Leaders Are Losing Faith in Their Own Data
Across industries, one worry keeps surfacing: can leaders trust the data inside their own walls? A recent study says nearly all of them—99%—have doubts. The message behind that number is straightforward. When the tech stack connects cleanly, trust in data rises. When it doesn’t, skepticism spreads. The pattern shows up in companies of every shape and size, pointing to deeper problems that organizations can’t ignore much longer.
Why Trust Breaks Down
The research points to several common culprits. First, 38% of respondents say they’re living with “different versions of the truth”—reports that don’t match, dashboards that disagree, and numbers that vary by team or tool. Another 32% cite conflicting data management practices: different processes, definitions, and rules that don’t line up. And 31% call out unreliable hardware, which turns everyday work—collecting, storing, or moving data—into a source of uncertainty. Put together, these issues clog decision-making, stall strategy, and make it harder for leaders to act with confidence.
Company Size Shapes Data Literacy
Data mistrust doesn’t hit every organization the same way. Smaller companies, in particular, feel the strain around data literacy. In firms with annual revenue between $10 million and $50 million, 40% of employees struggle to understand and use data in their day-to-day roles. At the other end of the spectrum, only 21% of employees in companies with $10 billion or more in revenue report the same challenge. The takeaway: training and support can’t be one-size-fits-all. The mix of tools, processes, and learning paths needs to match the scale and maturity of the business.
The Connectivity Gap—and the Chance It Presents
Here’s the opening. Only 5% of leaders say their organizations have truly seamless technology connectivity. That’s a small number and a big opportunity. When systems, devices, and apps talk to each other without friction, data becomes easier to find, simpler to trust, and quicker to put to work. Better connectivity doesn’t just polish the plumbing. It reshapes how teams operate—from product development to HR—and nudges the entire organization toward faster, more reliable execution.
What Better Connectivity Delivers
Leaders aren’t guessing about the upside. Asked what improved connectivity would bring, 80% point to stronger customer interactions and higher satisfaction. Another 81% link it to greater innovation—more room to experiment and iterate. And 82% say it helps leaders and teams make decisions with more thought and less second-guessing. Perhaps most telling, 86% see connectivity as essential to retaining employees. When people have the tools and access they need, they tend to stay, contribute, and grow.
Connectivity and Business Outperformance
The study draws a clear line between connectivity and results. Among organizations with excellent connectivity, 33% of leaders say they’re at the front of the pack on financial performance in their sector. For those with merely good connectivity, that figure drops to 16%. The edge extends beyond the balance sheet, too. A full 61% of leaders believe that superior connectivity confers a competitive advantage—helping them move faster, respond sooner, and deliver more reliably than peers.
Connectivity Also Fortifies Cyber Defense
Resilience shows up on the security front as well. Of the organizations with excellent connectivity, 38% are seen as leaders in cybersecurity performance. Compare that with 22% among those with good—but not great—connectivity. The implication is practical. When systems are integrated and consistently managed, it’s easier to monitor threats, close gaps, and respond. Connectivity, in other words, lifts both day-to-day performance and the ability to withstand cyber pressure.
What’s Getting in the Way
If the benefits are so clear, why isn’t connectivity universal? Among organizations that consider their connectivity “good,” 30% point to interdepartmental differences—competing priorities, separate budgets, or siloed workflows—as the main brake. Another 27% struggle to prove the return on investment for connectivity projects, making it harder to secure funding and momentum. Interestingly, the companies with excellent connectivity face a different headwind: cybersecurity concerns. For 24% of them, security is both the challenge to solve and the reason to keep advancing.
How Organizations Can Move Forward
Connection across devices, applications, and systems doesn’t just tidy up the tech stack. It changes how work happens. When people can reach the information and support they need—on any device, at any time—bottlenecks ease. Disagreements over whose numbers are “right” lose their sting. And the trust that’s been missing starts to rebuild, because people are looking at the same data, in the same way, with the same context.
That path takes time. As Mei Dent, Chief Product and Technology Officer at TeamViewer, notes, there’s still a long journey between today’s reality and full connectivity. But the early effort pays off over the long run. In a market where competition is rising and skilled talent is scarce, integrated systems help organizations create better daily experiences for their teams. That, in turn, makes it easier to attract people, give them the tools to do their best work, and keep them for the long haul.
About TeamViewer
TeamViewer builds connectivity technology that lets organizations remotely access, control, and support a wide range of devices. Its solutions serve many industries and help companies digitize critical processes—one connection at a time. Headquartered in Germany, TeamViewer focuses on emerging technologies such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence while continuing to expand its global reach. With more than 2.5 billion installations and a workforce of over 1,500 employees, the company has reached significant revenue milestones that underscore its position in the tech landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many leaders question the reliability of their internal data?
The study reports that 99% of business leaders have concerns about the trustworthiness of their internal data.
What drives mistrust in internal data?
Three issues stand out: inconsistent reports that create multiple “truths,” conflicting data management practices across teams, and unreliable hardware that undermines day-to-day data work.
Does company size change the data literacy challenge?
Yes. In companies with $10 million to $50 million in annual revenue, 40% of employees struggle with data literacy; in firms with $10 billion or more, that drops to 21%.
What improvements come with better technology connectivity?
Leaders link improved connectivity to stronger customer experiences, more innovation, more thoughtful decision-making, and higher employee retention.
How does connectivity influence cybersecurity performance?
Organizations with excellent connectivity are more likely to be leaders in cybersecurity, indicating that tighter integration helps them detect, respond, and recover more effectively.
