Organizations today are awash with data. From internal financials and operational metrics to customer insights and third-party market intelligence, the challenge is no longer access to information — it’s how to connect it, trust it and deliver it to the right people at the right time.
That challenge was the focus of a recent IBISWorld conversation featuring Matt Murphy, Senior Vice President of Client Advocacy, and Andy Brennan, Chief Data Officer. Together, they explored how APIs are transforming the way organizations integrate industry intelligence into everyday workflows, and why credible data matters more than ever in an AI-driven world.
Watch the full discussion video below to hear directly from IBISWorld’s leadership team on how APIs can help your organization scale smarter, faster decision-making.
What does the conversation cover?
Andy Brennan issues a clear warning, "the biggest consequence of bad data is bad decisions." Once inaccurate or outdated data enters commercial systems, it can ripple across forecasts, models and strategic decisions — especially when AI tools are involved. AI may sound confident, but without trusted inputs, it can easily produce misleading or incorrect outputs.
The conversation explores how organizations can avoid these pitfalls by focusing on data credibility, governance and validation; areas where IBISWorld has spent decades refining its approach.
How IBISWorld ensures credible, trustworthy data
IBISWorld’s data process didn’t start with APIs, it started more than 50 years ago. Today, the process is far more sophisticated, but the principle remains the same.
IBISWorld combines:
- Nearly 100 dedicated industry analysts who model trends, apply judgment and provide context.
- Hundreds of data sources, including government agencies, proprietary datasets and paid partners.
- A robust data engineering and analytics team that cleans, standardizes and maps data to IBISWorld’s unique industry taxonomy.
- Quality assurance and editorial oversight to ensure accuracy and consistency.
This layered approach ensures that when IBISWorld data is delivered via API, it is not just fast — it is credible, validated and decision-ready.
What is an API — and why does it matter?
In simple terms, APIs enable organizations to:
- Pull data directly into internal systems.
- Eliminate manual logins and repetitive research tasks.
- Deliver consistent information across dashboards, models and AI tools.
As Andy explains in the discussion, APIs are the backbone of the modern internet, powering everything from weather apps to ride-sharing platforms. In a business context, they allow industry intelligence to flow seamlessly into the tools teams already use. The result? Significant time savings, improved consistency and faster insights.
How IBISWorld clients are using API today
Andy and Matt highlight three core use cases:
Automating decisions
Financial institutions use IBISWorld’s industry risk and performance data to support credit decisions, loan approvals and portfolio management. By embedding regularly updated data directly into internal systems, teams can make informed decisions without manual intervention.
Enriching dashboards and BI tools
Many organizations integrate IBISWorld data into internal dashboards to add industry context alongside customer and operational metrics. This allows decision-makers to quickly assess market conditions, growth trends and competitive dynamics.
Powering AI tools
As AI adoption accelerates, clients are increasingly using IBISWorld data to ground AI outputs in verified industry intelligence. This reduces the risk of hallucinations and ensures AI-generated insights are based on trusted sources.
Importantly, these use cases are no longer limited to large enterprises. Small businesses, community banks and software startups are all leveraging APIs to work more efficiently and compete at scale.
Final Word
The companies that win won’t be the ones with the most AI; they’ll be the ones with the best data powering it. Credible, validated industry intelligence is the foundation of effective decision-making, whether it’s delivered through dashboards, internal tools or AI systems. APIs make that delivery faster, simpler and more scalable.
IBISWorld’s API is designed to make trusted industry data easy to integrate, regardless of organization size or technical complexity. By partnering with IBISWorld, teams can focus less on data collection and more on using insights to drive smarter outcomes.
Watch the full conversation above to learn how API can help your organization unlock the full value of industry intelligence.
