Analytics software is becoming the foundation of AI-enabled workflows that not only interpret data and make recommendations but help to execute actions, according to new research from global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG) .
Analytics and business intelligence software increasingly run on AI. By 2028, almost all providers will use AI agents to automate and accelerate analytics processes. This trend is transforming and quickly expanding how enterprises analyze and use data.
The 2026 ISG Buyers Guides for Analytics report that AI and machine learning are now standard capabilities for generating insights that are delivered through business intelligence tools. With agentic AI, these systems are beginning to link analysis directly to execution by coordinating actions required to implement decisions.
"Analytics and business intelligence software increasingly run on AI," said Kathy Rudy, partner, ISG Data, Analytics and Technology Office. "By 2028, almost all providers will use AI agents to automate and accelerate analytics processes. This trend is transforming and quickly expanding how enterprises analyze and use data."
The ISG Buyers Guide research provides the rankings and ratings of 60 software providers and their products for enabling organizations to use data for tactical and strategic purposes. The series includes guides to AI-based analytics software, platforms for healthcare, manufacturing and retail organizations and products from emerging providers.
Advances in computing power over several decades have made analytics software more interactive and able to process larger datasets, ISG says. In step with this evolution, enterprise needs have grown from reporting aggregated information to planning, forecasting and using new forms of visualization. Analytics is used in a growing range of activities, including cost monitoring, supplier performance evaluation and development of staffing plans.
AI and ML are extending the capabilities of analytics software in several areas, the research finds. Generative AI helps enterprises streamline data preparation, the most time-consuming step in analytics, with self-service tools that suggest ways to construct semantic models and combine datasets. Natural language interfaces, copilots and AI-based assistants allow non-technical users to generate insights.
Enterprises selecting analytics platforms for any industry should evaluate both fundamental analytics capabilities and AI-enabled decision support, ISG says. Key considerations should include data preparation, collaboration features, embedded analytics and integration with other systems.
"With the growing use of agents, AI is changing data analysis from something users request to an automated source of insights," said David Menninger, executive director and distinguished analyst, ISG. "Enterprises should understand this potential while ensuring trust in analytics-driven decisions."
For the 2026 ISG Buyers Guides for Analytics, ISG produced six Buyers Guides. Oracle was the top Overall Leader in all the Buyers Guides covering established providers. In Analytics, Oracle was followed by Domo and IBM. In AI Analytics, followed by IBM and AWS. In Healthcare Analytics, followed by InterSystems and SAS. In Manufacturing Analytics, followed by Microsoft and SAP. In Retail Analytics, followed by SAP and Infor. In Analytics Emerging Providers, Kyvos was top Overall Leader, followed by Sigma and Hex.
About ISG
ISG 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 and research, in-depth knowledge and governance of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,500 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.
