Analytics software modernizes to meet new generation of requirements for more intelligent business decisions and actions, new research says

Analytics software is being transformed into an AI-powered asset that is essential to business strategies in all industries, enhancing organizations’ ability to prepare and use data for competitive advantage, according to new research from global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III).

The ISG Buyers Guide™ for Analytics, produced by ISG Software Research, provide the rankings and ratings of 21 software providers and their products for all aspects of analytics. The research finds that business intelligence requirements continue to expand and now include sourcing of data, collaboration across teams, predictive insights and the use of analytics for planning, forecasting and performance guidance. The Buyers Guide for Analytics Emerging Providers, published in conjunction with the Analytics guide, evaluates 12 next-generation companies on the leading edge of these technologies.

ISG has also published guides covering the same providers, focused on AI-based analytics. The Buyers Guide for AI Analytics examines established providers’ AI capabilities, while the AI Analytics Emerging Providers guide looks at the AI-powered offerings of innovative specialized players.

In addition, ISG has published three Buyers Guides that cover providers of analytics software for specific industries. The ISG Buyers Guide for Healthcare Analytics rates and ranks 20 providers of analytics software for healthcare enterprises. The Buyers Guide for Manufacturing Analytics evaluates 15 providers of analytics software for manufacturing companies. The Buyers Guide for Retail Analytics assesses 14 providers of analytics software for the retail industry.

“Data now drives all aspects of business, and companies must use analytics to understand and plan operations across both the business and IT domains,” said David Menninger, executive director of AI and IT research, ISG Research. “Advanced analytics based on AI and machine learning is becoming foundational, with almost two-thirds of enterprises using ML now and three-quarters planning to use it more in the future.”

AI and ML go beyond traditional analytics by classifying, predicting and recommending behaviors to improve operations, the research finds. Generative AI suggests steps in data preparation, the most time-consuming aspect of analytics, that can reduce the involvement of IT so business users can confidently conduct data analysis themselves. By 2027, almost all business intelligence (BI) software providers will include augmented intelligence based on GenAI to make analytics easier to perform, ISG finds. ML is delivering competitive advantage by helping companies analyze data on product usage, improve customer experience and quickly seize new opportunities.

Industries that rely heavily on analytics for operations and planning, including healthcare, manufacturing and retail, require specialized software for specific requirements around data sources, use cases and strategic decision-making. Broad platform providers and specialists are meeting these needs with targeted tools that increasingly incorporate AI features.

For its 2025 Buyers Guides™ for Analytics, ISG evaluated software providers across four platform categories — Analytics, Collaborative Analytics, Developer Analytics and Mobile Analytics. A total of 21 providers were assessed: Alibaba Cloud, AWS, Cloud Software Group, Databricks, Domo, Epicor, Google, IBM, Infor, insightsoftware, Microsoft, OpenText, Oracle, Qlik, Salesforce, SAP, SAS, Sisense, Strategy, ThoughtSpot and Zoho.

ISG Software Research rates software providers in five evaluation categories: Overall, Product Experience (incorporating Capability and Platform) and Customer Experience. Providers ranked in the top three for each evaluation category are named as Leaders. Within each platform category, those with the most Leader rankings are named as Overall Leaders.

The Overall Leaders of the 2025 Buyers Guide for Analytics were the following:

Analytics: Oracle was the top Overall Leader, followed by Domo and Databricks. Oracle was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Domo in five and Databricks in three. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with AWS, IBM, Microsoft, Qlik, Salesforce and SAP. Google and Strategy were rated Innovative.

Collaborative Analytics: Domo was the top Overall Leader, followed by Oracle and SAP. Domo was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Oracle in five and SAP in one. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with IBM, Microsoft, Qlik, Salesforce, ThoughtSpot and Zoho. SAS and Strategy were rated Innovative.

Developer Analytics: Oracle was the top Overall Leader, followed by Domo and Databricks. Oracle was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Domo in five and Databricks in three. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with IBM, Microsoft, Qlik, Salesforce and SAP. SAS, Sisense and Strategy were rated Innovative.

Mobile Analytics: Domo was the top Overall Leader, followed by Oracle and Microsoft. Domo was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Oracle in five and Microsoft in three. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with IBM, Infor, Qlik, Salesforce, SAP, ThoughtSpot and Zoho. Strategy was rated Innovative.

