Every organization wants the same thing when it comes to data: fewer clicks, fewer silos, and faster access to insights. As teams are asked to deliver more analysis across more industries, the way data is accessed and integrated has become just as important as the data itself.
That was the focus of a recent IBISWorld conversation featuring Matt Murphy, Senior Vice President of Client Advocacy at IBISWorld, and Andrew Eberhart, Data Analytics Manager at BDO USA. The conversation explored how BDO uses IBISWorld’s API to streamline reporting, scale industry research, and deliver insights more efficiently across the organization.
Watch the full discussion video below to hear directly from BDO USA about their API implementation journey and the impact it’s had on their reporting workflows.
Why are we talking about this?
Data teams today face a growing challenge: the breadth of requests continues to expand, while expectations around speed and consistency keep rising.
At BDO, Andrew and his team support a wide range of internal stakeholders by combining internal data with external sources to guide decision-making. With BDO operating across many industries, their research needs to be both broad and deep; covering qualitative insights, quantitative metrics and consistent industry benchmarks.
While IBISWorld data was already part of BDO’s reporting process, pulling that information together manually at scale became increasingly difficult. Stakeholders wanted consistent “state of the industry” insights embedded directly into dashboards and reports. That’s what prompted the shift toward API.
From standalone data to scalable integration
Once BDO began exploring IBISWorld’s API, the focus quickly turned to efficiency and scalability.
Andrew describes how the team worked through the initial setup — aligning IBISWorld’s industry classifications with BDO’s internal systems and establishing best practices for API usage.
By integrating IBISWorld data directly into their database:
- Industry insights could be reused across multiple reports
- Dashboards became dynamic and filterable by industry and location
- Teams could export insights directly into PowerPoint for client-ready presentations
What started as a proof of concept soon became a foundational part of BDO’s reporting ecosystem. Instead of a single standalone dashboard, IBISWorld data is now embedded across nearly all reporting outputs.
By pulling industry data directly into dashboards via API, BDO significantly reduced the time spent navigating multiple platforms or manually compiling data. That compressed timeframe allows the team to focus on deeper analysis and incorporate additional sources where needed.
At the same time, both IBISWorld and BDO emphasize the importance of human-verified data. Even with automation and APIs, trust remains critical — especially when insights are used to guide strategic decisions and client conversations.
Final Word
API integration isn’t just about convenience — it’s about enabling teams to work faster, scale insights and deliver consistent,
trusted intelligence across the organization. As BDO’s experience shows, when industry data is embedded directly into dashboards and reporting workflows, it becomes easier to respond to requests, support stakeholders, and focus on higher-value analysis.
Watch the full conversation to learn how BDO USA implemented IBISWorld’s API and how your organization can do the same.
