Companies embrace DataOps software for flexible, reliable data operations to support automation, observability, business goals, new research says
Enterprises are adopting agile, responsive data processes to support trusted, reliable implementations of AI and automation, according to new research from global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III).
The ISG Buyers Guide™ for DataOps, produced by ISG Software Research, provides the rankings and ratings of more than 30 software providers and their products for the application of agile development, DevOps and lean manufacturing by data engineering professionals in support of data production. The ISG Buyers Guide™ for DataOps also addresses the development, testing, deployment and orchestration of data pipelines. The research finds that through 2027, more than half of enterprises will have adopted agile and collaborative data operations practices to be more responsive, avoid repetitive tasks and accelerate AI programs.
ISG has also published separate guides covering two other product categories related to DataOps. The ISG Buyers Guide™ for Data Observability rates and ranks 21 providers of products for the detection, resolution and prevention of data reliability issues. The ISG Buyers Guide™ for Data Products evaluates 27 providers of software for development, classification, consumption, discovery and management of data products.
"DataOps practices are increasingly essential for accelerating data-driven strategies," said Matt Aslett, director of research, Analytics and Data, for ISG Software Research. "With processes that adapt to new requirements and tools that tightly control data reliability, companies can continuously improve operations in alignment with business objectives through trusted data pipelines and data products."
DataOps represents a significant departure from traditional approaches to data management, which use rigid tools and practices for manual, batch-based practices, the research finds. It takes inspiration from DevOps, the philosophy, tools and practices used for continuous delivery of software amid constant change. DataOps enables organizations to continuously process and deliver data as application and business requirements evolve, facilitating the implementation of AI and automation.
Enterprises increasingly prioritize DataOps products that address a combination of data pipeline development, data orchestration and data observability to avoid the cost and complexity of using multiple tools, ISG finds.
Data pipeline development, testing and deployment is fundamental to effective data-driven strategies, enabling companies to take data from operational applications and transport it into platforms that enable business decision-making. Healthy data pipelines ensure data is ingested, processed and loaded in the sequence needed to generate business intelligence and AI.
As an enterprise's data sources evolve, data orchestration reduces complexity by automating and coordinating the creation, scheduling and monitoring of data pipelines, the research finds. This accelerates the flow of data and helps enterprises manage pipelines and the associated workflow. Data observability tools help to maintain data quality and trust by monitoring the quality and reliability of data flowing through pipelines.
Enterprise data initiatives developed with product thinking can generate data products, delivered as reusable assets that others can discover and consume, along with data contracts and options for consumers to give feedback. Platforms for developing data products should include dedicated interfaces for product development and classification and for self-service discovery and consumption of data products and contracts. Platforms should also allow consumers to rate data products and offer feedback.
For its 2025 ISG Buyers Guide™ for DataOps, ISG evaluated software providers across three platform categories: DataOps, Data Orchestration and Data Pipelines. A total of 29 providers were assessed: Airbyte, Alteryx, Astronomer, AWS, BMC, Boomi, Cloudera, Databricks, DataOps.live, dbt Labs, Fivetran, Gathr, Google Cloud, IBM, Informatica, K2View, Kleene, Matillion, Microsoft, Palantir, Pentaho, Qlik, Saagie, SAP, Snowflake, Stonebranch, Tencent Cloud, Workato and Zoho.
ISG Software Research rates software providers in four evaluation categories: 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 DataOps were the following:
DataOps: Pentaho was the top Overall Leader, followed by Databricks and Informatica. Pentaho was designated a Leader in three evaluation categories, Databricks in four and Informatica in three. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with Alteryx, IBM and Microsoft. DataOps.live was rated Innovative.
Data Orchestration: Databricks was the top Overall Leader, followed by Alteryx and Boomi. Databricks was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Alteryx in three and Boomi in one. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with AWS, BMC, Google Cloud, IBM, Matillion, Microsoft and Pentaho. DataOps.live and Stonebranch were rated Innovative.
Data Pipelines: Databricks was the top Overall Leader, followed by Informatica and IBM. Databricks was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Informatica in three and IBM in two. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with Alteryx, Boomi, DataOps.live, Google Cloud, Matillion, Microsoft, Pentaho and SAP. The providers rated Innovative were dbt Labs and Palantir.
For the 2025 Buyers Guide for Data Observability, a total of 19 providers were assessed: Acceldata, Actian, Anomalo, Ataccama, Bigeye, Collibra, Datadog, DataKitchen, DataOps.live, IBM, Informatica, Monte Carlo, Pentaho, Precisely, Qlik, RightData, Sifflet, Snowflake and Tencent Cloud.
The Overall Leaders of the 2025 Buyers Guide for Data Observability were the following:
Data Observability: Monte Carlo was the top Overall Leader, followed by Pentaho and Acceldata. Monte Carlo was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Pentaho in three and Acceldata in three. Actian, Collibra, DataOps.live, IBM, Monte Carlo and Pentaho were rated Exemplary. Acceldata, Anomalo, Bigeye and Datadog were rated Innovative.
For the 2025 Buyers Guide for Data Products, a total of 26 providers were assessed: Actian, Alation, Alteryx, Atlan, AWS, Collibra, Confluent, Databricks, DataGalaxy, DataOps.live, Denodo, Domo, Dremio, Harbr, IBM, Informatica, K2view, Microsoft, One Data, Palantir, Pentaho, Qlik, RightData, SAP, Snowflake and Starburst.
The Overall Leaders of the 2025 Buyers Guide for Data Products were the following:
Data Products: Databricks was the top Overall Leader, followed by Domo and Pentaho. Databricks was designated a Leader in five evaluation categories, Domo in three and Pentaho in three. All three Overall Leaders were rated Exemplary, along with Actian, Alation, Alteryx, AWS, Denodo, IBM, Informatica, Microsoft and SAP. DataOps.live was rated Innovative.
"Preparing for successful AI deployments requires timely and well managed data, from operations to observability, and DataOps tools are crucial to making this available," said Mark Smith, partner and chief software analyst, ISG Software Research. "This research provides the insight and knowledge to understand DataOps products based on research and analysis from subject matter experts, and it provides ratings and rankings to assess existing and future software providers."
The ISG Buyers Guides™ for DataOps, Data Observability and Data Products are distillations 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 DataOps, Data Observability and Data Products and read executive summaries of each of the three 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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