Big data is continuing to proliferate at organizations, this time spurred by AI and machine learning within enterprise software tools, followed by advancements in software for managing unstructured data, and the substantial increase in data volume.
According to Markets and Markets, the big data space is set to experience continued robust growth, projected to surge from $220.2 billion in 2023 to $401.2 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 12.7% during the forecast period of 2023–2028.
Gartner predicts that in 2025, most analytics processes will be augmented, making advanced analytics accessible to a broader audience. This democratization of analytics will empower more employees across different levels of the organization to derive insights from data, fostering a more data-driven culture.
Data literacy, or the ability to read, understand, create, and communicate data as information, will become a core competency for employees at all levels. Gartner predicts that organizations will invest heavily in data literacy programs to ensure that their workforce can effectively use data to drive decision-making and innovation. This shift will help bridge the gap between data specialists and business users, fostering a more collaborative and data-driven organizational culture.
With the ever-growing awareness of sustainability in the face of climate change, businesses are increasingly focused on reducing their carbon footprint and adopting sustainable practices. This is where the “green cloud” comes in. The green cloud involves using eco-friendly technologies and practices in cloud computing, where organizations will look to investing in cooling systems that reduce energy consumption or leveraging advanced algorithms to manage workloads efficiently.
Data security remains imperative as ever. Forrester reports that cybercrime is expected to cost $12 trillion in 2025, and regulators look poised to take a more active role in protecting consumer data while organizations pivot to adopt more proactive security measures to limit material impacts. Zero trust architecture is expected to expand with its goal of requiring continuous verification of users, devices, and applications—regardless of whether they are inside or outside the network.
So much data lives in a variety of systems, and a few different architecture concepts are gaining steam. Data fabric and other innovative architectures address the complexity of data integration by seamlessly connecting disparate data sources. Implementing a data fabric architecture provides a consistent and unified view of data across various systems, whether on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments.
Data Mesh decentralizes data management, empowering domain-specific teams to own and manage their data independently. This alignment creates a more flexible, scalable, and resilient data ecosystem. It promotes decentralized data ownership and domain-oriented data management to ensure data is treated as a product. Each domain within an organization will manage its data independently, leading to more scalable and agile data management practices.
Data Mesh also promotes interoperability within enterprises, ensuring seamless communication and data sharing between different domains within an organization.
To help make the process of identifying useful products and services easier, each year, DBTA presents a list of Trend-Setting Products, highlighting a commitment to innovation and to provide organizations with tools to address changing market requirements. These products, platforms, and services range from long-established offerings that are evolving to meet the needs of their loyal constituents to breakthrough technologies that may only be in the early stages of adoption.
Beyond the list presented on the following pages, we encourage you to continue your exploration of these products by visiting the companies’ websites for more information. In addition, in this issue, we include Product Spotlight articles penned by company executives that highlight how their products stand out from the rest.