**Global**: Alteryx’s new research reveals a shift in the data analyst role, with 70% noting efficiency gains from AI, while 76% still rely on spreadsheets. The insights highlight the transformative impact of AI in the workplace, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Alteryx, Inc., a prominent AI platform focusing on enterprise analytics, has released significant research revealing the changing landscape of the data analyst’s role in a rapidly evolving digital environment. The report, titled “The 2025 State of the Data Analyst in the Age of AI,” was published on 19 February 2025 and encompassed insights from 1,400 data, IT, and operations analysts across five major industries worldwide.
The findings demonstrate a pronounced shift towards a more strategic role for data analysts, driven largely by the adoption of AI and analytics automation. Notably, the research indicates that 70% of analysts recognise enhancements in effectiveness and efficiency due to these technologies, with 76% of analysts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supporting this sentiment.
Despite this growing dependence on AI tools for analytics, a significant reliance on traditional spreadsheet software remains evident. Approximately 76% of analysts still utilise spreadsheets for data preparation tasks, illustrating a synergy of old and new methodologies and highlighting potential inefficiencies in data management processes. In fact, nearly half of the surveyed professionals admitted to spending over six hours weekly on data cleansing and preparation—tasks that can hinder productivity and the overall quality of AI-generated insights.
In the Middle East, the transformation attributed to AI technologies is striking, with nine out of ten respondents stating that AI has altered their work within the last year. The figures are slightly higher in the UAE, where 93% affirm this transformation, and in Saudi Arabia, where 91% concur. Globally, 94% of analysts believe that their work has significant implications for strategic decision-making, with 87% noting a growing influence in business outcomes over the past years.
While the integration of AI presents new opportunities for organisational growth, analysts exhibit a remarkable level of optimism about their future career trajectories. Only 17% expressed deep concerns about AI potentially replacing their roles, with 90% anticipating that AI will facilitate career advancement. This optimism is particularly strong among analysts in Saudi Arabia, where only 9% view job displacement as a pressing anxiety.
Jay Henderson, Senior Vice President of Product at Alteryx, articulated the clear implications of the findings, stating, “For data analysts, the results are crystal clear. Leveraging AI as an everyday tool has boosted job satisfaction and reclaimed valuable hours for analysts.” He emphasised the necessity for organisations to optimise these productivity gains through a robust technological framework that manages advanced AI applications effectively. Henderson highlighted the importance of ensuring data workers have the necessary tools to validate confidence in AI outputs.
This comprehensive research was administered by Coleman Parkes from November to December 2024 and included responses from a balanced representation of analysts across regions such as the Americas, EMEA, and APJ, covering industries including banking, insurance, manufacturing, retail, and public sector or education. For a more detailed exploration of the evolving landscape of data analysts, Alteryx invites interested parties to download the complete report.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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