Systems | Development | Analytics | API | Testing

Welcome back to our ongoing series on strategies for gaining an unfair advantage. So far, we’ve explored how leveraging the tech ecosystem, overcoming adversity, unlocking hidden value in data, fostering great partnerships, and balancing risk with reward can set your organization apart. Each topic has offered actionable insights and real-world examples to help you stay ahead.

I’ve been on both sides of the table, as a CIO shaping enterprise strategy and now as a CEO delivering outcomes for thousands of customers. And one belief has never changed: your data should serve your business, not someone else’s agenda. That belief matters now more than ever. Salesforce’s intent to acquire Informatica is the latest signal of a growing trend: consolidation over choice.

Today’s savviest business organizations rightfully recognize data as an essential asset. However, measuring data value across the entire data estate is challenging due to its inherent complexity. By breaking data down into smaller units that are business-outcome centric — data products — organizations can more accurately and reliably assess their value.

After two weeks of immersion at the Databricks Data + AI Summit and Snowflake Summit, it’s clear that the pace of innovation is accelerating faster than ever. Both events showcased groundbreaking advancements in AI, data orchestration, and table formats, with Iceberg, catalogs, and hybrid customer personas emerging as the key themes. Below are some analysis on the trends shaping the modern data ecosystem.

Qlik has just been recognized - for the 15th year - as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms, and I am delighted to confirm Qlik is moving further up and to the right. The message is clear: we’re executing on the right vision, and the market is taking notice. It’s also driven by a commitment to innovation, trust, and above all, our customers.

As a product leader, you're always looking for ways to stay ahead of the curve, meet evolving customer needs, and keep your product competitive. But with tight budgets, growing pressure to innovate, and constantly changing demands, it’s not always easy. Embedding AI-powered analytics into your application can be a powerful way to overcome these challenges and add more value for your users. But why is this approach so crucial, and how can you implement it effectively?

Using Business Intelligence (BI) tools can be overwhelming—especially for company executives, shopkeepers, or factory workers who may only engage with them occasionally. This challenge is one of the key reasons we set out to rethink how most users interact with their data. Rather than relying solely on interactive dashboards or static PDF reports, we're exploring more intuitive and user-guided approaches.