New research highlights a significant gap between having data and using it to generate insight. 

Businesses have access to more data than ever before. But having data and making effective use of it are two very different things. 

New findings from the UK Government’s Business Data Survey 2026 highlight the scale of the opportunity. The survey found that 86% of UK businesses handle digitised data, rising to 93% among businesses with employees. 

From data to insight 
The findings raise an important question for organisations: 

If your business already has the data, are you using it to understand what is happening – or to decide what happens next? 

Most organisations routinely use data to report performance. 

– Sales increased. 
– Costs fell. 
– Productivity changed. 
– Quality improved. 
– Customer complaints reduced. 

This information is important. But it primarily tells us about the past. 

In Ireland, the latest Central Statistics Office data shows that 20.2% of enterprises were using AI in 2025, up from 15.2% in 2024. More than a quarter of Irish enterprises were also using transaction records for data analytics. 

In the UK, the latest Office for National Statistics analysis shows that businesses are most commonly developing AI capability by training or retraining existing employees. Yet only 11% of businesses with 10 or more employees reported that more than half of their workforce had received AI-related training. 

This points to an important distinction. 

AI can process enormous amounts of information. It can identify patterns, summarise information and support analysis. 

But it does not remove the need for people who can ask whether the underlying data is reliable, understand what the information means, challenge the conclusions and decide what action should follow.

At the Centre for Competitiveness, our tailored Data Literacy Programme helps organisations develop these practical capabilities, connecting data skills to real business challenges and decision-making. 

Your data tells you what happened. Can it help you decide what’s next? 

We explore this question in more detail in our latest Knowledge Hub article: 

“Your Data Tells You What Happened. Can It Help You Decide What’s Next?” 

Is your organisation using data to report performance — or to shape what happens next? 

Talk to us about our tailored Data Literacy Programme. Contact us.