For the 2025 Buyers Guide for AI Analytics, ISG evaluated the same providers, focusing on their offerings for AI-enabled analytics.

AI Analytics: Oracle was the top Overall Leader, followed by Databricks and Domo. Oracle was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Databricks in two and Domo in five. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with AWS, IBM, Microsoft, Qlik, Salesforce, SAP and Zoho. Strategy was rated Innovative.

For its 2025 Buyers Guide for Analytics Emerging Providers, ISG evaluated 12 providers: Cube, GoodData, Hex, IDERA, Incorta, Klipfolio, Kyligence, Kyvos, Phocas, Pyramid Analytics, Sigma and Toucan.

Analytics Emerging Providers: Pyramid Analytics was the top Overall Leader, followed by Kyvos and Sigma. Pyramid Analytics, Kyvos and Sigma were each designated Leaders in four evaluation categories. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with Hex and Toucan. Klipfolio was rated Innovative.

For the 2025 Buyers Guide for AI Analytics Emerging Providers, ISG evaluated the same providers with a focus on AI-enabled analytics offerings.

AI Analytics Emerging Providers: Pyramid Analytics was the top Overall Leader, followed by Kyvos and Sigma. Pyramid Analytics, Kyvos and Sigma were each designated Leaders in four evaluation categories. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with Hex. IDERA and Klipfolio were rated Innovative.

For the 2025 Buyers Guides to industry-specific analytics providers, ISG evaluated 34 providers across Healthcare Analytics, Manufacturing Analytics and Retail Analytics: Arcadia, Buxton, Cloud Software Group, dataPARC, Databricks, Definitive Healthcare, Epicor, Google, Health Catalyst, Incorta, Infor, Innovaccer, Inovalon, InterSystems, IQVIA, Lantek, MedeAnalytics, Merative, Microsoft, Millman MedInsight, NextGen Healthcare, Nuqleous, o9 Solutions, OpenText, Oracle, QAD, RetailNext, SAP, SAS, Sight Machine, Solvoyo, symplr, Verkada and ZeOmega.

Healthcare Analytics: Oracle was the top Overall Leader, followed by Databricks and InterSystems. Oracle was designated a Leader in four evaluation categories, Databricks in three and InterSystems in one. Oracle and InterSystems were rated Exemplary, along with Infor and NextGen Healthcare. Health Catalyst, Innovaccer. IQVIA, MedeAnalytics, Millman MedInsight and SAS were rated Innovative.

Manufacturing Analytics: Oracle was the top Overall Leader, followed by Microsoft and SAP. Oracle was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Microsoft in three and SAP in three. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with Infor and SAS. Epicor, Incorta and QAD were rated Innovative.

Retail Analytics: Oracle was the top Overall Leader, followed by SAP and Microsoft. Oracle was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, SAP in five and Microsoft in one. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with Infor. Epicor, RetailNext and Solvoyo were rated Innovative.

“Analytics has significantly expanded to become an engaging software category that delivers intelligence and guidance for enterprises to become more action-oriented,” said Mark Smith, partner and chief software analyst, ISG Software Research. “This comprehensive research brings together deep insights, ratings and rankings in analytics to enable organizations in any industry to assess and choose software providers.”

The ISG Buyers Guides™ for Analytics are the distillation of more than a year of market and product research efforts. The research is not sponsored nor influenced by software providers and is conducted solely to help enterprises optimize their business and IT software investments.

Visit this webpage to learn more about the ISG Buyers Guides™ for Analytics and read executive summaries of each of the seven reports. The complete reports, including provider rankings across seven product and customer experience dimensions and detailed research findings on each provider, are available by contacting ISG Software Research.

About ISG Software Research

ISG Software Research provides authoritative coverage and analysis of the business and IT software industry. It distributes research and insights daily through its user community, and provides a portfolio of consulting, advisory, research and education services for enterprises, software and service providers, and investment firms. Its ISG Buyers Guides™ help enterprises evaluate and select software providers through tailored assessments powered by ISG’s proprietary methodology. Visit http://research.isg-one.com/ for more information and to sign up for free community membership.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

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Data now drives all aspects of business, and companies must use analytics to understand and plan operations across both the business and IT domains. Advanced analytics based on AI and machine learning is becoming foundational.