Gartner Data & Analytics Summit 2026 India: Day 1 Highlights

We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner Data & Analytics Summit, taking place this week in Mumbai, India. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference.

On Day 1 of the conference, we are highlighting Gartner’s opening keynote presentation on navigating AI in the data and analytics (D&A) journey to value, exploring the future of D&A through 2030, and sharing actionable data governance strategies in seven easy steps. Be sure to check this page throughout the day for updates.

Presented by Robert Thanaraj, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner, and Gareth Herschel, VP Analyst, Gartner 

AI is accelerating new possibilities for data and analytics. Robert Thanaraj, Sr Director Analyst, and Gareth Herschel, VP Analyst at Gartner, discussed how a thoughtful approach to speed, direction and managing uncertainties help D&A leaders derive value from AI.

• “In 2025, the odds of an AI initiative achieving a return on investment (ROI) were only one in five.”

• “The most common ROI roadblocks include a lack of understanding of costs, an inability to scale effectively, and insufficient data quality. Without these strong foundations, AI will remain what it is for most organizations today: a costly experiment.”

• Value is often measured using ROI, which D&A leaders need to think of as more than just a financial measure. There are three ways to derive value from AI: 

  • Set AI ambition, providing a return on intelligence.

  • Strengthen AI foundations to achieve a return on integrity.

  • Empower people for AI transformation, contributing to a return on individuals.

• “There are two ways to reduce AI risk. First, organizations can prevent the exposure of inappropriate data to AI systems or LLMs through AI governance. Second, they can reduce inaccuracies, misunderstandings and hallucinations with a well-designed context layer. These initial steps help ensure that data is AI-ready, trusted and aligned with intended use cases.”

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with Robert Thanaraj or Gareth Herschel by contacting Sonika Choubey at sonika.choubey@gartner.com.

Presented by Deepak Seth, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner

Data and analytics (D&A) leaders play a central role in their organization’s AI success by providing the critical accelerants needed to realize value from AI. In this session, Deepak Seth, Sr Director Analyst at Gartner, highlighted three shifts D&A leaders need to make to sustain AI value.

• “Chief data and analytics officers (CDAOs) and other D&A leaders play a critical role in AI success or risk failure.”

• “Through 2030, responding to this imperative will require shifts in how the D&A team organizes and works, builds and scales and creates value.”

• Shift #1: Create Value Compounding through Agentic Transformation

• “Become an AI‑first D&A organization. This starts with an explicit AI ambition — one that uses AI to transform, not simply optimize, business and operating models.” 

• Shift #2: Treat Context as Critical Infrastructure 

• “Evolve your data foundation with context as critical infrastructure so AI agents operate with trusted situational awareness. D&A success is not about better models — it is about giving agents governed, contextual access to the right data.”   

• Shift #3: Establish Trust as Catalyst of Value and Innovation​

•  “Without trust in the data, outputs and decisions of AI models and agents, there is no value from AI.” 

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with Deepak Seth by contacting Sonika Choubey at sonika.choubey@gartner.com.

Presented by Anurag Raj, Director Analyst, Gartner

There are key reasons why organizations struggle with effective data governance. In this session, Anurag Raj, Director Analyst at Gartner, examined what consistently goes wrong and shared seven practical recommendations to help organizations make data governance programs more effective, sustainable, and business outcome-driven.

• AI has significantly amplified the importance of getting data governance foundations right.

• The seven key actions for strengthening data governance include: 

• Know your WHY. “Start with clear business outcomes and priorities”

• Deliver incremental value. “Focus on achieving measurable business value step by step.”

• Rebrand governance as a team sport. “Make governance a shared business and IT responsibility.”

• Embed governance and culture into business workstreams.  “Make governance part of everyday operations.”

• Focus on governance meeting agendas. “Keep governance meetings targeted and outcome oriented.”

• Build on existing processes. “Formalize and strengthen work already being done.” 

• Value contributions by celebrating wins. “Recognize impact and celebrate data stewardship efforts.”

Learn more in the Gartner press release "Gartner Predicts 60% of Organizations That Ignore Data Governance Culture Challenges Will Fail to Govern AI Successfully by 2027."