the 2026 Data Engineering Market Study, part of its Wisdom of Crowds® series of research. Data engineering is a component of analytical data infrastructure (ADI) and includes requirements and priorities for data orchestration, integration, and transformations including advanced analytics in the data engineering pipeline workflow.  The Data Engineering Market Study examines the development and deployment capabilities used to design, debug, schedule, secure, govern, and run data workflows across analytical and operational use cases. According to the 2026 study, 82% of respondents perceive data engineering as important with at least 33% of respondents identifying its importance for every use case presented, and higher importance indicated for critical scenarios such as executive dashboards, customer retention, and financial planning. A majority of organizations have already deployed data engineering technology, with significant expansion planned over the next two years. Current adoption is most mature in North America and EMEA, specifically within the healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services sectors.

State of AI: Widely used for planning -- drives the business at just 25% of firms

AI influences strategy at 55% of firms, but only 25% call it a primary business driver. Enterprise-wide deployment remains below 50%.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2026 Workforce Planning and Analysis Market Study

Dresner Advisory Services published the 2026 Workforce Planning and Analysis Market Study, part of its Wisdom of Crowds® series of research. Workforce planning and analysis is a category of tools and processes that help align workforces with business goals, strategies, and workplace dynamics. It includes requirements, analysis, and forecasting for current and future needs and the development of plans to address imbalances to optimize human resources, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

Dresner Advisory Services Announces Technology Innovation Awards

Dresner Advisory Services today announced the winners of its Technology Innovation Awards, presented annually to top ranked vendors in 16 technology-focused 2025 Wisdom of Crowds thematic market studies.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2025 Embedded Business Intelligence Market Study

Dresner Advisory Services published the 2025 Embedded Business Intelligence Market Study, part of the Dresner Wisdom of Crowds® series of research. The 13th annual study examines end user trends in embedded business intelligence (BI), the technological capability to include BI features and functions as an inherent part of a home grown or third-party application. The 2025 Embedded BI Market Study assesses the importance and adoption of embedded BI, architecture and feature requirements, and targeted applications.  

Why BI Competency Centers Matter More Than Ever to Data Governance

As enterprises expand their ambitions for data, analytics, and AI, the Business Intelligence Competency Center (BICC) is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. What began as a function focused on reporting and dashboards is now becoming a strategic hub essential to modern data governance, data integration, and even emerging AI and data science capabilities. Today’s BICC is no longer just a support center for BI — it is a foundational enabler of a broader, enterprise-wide data and analytics strategy.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2025 Analytical Data Products Report

The Analytical Data Products Report, part of Dresner Advisory’s Wisdom of Crowds® series of research, examines interest in and demand for the integrated technology environments that include all functionality to support multiple analytical or business intelligence (BI) use cases, including: data engineering; data and analytic governance; self-service BI; AI, data science and machine learning; embedded BI or analytics; cloud support; and agentic AI.

7 Behaviors of the AI-Savvy CIO

Today, we're starting at the end -- with the seven essential behaviors that define an AI-savvy CIO. These behaviors are derived from my conversations with two CIOs and four AI thought leaders.

The Agentic Divide: Why Data‑Mature Firms Pull Away & How to Catch Them

Agentic AI elevates AI from “assistants” to autonomous digital labor that plans and acts across multi‑step workflows. Early leaders aren’t winning on prompts; they’re winning on readiness — their mature data pipelines, governed tool use, knowledge capture, and human‑in‑the‑loop quality.

Dreamforce 2025: Agentic AI Haves and Have-Nots on Full Display

Dreamforce 2025 showcased agentic AI's potential, but most companies lack the data maturity to benefit, leaving Salesforce's vision out of reach for many.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2025 Sales Performance Management Market Study

Dresner Advisory’s 8th annual Sales Performance Management (SPM) study examines end user behaviors around SPM adoption, budgets, and overall success, analyzed by organization size, geography, and other attributes.

Analytical AI: The Hidden Engine Powering Data-Driven Enterprises

Analytical AI powers real business results. Discover how ModelOps turns data insights into scalable, trustworthy enterprise intelligence.

Here's What CIOs Told Me They Need to Learn About AI

I asked my CIO contacts for some quick email input on the urgent AI topics they need to learn about. Their response? Let's meet on Zoom to talk it out. Here are their candid insights on the complexity, risks, and rewards of AI.

From Data to Doing: Agentic AI Will Revolutionize the Enterprise

#AgenticAI represents an inflection point in enterprise IT, on par with the shift to cloud. Vendors know it. What is the #CIO's mandate in this new #AI ecosystem?

