Key Takeaways
- Integrated delivery transforms IBISWorld data from a standalone research resource into a core part of client workflows.
- Automation and APIs allow firms to access industry intelligence faster, more consistently, and inside the tools they already use.
- As organizations adopt AI driven operations, structured and governed data becomes essential for confident decision making, and IBISWorld is evolving to meet that need.
Every organization is rethinking how work is completed. Manual research steps that once felt acceptable now slow teams down, and the firms that move fastest are the ones that treat data as infrastructure rather than a separate task. That shift is reshaping expectations for industry intelligence and creating new opportunities for businesses to meet clients where they work.
At IBISWorld, we have been evolving toward this moment for decades. Our journey has taken us from printed reports, to floppy disks, to an online platform, and now to a future where our data becomes part of a client’s broader information fabric. APIs and third-party integrations are at the center of that shift. They allow our data to deliver value immediately and sustainably inside client workflows rather than as a separate, disjointed step.
To explore how this transition is unfolding in practice, I sat down with my colleague Kesha Nelson-Cofie, Director of Client Engagement, who brings a front-line view from hundreds of conversations with firms undergoing AI-driven innovation. She shared what clients are asking for, how integrated delivery changes the experience, and why this shift moves IBISWorld from being a research provider to a true data partner.
Kelsi Cleary-Hammarstedt: Hi Kesha, we know that IBISWorld has gone through so many evolutions over the years, from printed reports to floppy disks to our online platform. Now, we’re moving toward offline and integrated delivery. Why is this the next step?
Kesha Nelson-Cofie: When Phil Ruthven first had a vision for IBISWorld, he knew then that the seed he planted would grow into a mighty tree. Over the years, the distribution of IBISWorld’s reports has evolved from the age-old floppy disk to an online interactive platform. Today, we’re looking at shifting the user experience from a manual workflow (downloading reports) to an automated and customized interface using API or third-party integration. In the age of AI, workflow automation, efficiency and accuracy of data are key to empowering strategic initiatives worldwide. We recognize that static workflows are becoming outdated, and technology empowers dynamic collaboration across teams through improved insights and data analysis. We want to support our clients through each stage of their digital transformation journey.
KCH: From your client conversations, what’s driving the demand for integrated data delivery?
KNC: Improving client relationships and strengthening go to market strategy was the driving force behind integrated data delivery. While at the AICPA conference earlier this year, AI was the main topic of discussion with many engaging in conversation on how to become AI ready in today’s world. The resounding belief is that those who do not move with the times will ultimately be left behind. Therefore, the debate of “make vs. buy" ultimately creates the roadmap for which application a firm may create or invest in through a third party. The easiest choice is to invest in vendors that provide a unique AI service. This saves developer hours and is more effective when deploying AI across an organization. Improving workflows by automating repeat tasks and streamlining research processes will position professionals to have more value-added discussions with clients. AI automation will help dedicate hours toward improving client relationships.
KCH: What types of systems and workflows do you see clients wanting to integrate our data into? What does a successful integration look like in practice?
KNC: There’s much to unpack in today’s world with the introduction of many new AI applications. Most clients want to put systems in place that will provide them with competitive insights on demand. An example of that is where my client uses API for prospecting and new business development. Rather than downloading and summarizing thousands of reports, the data engineer pools data from IBISWorld and maps it against the firm’s client footprint. They create a dashboard by region that looks at the top industries in a given state or county and alongside their growth rates and number of establishments. This dashboard quickly gives advisors and sales professionals ideas on who and where to target. This is a phenomenal way to assess areas where you have influence and regions where you can improve your go to market strategy.
KCH: What are the most significant benefits you see to data integration with IBISWorld?
KNC: Time is our most valuable commodity. In my 7 years at IBISWorld, I’ve met a handful of folks who read our reports front to back. Our reports are loaded with useful information, but at times it can be hard to digest all of it, so some features are overlooked because people simply don’t get around to it. When done manually, a user will have to use their online account and open several tabs at once to download separate reports. Thereafter, manually combining the intel from each report to create a comprehensive analysis.
Data integration allows professionals to surface multiple reports and extract the most relevant insights. This gives researchers the flexibility to create a customized output tailored to a unique goal or preference. For example, a corporate strategy professional would be able to assess industry risk exposure by using API or third-party party integration to pull sections from our industry risk, state, and national reports into a custom publication that is readily available. With monthly updates to our content, this information would equip professionals with key information on their client’s changing operating environments. As it relates to automation, data integration helps improve workflows, internal communication, and visibility into market trends.
KCH: Reliability and governance are major priorities for data teams—how does IBISWorld approach those concerns?
KNC: We’re comprehensively structuring and cleaning our data in preparation for data partnerships with clients who are building their own LLMs or leveraging other third-party AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot. By structuring our data, we’re thoroughly defining each datapoint so that it is responsive to user prompts through the LLM. Natural Language Processing depends on accurate and descriptive data, so with our human-backed analytics, we’re prepared to sync with these systems and pool in our data insights.
KCH: How are forward-looking clients using integrations to prepare for automation and AI-driven workflows?
KNC: Everyone’s familiarity with AI varies. You have those who are early adopters and have become very proficient in prompting as well as those who are more hesitant to use AI because of data sourcing. Firms are investing heavily in AI security and data verification because speed doesn’t always equal quality, and most are hesitant to put their brand at risk. Microsoft Copilot is seemingly the go-to AI resource for numerous organizations. Which makes sense considering that most professionals use Office applications, and Microsoft has a stringent AI strategy. This removes a lot of the guesswork for firms who are onboarding AI resources. I’ve seen Copilot rolled out successfully at a number of firms who advocate cross department collaboration. This has been done through the establishment of pilot groups, AI support teams, and noted prompt engineers. For those that declare themselves champions of AI, this point of distinction has led to improved firmwide adoption.
KCH: What’s one thing you want every client to know about what’s possible with IBISWorld’s data when it’s fully integrated into their systems and workflows?
KNC: Data integration opens up a world of possibility. You might uncover growth opportunities in industries that may not have been on your radar as well as get ahead of impending risk due to external factors. Data integration allows you to view the industry through a customized lens using insights across all of our collections. This will give you a full scope of the supply chain and operating environment. It’s amazing to see how clients can use our data to create custom reports for leadership, insightful dashboards for strategic planning, and marketing materials for client engagement. No matter how you slice it, IBISWorld is a piece of the pie.
Final Word
What Kesha describes is more than a change in delivery. It’s a change in identity. As client workflows become more automated and AI enabled, industry intelligence must be structured, governed, and integrated in ways that support those systems. That is the future we are building toward.
Becoming a true data partner means ensuring our insights are not something clients access separately from their work, but something that informs every decision inside their environment. It means meeting users where they are, supporting data teams as they scale, and giving analysts and advisors the confidence that IBISWorld’s intelligence will remain reliable as their workflows become more dynamic.
Our long-term vision is simple. IBISWorld data should move with the speed of our clients. APIs and integrations are how we make that possible. They allow us to connect our human backed analytics with the automation and intelligence layers that firms are investing in today.
We have always been committed to helping organizations make better decisions. Now we are focused on helping them make those decisions faster, more consistently, and with the full power of our data embedded directly into the tools they trust.
