by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – INVESTMENT in data streaming technologies is rising rapidly, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a major catalyst.
A new research report from Conduktor, the intelligent data hub for streaming data and AI, shows that adoption is expanding—but so are the challenges that come with managing increasingly complex environments.
According to the study, conducted with 200 senior information technology (IT) and data leaders at companies generating at least $50 million in annual revenue, 93% of respondents now use multi-platform data streaming architectures.
Nearly eight in ten (77%) reported using more streaming platforms today than they did two years ago.
While expansion is the dominant trend, some organizations are moving in the opposite direction: 16% have consolidated their operations onto a single platform, and 7% are using fewer platforms than they did in 2023.
Data streaming has become essential for organizations seeking to improve operations, accelerate decision-making, enhance customer experiences, and connect disparate systems. It is also increasingly critical to AI readiness, serving as the real-time data backbone needed for modern AI models and applications.
However, the research highlights a significant gap: many companies lack the governance, observability, and data quality frameworks required to ensure that multiple streaming platforms function cohesively.
“Most respondents report increased use of data streaming—particularly to power AI with real-time operational data—but the unchecked growth of streaming platforms can create problems.
Organizations often end up consolidating platforms to reduce architectural complexity, cut costs, and simplify governance.
“To truly realize ROI from their streaming investments, organizations need to prioritize governance, performance, and security from the outset.”
Global market poised for strong growth
Industry analysis supports this momentum. Dataintelo estimates the global streaming data processing software market was worth USD 9.5 billion in 2023 and is on track to reach USD 23.8 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8%.
The firm attributes this growth to surging demand for real-time data handling across social media platforms, IoT ecosystems, and enterprise systems.
– CAJ News