AI Risk Management: How to Secure GenAI, Agentic AI and Shadow AI

Shadow AI, GenAI and agentic AI are reshaping enterprise risk. See why CIOs, CISOs and CDOs must collaborate to secure AI adoption and compliance.

Dresner Advisory Services Announces 2025 Industry Excellence Awards

Dresner Advisory Services today named its 2025 Industry Excellence Awards winners, acknowledging vendors who achieved leadership in the company's 2025 Wisdom of Crowds® Business Intelligence (BI), Enterprise Performance Management (EPM), or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Market Studies.

Dresner Advisory Publishes 2025 AI, Data Science, Machine Learning, and ModelOps Research

A large majority of survey respondents say artificial intelligence (AI) is taking a direct strategic or supporting role, sometimes driving the business, according to the 2025 AI, Data Science, and Machine Learning Market Study, part of the Dresner Advisory Wisdom of Crowds® series of research. 

Why Marketers Are the First to Bet Big on Agentic AI

Agentic AI adoption is surging in sales and marketing. But only data-mature organizations will reap the rewards.

Dresner Advisory Research Confirms Agentic AI's Rapid Rise as a Business Imperative

Agentic AI solutions deliver measurable business outcomes by wrapping a clearly defined business process, large language models (LLMs), and access to relevant data. Together, these components enable intelligence task execution – automating actions, making decisions, and adapting in real time with minimal human intervention.  The Dresner Agentic AI Report examines organizations attitudes and uses covering its relative importance among other key technologies and initiatives, priorities, training and development, obstacles, and data sources. "We're committed to providing data-driven, independent, and objective research that helps our community make informed decisions in the face of rapid change," said Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory. "Our new report continues that mission, offering clear insights into adoption patterns, success factors, and the organizational characteristics that correlate with early returns from agentic AI initiatives."

Data and Analytics Governance: The Backbone of AI Adoption

D&A governance encompasses the policies, standards, decision rights, procedures, and technologies that govern data and analytic content across the organization. This includes not only structured data and reports, but also emerging assets such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) models, their algorithms, and the data used to train or tune them

Dresner Advisory Publishes Inaugural Wisdom of Crowds Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Market Study

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is a software system that provides an integrated business process system and data source to unify and streamline essential business operations such as finance, HR, manufacturing, supply chain, sales, and procurement. ERP is evolving into a comprehensive operational and analytical platform for organizations to leverage for digital transformation. The inaugural ERP Market Study provides in-depth analyses on current usage, priorities, and intentions, as well as supplier capabilities. Seventy-five percent of organizations use ERP today, an increase from 47% in 2022, and 81% of respondents prefer cloud deployment for ERP. Most ERP implementations begin with core financials, with billing and purchasing the next essential capabilities. “Enterprises must look to implement a new or refreshed ERP strategy to successfully extend their current implementations to incorporate rapid changes within the business intelligence, analytics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), markets as well as to incorporate industry-specific data and analytics technologies into their business model,” said John Van Decker, distinguished analyst at Dresner Advisory.

How to Tell If Your Company Is Truly Data-Driven — and What to Do If It’s Not

86% say they’re data-driven. Only 43% are. Is your company walking the talk—or stuck in the hype? Learn how to spot the difference and build a truly data-informed culture. #DataDriven #Leadership

Is the Scope of Data Governance Enough?

#Startups are using #AI to scale faster, skip funding rounds—and attract top VC dollars. @HubSpot research shows: #VCs now expect AI-first GTM strategies. https://www.cmswire.com/digital-marketing/vcs-love-ai-first-startups-heres-why-that-matters-for-marketing-leaders/  The AI Revolution, Part 6: Top AI Risk Management Strategies for Enterprise Leaders https://www.vktr.com/digital-workplace/the-ai-revolution-part-6-top-ai-risk-management-strategies-for-enterprise-leaders/ Self-service BI is the value prop of #datagovernance — trusted data, AI-powered insight, and cross-role collaboration. It’s not just the goal, it’s the proof it’s working. #DataGovernance #SelfServiceBI https://tdan.com/self-service-bi-is-the-new-face-of-data-governance/32775

VCs Love AI-First Startups. Here’s Why That Matters for Marketing Leaders

When funding follows AI-driven efficiency and GTM success, marketers everywhere need to rethink their operating model.

