The 12 Days of Christmas Day 4 – Future forecasts by the fireside: BI & Analytics trends for 2026  

As we settle in for day 4 of Techmas and let the fire warm us up, it feels like a good moment to think about what is in store for business intelligence and analytics in 2026. The past year has been full of bold claims about AI & automation – but when you dig into the research, things look more down-to-earth. Rather than chasing the next big whiz-bang feature, lots of companies are planning to focus on getting their data houses in order, setting up solid foundations & tools that normal folk can use without breaking a sweat. 

That’s particularly evident in the latest BARC report on BI & analytics trends for 2026. In a study of over 1,500 professionals, the top priorities were clear: data quality, data security, privacy, and just getting better data habits across teams were way out in front of trendy features. 

This is a real sea-change in the way people are thinking. A couple of years ago, companies would spend all their time jacking in new analytics tools without ever stopping to think about whether they had a solid foundation first. Now, they are realising that a mess of dodgy data, weak rules and unclear roles is what holds them back, rather than a lack of fancy features. Firms want clean input, clear rules, and a shared approach to data. Once you have that solid base, the tools will pay dividends. 

AI will play a bigger role, but not in a way that is going to blow anyone away. Instead, AI will help with the dull stuff like sorting data, fixing little issues, spotting anomalies in the data, churning out charts and writing up little notes explaining what it all means. That gives staff more time to think and reduces the risk of missing insights. 

Another clear direction emerging is a shift towards lakehouse-style data setups. The old way of doing things split data between lakes and warehouses, which often meant teams were constantly manoeuvring data back and forth, adding a few extra delays. Lakehouse setups keep both raw and structured data in one place, making it a whole lot easier to support BI, reporting, and machine learning without faffing about. 

And finally, real-time data access will become much more common. With more and more firms using IoT devices and shorter refresh cycles, leaders want to see what is happening now rather than wait for their weekly reports. Real-time updates give teams the power to act fast, whether they are juggling stock, planning service work, or keeping an eye on product use. 

Alongside all this, Business Intelligence will start getting a whole lot more mainstream and woven into the tools we already use every day: CRM’s, support tools, that sort of thing. Instead of having to pop over to a separate dashboard, staff will be able to see the key numbers right where they are working. That way, people can act on insights when they matter most, rather than after the fact, when the momentum has already passed. 

With all this sudden growth, privacy, ethics, and clear rules are going to take centre stage. As more & more teams start using AI and sharing data, companies will demand stronger safeguards & simple rules that staff can follow with a clear conscience. That helps to keep risk at bay and build trust across the business as a whole. 

When you put it all together, these trends point to steady progress rather than just noise. The firms that get the most out of BI and analytics in 2026 are going to be the ones with clean data, clear rules, simple access, and good support in place. Data teams are going to start shifting from just doing grunt work to guiding others, setting good habits, and helping staff use insights safely & effectively. 

As we keep on trucking through the holiday season, the future of BI looks calm, helpful, and all about helping people make better choices with less hassle. And with this, day 4 of Techmas comes to an end.  
 
If you want to discuss your organisation’s possibilities in BI & Analytics, you can reach out to our team, which will be in a festive mood and really happy to help.