Whether in the training of AI models, the intelligent use of renewable energies or research into personalized medicines - data is becoming increasingly important for business and society. Nevertheless, the exchange of data remains largely underrepresented. A recent survey by Bitkom shows that the majority of German companies still leave their data unused.
According to the survey, only 6% assume that they are fully exploiting the potential of the data available to them. 31% exploit it to a rather large extent, 42% to a rather small extent and 18% believe that they do not exploit the potential at all. Accordingly, only 7% of German companies see themselves as pioneers in data-driven business models (2023: 9%), a quarter (26%, 2023: 23%) are in the middle of the field, a third (32%, 2023: 31%) are among the laggards and a fifth (19%, 2023: 21%) believe they have missed the boat. 15% have not yet addressed the issue at all. These are the results of a representative survey of 603 companies with 20 or more employees from all sectors of the economy commissioned by the digital association Bitkom.
"Data and its use are crucial for future competitiveness. Future technologies such as artificial intelligence will only be effective if they can use the necessary data," says Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst. "The German economy must use and exploit its data so that third parties do not fill the gap and push their way into the value chain. The development of a German data economy is an important contribution to digital sovereignty."
Companies hardly benefit from data
Many companies want to develop digital business models in the coming years. Today, data-driven business models contribute exclusively to business success in only 2% of companies and very strongly in 5%. In the next two years, 7% and 15% respectively want to be at this stage. The proportion of companies where data-driven business models contribute rather strongly to success is expected to rise from 22% to 31%. Conversely, only 15% assume that they will not have a data-driven business model at all in 2026, compared to 24% today. However, one in ten companies (10%, currently: 19%) will still only have very low shares in two years' time, while 21% will have rather low shares (currently: 30%).
"In two years' time, more than half of companies want to benefit greatly from data - that would be twice as many as today. We must achieve this goal together and, if possible, even exceed it. We need our own data ecosystem for the German and European economy," says Wintergerst.
Willingness to share data is decreasing
An important contribution to a successful data economy is the exchange of data with other companies. However, while the demand for data is increasing, the supply is barely growing. Between 2022 and 2024, the proportion of companies that use data from others as data recipients rose from 22% to 30% to 36%. In contrast, the proportion of data providers among companies stagnated at 17% and even fell by 4% in 2023 compared to 2022. "The data economy is a market with rapidly increasing demand and stagnating supply. It won't work like this in the long term. Making data available must be made easy for companies and it must be worthwhile for them. Regulatory hurdles are detrimental here," says Wintergerst.
When companies that do not yet offer data sharing are asked for the reasons, the most common reason given (58%) is data protection, which does not allow sharing. 44% are unsure whether sharing is legally possible - and therefore refrain from doing so altogether. A similar number (41%) are worried that data could be used against their will. A third (33%) complain about a lack of data compatibility, while a fifth are concerned that business secrets could be inadvertently passed on (21%) or do not want to strengthen their competitors (18%). 16% are concerned that hostile states could use the data, 15% do not know any suitable partners for data exchange, for 14% it is not economically attractive and 11% have difficulties in reaching agreements with potential partners.
Data rooms reduce hurdles and concerns
Conversely, companies that act as data providers do so for very different reasons. Almost half (47%) want to help find better solutions to social challenges, for example. Around a third (30%) state that they are obliged to provide data. However, the majority (52%) share data in order to benefit from it: 47% say they get data from others themselves in this way, 37% are able to gain new customers and 34% make revenue by offering data. 13% reduce their costs by providing data.
"Data altruism certainly plays a role for some companies. However, many companies themselves benefit directly from offering data," says Wintergerst.
Two thirds (65%) of companies that both offer and receive data state that this contributes very strongly to their business success, while for a further 21% this is somewhat the case. For companies that only offer data, the figures are 11% and 42% respectively, and for those that only receive data, the figures are 34% and 1% respectively.
"Data rooms break down existing barriers and concerns when exchanging data. They bring partners together in a secure environment," says Wintergerst. "Catena-X in the mobility sector or Manufacturing-X for industry show what this can look like."
A third of companies consider data rooms to be irrelevant
However, the business community is still divided when it comes to data rooms. Around half (49%) of companies believe that data rooms will promote the use of artificial intelligence. And half (50%) also see a data room as an interesting addition to other data exchange options, while 39% even believe that data rooms will open up completely new business opportunities for them. However, a third (32%) consider data rooms to be irrelevant for their own business model, while a fifth (22%) even say that data rooms would threaten their own business model. And 42% consider data rooms to be too complicated for use in companies.
Yet data rooms could become much more important for the German economy in the coming years. 11% of companies currently use them, but 17% are planning to use them and a further 17% are discussing this. 39% state that data rooms are not an issue for their own company and 13% have never heard of them. Wintergerst. "We need to make the opportunities of data rooms even clearer. It is undisputed among experts that functioning data rooms bring enormous benefits."
It is now also clear where the main applications of data rooms are for the economy. The vast majority of companies that use them or plan to do so state that they enable improved supply chain management (87%). Two years ago, the figure was 78%. Two thirds (67%) can fulfill transparency obligations with data rooms, compared to only 32% two years ago. Other use cases include improving the performance of their own products or services (54%, 2022: 67%), developing new products or services (47%, 2022: 47%) and optimizing the manufacturing process (36%, 2022: 19%). 16% of companies see data rooms as an opportunity for training AI models.
Further information can be found at www.bitkom.org.
