Business Intelligence is at a Breaking Point, New Report Finds

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 7, 2025--

The data crisis is here, with many companies struggling with legacy business intelligence systems that fail to meet their needs. The State of BI 2025Report, released today by Sigma and based on survey data from over 500 data professionals, business leaders, and BI users, offers a clear-eyed look at the technical and cultural realities holding organizations back—and outlines what needs to happen next.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250407843252/en/

“The volume, variety, and velocity of today’s data have left businesses reeling,” said Mike Palmer, CEO of Sigma. “Our survey shows this industry is ripe for disruption. It’s up to us as leaders in the business intelligence space to provide solutions that address the technical, organizational, and cultural challenges that have become barriers to innovation. Data apps and AI-driven solutions are critical for helping businesses transform insights into action.”

The report surfaces three urgent truths shaping the future of BI:

1. Data Growth Is Outpacing Legacy BI Tools

Most BI tools weren’t built for the scale of today’s data, or the speed of decision-making now required.

2. AI Ambitions Are Colliding with Infrastructure Gaps

Organizations are eager to adopt AI, but most lack the data foundation to support it.

3. BI Is No Longer Just About Dashboards

The next wave of BI isn’t about reporting—it’s about enabling action.

The State of BI 2025 doesn’t just diagnose the problem—it outlines what comes next, exploring how BI challenges show up differently across company sizes, industries, and team structures. It also offers a roadmap for modernizing analytics, from embracing AI and writeback to building embedded data apps that eliminate delays and disconnects.

“Times change, and the future of BI is already here. AI, data apps, and writeback capabilities are no longer ‘nice-to-haves’ – they are features of BI solutions that are imperative to stay ahead. The survey shows SaaS sprawl remains a key roadblock to addressing today’s speed of business, with companies increasingly turning to modern BI solutions – and that’s where Sigma comes in on top,” added Palmer.

Explore the full survey findings here: https://www.sigmacomputing.com/state-of-bi/2025

Methodology:This study was conducted in partnership withGWIto over 500 data professionals, business leaders, and BI users across industries, using a robust, invitation-only sampling methodology to reach verified users of business intelligence tools across functions and industries. The survey was fielded from February 5–14, 2025.

About Sigma

Sigma is business intelligence built for the cloud. With a spreadsheet UI, business users can work in the formulas and functions they already know, while more technical users can write SQL and apply AI models to data. Sigma queries the cloud warehouse directly, making it incredibly fast and secure—data never leaves the warehouse, and Sigma can analyze billions of rows in seconds. Beyond dashboards and reports, teams use Sigma to build custom data apps, which integrate live data with end-user input. Sigma is the first analytics platform to enable data writeback, and continues to lead the market with innovation across AI, reporting, and embedded analytics.

The Future of BI: AI-Powered Insights, Data Apps, and Writeback

Technical Roadblocks Holding BI Back

The Expanding Data Divide: Businesses of All Sizes Feel the Crunch

STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A business jet crashed Thursday at a regional airport in North Carolina used by NASCAR teams and Fortune 500 companies, erupting in a large fire and killing multiple people, authorities said.

“I can confirm there were fatalities," Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said, though he declined to say how many.

The Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport shortly after 10 a.m., about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The crash occurred at the end of a runway, said airport director John Ferguson.

“The airport now is closed until further notice. It will take some time to get the debris off the runway,” Ferguson told reporters.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were investigating. AccuWeather says there was some drizzle and clouds at the time of the crash.

Video from WSOC-TV showed first responders rushing onto the runway as flames burned near scattered wreckage from the plane.

The airport’s website states that it offers corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams.

This story corrects the sheriff's first name to Darren, not Grant.

This screengrab made from video provided by WSOC shows firefighting crews responding to a reported plane crash at a regional airport in Statesville, N.C., erupting in a large fire, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2025. (WSOC via AP)