The AI Revolution, Part 6: Top AI Risk Management Strategies for Enterprise Leaders

Discover the top risks of generative and agentic AI and learn how to build effective AI governance strategies.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes Environmental, Social, and Governance Reporting Market Study, Highlights Significant Developments

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting attempts to capture in a structured way the potential impacts that environmental and social factors may have on the financial sustainability of an organization. It includes the data, tools, processes, and standards used in preparing non-financial reports that reflect an organization’s impact on the planet and people both inside and outside the organization, and its approach to running and governing the organization. The 3rd annual Dresner ESG Market Study report examines attitudes toward ESG reporting worldwide, evaluates organizations' readiness for ESG reporting, identifies which standards organizations adopt, and explores how organizations implement ESG reporting. “Global ESG progress demonstrates strong momentum and growth, fueled by rising investor demand, regulatory pressure, and an increasing understanding of the connection between robust ESG performance and business success,” said Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory. “There is a growing emphasis on transparency in ESG reporting, with heightened stakeholder pressure for precise and truthful disclosures.”

Self-Service BI Is the New Face of Data Governance

Self-service BI is the value prop of #datagovernance — trusted data, AI-powered insight, and cross-role collaboration. It’s not just the goal, it’s the proof it’s working. #DataGovernance #SelfServiceBI

Dresner Advisory Publishes 2025 Wisdom of Crowds Enterprise Performance Management Market Study

Dresner's annual EPM Market Study provides a comprehensive assessment of usage and trends around EPM, systems that enable organizations to plan for the impact of various internal and external factors on its future performance and business outcomes. The study offers in-depth analyses on all aspects of the market, including current usage, deployment intentions, software longevity and importance, success with EPM, implementation and sourcing strategies, planning priorities, and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in EPM.    "While the office of finance continues to be the primary user of EPM software today with an anticipated increase of usage within this function, in 2025 we see EPM usage higher in every role category," said John Van Decker, distinguished analyst at Dresner Advisory. "Broader usage shows that EPM is more than just a finance system for many organizations."

Dresner Advisory Publishes 2025 Data and Analytics Governance Market Study

Data and analytics governance encompasses the policies, controls, standards, decision rights/accountability, processes, procedures, and technologies that organizations implement to provide formal oversight of data and analytic content management and its usage across the enterprise and beyond. According to the 2025 study, a majority of respondents continue to have a level of difficulty in finding data and analytic content and only 41% of organizations surveyed report having any formal governance organization in place. This is in contrast with the broader market’s increasing need for more data-driven outcomes. “As data environments grow more complex, traditional governance—focused on isolated domains like master data—has become inadequate,” said Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory. “Our research underscores the need for a broader, more integrated approach to data governance. Effective governance now must span data, analytic content, and AI/ML assets, supported by formal programs, empowered roles, and enabling technologies.”

Improved Operational Efficiency Among Top Objectives for Business Intelligence in 2025

Dresner's 2025 BI Market Study features in-depth analyses on all aspects of the market. The 16th annual edition covers drivers, targeted users, success with BI, associated budget plans and allocations, objectives and achievements, adoption, product longevity and replacement, and strategic technologies and initiatives.

Could Salesforce-Informatica Acquisition Create a Data Queen?

The acquisition targets AI dominance through data transparency, governance and platform unification.

The AI Revolution, Part 4: Essential AI Concepts Every Leader Must Know

Business leaders do not need to become coders to thrive in the age of AI. David De Cremer, author of "The AI-Savvy Leader," argues the key for leaders is not fluency in Python or mastery of neural networks but a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence. De Cremer believes that leaders should focus their attention on grasping the principles of AI, the mechanics of machine learning and the ethical implications that follow. It’s about seeing the big picture.

The AI Revolution, Part 3: Lessons From the Leaders Shaping AI’s Next Chapter

In my previous articles, I explored the AI market definition and uncovered the vast opportunities AI presents. Now, I want to go deeper, drawing from the insights of industry visionaries who are actively shaping the narrative of AI's future. From transformative market shifts to bold predictions of AGI, I have curated the perspectives of nine leaders who are writing the playbook on where AI is headed. Whether you are driving software innovation or steering business transformation, collectively these insights will sharpen your strategic planning and help you thrive in the age of AI.

Do Data Differently: Qlik’s Blueprint for Agentic Analytics

Discover how Qlik leverages agent-powered AI to automate analytics workflows, turning raw data into proactive, business-ready insights at scale.

