AI is Key, Integration is More Difficult: Alteryx Survey

Despite heavy investment in AI, most organizations are failing to move beyond AI pilot programs, held back by low trust in AI outputs, poor data quality and legacy technology that can’t support scale, according to a new study from data analytics software company Alteryx. 

The research finds a growing disconnect between AI ambition and real-world impact. 

“I wouldn’t say we were surprised—but I do think the findings are clarifying,” Andy MacMillan, CEO of Irvine-based Alteryx, told the Business Journal on Feb. 20. 

While nearly half of respondents said they trust AI to automate repetitive tasks, draft content and monitor systems, fewer trust it for strategic decisions. 

The survey was conducted by the research agency Coleman Parkes from August to September of last year and quizzed 1,400 business leaders and IT decision-makers globally. 

Stalled AI Initiatives 

“Organizations are piloting AI, yet only 23% have successfully scaled most of those pilots into production. And just 28% fully trust AI to support decision-making,” MacMillan said. 

Together, the findings point to a deeper issue behind stalled AI initiatives: trust breaks down when AI is deployed without the business context and logic needed to produce consistent, explainable results, according to the study. 

“Many organizations are layering generative AI directly on top of raw data sources, leading to hallucinations, inconsistent outputs, and responses that change from one query to the next, undermining confidence in AI for real business decisions,” according to the study released on Feb. 11. 

AI, Data Analytics Inseparable 

“What the research makes clear is that AI performance is inseparable from data and analytics foundations,” MacMillan said. 

“So this isn’t about shifting away from analytics. It’s about embedding AI into analytics workflows.” 

MacMillan said Alteryx focuses on “strengthening the data foundation AI depends on, embedding AI capabilities into structured analytics workflows, and reducing complexity as organizations orchestrate more intelligent systems.” 

“AI doesn’t replace analytics. It amplifies it when the foundation is strong,” according to MacMillan, who emphasizes that “the ambition is there’’ for further AI use. 

Alteryx says its AI-ready data and analytics power actionable insights to help organizations drive smarter, faster decisions. More than 8,000 customers worldwide use Alteryx to automate analytics, improve revenue performance, manage costs and mitigate risk across their businesses. 

Alteryx Copilot Availability 

In December, Alteryx announced the general availability of Alteryx Copilot and new Generative AI-powered tools in the Alteryx One platform. The company says the new capabilities help data and business analysts work more efficiently by automating routine tasks and bringing advanced large language models directly into analytics workflows. 

Alteryx will hold its annual Inspire 2026 conference for AI and analytics from May 18 to 21 in Orlando, Florida. 

The company was co-founded in 1997 by OC entrepreneur Dean Stoecker and became a darling of investors after its public listing. It was taken back into private ownership two years ago.