Data Utilization in Iraq: An Analysis of the Current Scene Through the Lenses of Iraqi Data Analysts, Employees, and Experts

• Data as a Competitive Advantage. The Iraqi market is rapidly growing, with many ambitious players entering and ready to compete. The long-standing establishments across sectors are well aware of the competition, and see a competitive advantage through the utilization of data when the market is saturated.

• The Iraqi Community is Not Data-Oriented. Both survey results and key informants agreed to Iraqis not being very data-driven, with almost 86% of survey respondents agreeing with that statement. Most companies view data analysis as a feature they would want but not particularly need.

• Scarcity of Data. There is a limited number of certain data sources in Iraq, the main governmental ones are the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) and the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI). Other sources of data include first-party customer data and social media.

• Shortage of Data Analysts. Data-driven businesses in Iraq are minimal, which in turn leads to lack of demand for data analysts. Formal education does not equip students with the required skills for data analysis, which means most data analysts in the job market are self-taught.

• Appreciation of Data. The larger the company, the more appreciative it is of data and its proper utilization, as data allows them a competitive advantage. Most respondents (87%) find data utilization crucial in improving an organizations’ decision.

• Discontinuity in Data. Iraqi companies of all sizes have gaps in their data pipeline (collection, storage, analysis, reporting). However, larger organizations have the capacity to collect data and store it properly, but later analysis and reporting are still deficient.

• Advancement of Tools. Spreadsheets are the most utilized tool, as 74% of respondents reported using them. Fewer individuals use programming and business intelligence tools. However, 27% of respondents indicated that they were familiar with programming tools but that their use was not requested in their current positions.

• The Learning Journey. Self-learning and workplaces were tied in first place for where respondents learned their data analysis skills proficiently, while formal education provided respondents with mostly little benefit.

• Company Support. Many respondents (44.6%) believe their employers are supportive of them learning data analysis and developing their skills, this sentiment was supported by key informant interviews where they emphasized the importance of incorporating training and professional development into the company culture.