The AI Revolution, Part 2: Why Reinventing Your Business Beats Optimizing It

Future-ready firms are using AI to rethink value, not just speed up old processes. It’s about redefining value chains, reshaping competition, and unlocking new business models. 🚀 #AI #DigitalTransformation

The AI Revolution, Part 1: Drawing the Lines That Will Define the Future of AI

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a transformative force reshaping many industries, business models and even everyday life. From automating routine business tasks and personal productivity to enabling complex business automation, AI is driving innovation at an unprecedented pace.

The Cloud's Pivotal Role in AI and Business Intelligence

Cloud BI has gone from optional to essential. Find out what features matter most — and why business leaders are doubling down.

The Self-Service BI Bottleneck Is Back—Can Agentic AI Fix It?

Data democracy fell short. But AI agents could be the key to truly real-time, accessible business intelligence.

Self-Driving Spreadsheets? AI’s Next Target Is Hiding in Plain Sight

AI is coming for your spreadsheets. Here's how new tools are turning Excel from a legacy liability into an automated productivity machine.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes Active Data Architecture Report and Semantic Layer Market Study

Dresner Advisory Services today published the Active Data Architecture® Report, part of the Wisdom of Crowds series of research. Active Data Architecture supports a platform-independent layer located between physical data stores and points of data consumption. It is comprised of various data management capabilities including virtualized and distributed data access (e.g., mesh, fabric), data governance, and security. The 2025 report shows a strong and growing majority of the market is interested in active data architecture. Larger organizations are more likely to embrace the vision for active data architecture to combat the weight of increasing data volumes, data source types, and data distribution. "Data architectures that lack flexibility, adaptability, and scalability will hinder organizations' efforts to see the benefit and achieve positive return on investment from their analytical investments," said Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory. "Active data architecture is about correcting these shortcomings by building flexible, more scalable, and dynamically optimized capabilities."

Agentic AI Wars: The Battle for the Future of Software

The software industry is being restructured by agentic AI. Will your company lead the shift — or get left behind?

New Cloud Computing and Business Intelligence Market Study Available from Dresner Advisory

Dresner Advisory Services today published the 2025 Cloud Computing and Business Intelligence Market Study, part of its Wisdom of Crowds annual series of thematic research. Cloud business intelligence (BI) is comprised of the technologies, tools, and solutions that employ one or more cloud deployment models. Cloud and software-as-a-service (SaaS) ranks sixth in importance out of 65 topics under study by Dresner Advisory, and near the all-time high level of user importance.  Scalability, administration, reliability, and ease of use are the perceived most important advantages of cloud. "We started tracking and analyzing dynamics within the cloud computing and BI market in 2012 when adoption was nascent, and now have 14 years of detailed data on the topic," said Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory. "It's exciting to see the changes since the early days of cloud-based solutions and not surprising to see cloud now ranked as a top initiative. Traditional organizations have been adopting cloud services, even as many new enterprises have shifted to cloud-native or cloud-first, moving the topic from fringe to strategic, to ultimately, competitive."

Data Engineering Is Key to Scaling AI — Here’s What the Latest Research Says

Data engineering is the unsung hero of AI. New research shows it's critical for success — yet most teams remain understaffed and underfunded.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2025 Supply Chain Planning and Analysis Market Study

Dresner Advisory Services today published the 2025 Supply Chain Planning and Analysis Market Study. Supply chain planning is the process of planning a product from raw material through distribution and sales, with the goal of balancing supply and demand. Supply chain analytics enables organizations to develop valuable insights associated with the procurement, processing, and distribution of goods. The report, part of Dresner Advisory’s Wisdom of Crowds® annual series of thematic research, examines market requirements and priorities and provides an analysis of the current supply chain analytics usage and future intentions of end user organizations.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2025 Generative AI Report

Dresner Advisory Services has published its 2025 Generative AI Report, part of its Wisdom of Crowds series of research. Generative artificial intelligence (also called generative AI) is artificial intelligence capable of generating text, images, or other media, using generative models. Generative AI models learn the patterns and structure of their input training data and then generate new data that has similar characteristics. The 176-page report provides an in-depth examination of user trends and perceptions, including innovations, adoption, budget, and priorities for Generative AI. It also uncovers use cases, concerns, applications, and the importance of training Generative AI models with proprietary data. “Our second annual assessment of the market demonstrates Generative AI is of great interest to organization, with a perception of considerable relevance and importance,” said Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory. “Organizations are paying close attention, tracking the news, innovation, and advances significantly more closely than they did a year ago.”

Single Vendor vs. Best of Breed: Which Data Stack Model Works Best?

