3 Data Trends For The New Financial Year

The past few years have reshaped how we work, connect, and make decisions.

While the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, its legacy remains in how businesses approach data, agility, and digital transformation.

As we progress through the 2025-2026 financial year, data continues to be the lifeblood of strategic decision-making. In our fast-paced data-driven environment we need information quickly, and must be able to adapt the way we work seamlessly.

According to the ICO, data protection will not stop you doing that. It’s about being proportionate – if something feels excessive from the public’s point of view, then it probably is.

Yet challenges still persist…

According to recent reports, only 21% of organisations feel confident in their ability to extract meaningful insights from data, and even fewer believe those insights directly impact sales performance. With data still considered as the new oil, here are three key trends to watch out for this year.

1. Data Privacy and Synthetic Data

Unsurprisingly, data privacy and security remains a priority. Therefore, we feel it only right to make it our number one on our list of data trends. Data privacy and security remains a top priority for all businesses in all vertcials – but the conversation has evolved.

In April, the UK’s Legal Aid Agency suffered a major cyberattack that exposed sensitive personal data – including contact details, criminal records, and financial information. The breach caused widespread disruption to legal aid services and payments, prompting the Ministry of Justice to notify the ICO and implement emergency contingency measures.

Ensuring you have sufficient data privacy and security measures in place will give your customers and prospects peace of mind when it comes to handing over their data.

Outlining this in your privacy policy and during product promotion are just two of the ways you can do this.

With increasing regulation and consumer scrutiny, businesses are turning to synthetic data as a privacy-preserving alternative to real datasets. Synthetic data mimics real-world patterns without exposing personal information, making it ideal for training AI models and testing systems without breaching compliance.

This shift is driven by growing concerns over data misuse and the need to balance innovation with trust. Outlining your privacy practices clearly – both in your policies and marketing – remains essential.

It is predicted that by 2027, 60% of analytics and data leaders will face critical failures in managing synthetic data, risking model accuracy and AI governance.

2. Data Veracity and Decay

The accuracy and reliability of data – its veracity – is more critical than ever.

With an estimated 30% of B2B data decaying annually due to job changes, company closures, and address changes, businesses must invest in continuous Data Cleansing and Enrichment.

Since the enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, there has been a sharp increase in the importance of trust and businesses ensuring data integrity.

Inaccurate data doesn’t just erode trust – it leads to flawed insights and poor decision-making. Regular validation, especially of contact and address data, is essential for maintaining operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Check out this blog to discover the causes, consequences and cures of Data Decay!

3. AI-Driven Cloud Intelligence

Cloud adoption is no longer just about storage – it’s about intelligent infrastructure. In 2025, cloud platforms are increasingly integrated with AI tools that offer real-time insights, automated reporting, and predictive analytics.

This convergence is enabling businesses of all sizes to make faster, smarter decisions. However, cloud migration remains a hurdle for many.

Outsourcing cloud data management or adopting low-code platforms can ease the transition and unlock the full potential of cloud-based intelligence. By the year 2027, half of business decisions will be automated or augmented by AI agents.

Final Thoughts

As we navigate the next financial year, one thing is clear: data is no longer just a by-product of business – it’s the engine.

Whether you’re refining your privacy practices, cleansing your databases, or embracing AI-powered cloud tools, staying ahead of these trends will help you build trust, drive efficiency, and remain competitive.

Hopewiser Can Help You Master These Trends

We’ve been in the game a long time, but we’ve kept up-to-date with the latest data trends along the way.

Hopewiser understands the importance of privacy and security, hence why we have strict policies in place with regard to the data we manage on behalf of our clients.

Our top-of-the-range solutions can be tailor-made to suit your needs, helping you achieve that all important 20:20 view of your database.