Should you choose a single vendor or mix-and-match the best tools? Discover the pros and cons of both data management strategies.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2025 Workforce Planning and Analysis Market Study

Dresner Advisory Services today published the 2024 Workforce Planning and Analysis Market Study, part of its Wisdom of Crowds® series of research. Workforce planning and analysis is a category of tools and processes that help align workforces with business goals, strategies, and workplace dynamics. It includes requirements, analysis, and forecasting for current and future needs and the development of plans to address imbalances to optimize human resources, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. “Our study illuminates the continuing expansion of performance management across business functions beyond finance,” said Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory. “In the year ahead as organizations navigate external challenges, they will need to take a more comprehensive approach to performance management to enhance their agility, decision-making, and strategic execution.”

Is Your Marketing Strategy Built for Economic Uncertainty?

Inflation, tariffs and geopolitical chaos are testing chief marketing officers.

Before AI Personalization, Fix the Data: The CX Leader’s Roadmap

For CX leaders, success with AI depends on a foundation of accurate, well-governed data.

The State of Data Governance

In 2024, our research at Dresner Advisory Services revealed that only 32% of organizations have a formal data governance organization in place. This statistic highlights a critical gap, especially as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly integrated into operations, expanding business reliance on data and analytic content. Despite the growing importance of data products, few organizations approach governance with the deliberate, comprehensive strategies required to unlock their full potential.  Without question, the capability to maximize the value of organizational data, analytics, and ML/AI assets while mitigating associated risks depends upon robust governance practices. Moreover, the absence of a data governance framework has tangible consequences — 68% of organizations report challenges in finding reliable data and analytic content. The paradox is striking as businesses increasingly depend on data-driven decision-making; their success hinges on high-quality, trustworthy data and analytics. Without strong governance, this dependency risks becoming a significant liability. 

Dresner Advisory Services Announces Inaugural Application Innovation Awards

Dresner Advisory Services today announced the winners of its 2024 Applications Innovation Awards, a new series of awards presented to top ranked vendors in Dresner Advisory's 2024 Wisdom of Crowds series of applications-focused thematic market studies.   The annual thematic studies are based on data from end users and provide a real-world perspective on various capabilities related to Dresner's annual research. Each report examines current deployment trends, user intentions, application requirements and priorities, and industry functionality. "We have steadily increased our research into the wider performance applications market, looking at those that target not only the finance function but also adjacent areas such as the supply chain, sales, and workforce. These studies highlight the top providers of the most thorough offerings in these application areas, and we congratulate those vendors for their strong solutions." – Howard Dresner, founder and chief research officer at Dresner Advisory.

Inside AI’s Future: A Q&A on the Tech That Will Change Everything

GenAI is poised to transform business operations and value creation, rivaling previous disruptive innovations like cloud computing and mobile technology. According to McKinsey (via the book “Rewired”), GenAI holds the potential to accelerate and redefine processes across industries by automating creativity, enhancing decision making and optimizing workflows. While AI lacks genuine understanding, it excels in processing vast amounts of data, drawing insights and offering suggestions by applying established advanced mathematical techniques, such as vector analysis and cosine similarity. To explore the state of GenAI, I spoke recently with Brian Lett, research director at Dresner Advisory Services. Lett emphasized that GenAI is still in its initial stages, with businesses experimenting to uncover practical use cases and measurable ROI. He also highlighted a growing interest in GenAI applications, particularly for content generation, customer engagement and decision support.

Dresner Advisory Services Publishes 2025 Analytical Data Infrastructure Market Study

Dresner Advisory Services today published the 9th Edition Analytical Data Infrastructure Market Study, part of its Wisdom of Crowds® series of research. Analytical data infrastructure (ADI) defines a set of technology components for integrating, modeling, managing, storing, governing, and accessing data sets that serve as sources for analytic/business intelligence (BI) applications, tools, and users.   The study examines market preferences and priorities for ADI platforms including deployment and licensing priorities, data types, data model / management of data associated with ADI, data preparation and loading priorities, preferences in ADI development and deployment features, as well as ADI interfaces and analytical features.

Why 90% of Companies Are Rethinking Cloud Strategies in 2025

In “Designed for Digital,” authors Jeanne W. Ross, Cynthia M. Beath and Martin Mocker highlight how digital technologies — analytics, IoT and cloud computing — are driving ubiquitous data, limitless connectivity and vast processing power, fueling today’s AI solutions. At Dresner Advisory Services, our research underscores that reliability, access and availability rank as the top priorities for organizations leveraging cloud solutions to deliver on the AI future. Closely following in importance are scalability and ease of use, with factors like administration and implementation time rounding out critical considerations.