New pulse survey just dropped: The State of Data Modeling (April 2026).

2025-11-05 · Source: Practical Data Modeling · Field: Technology & Digital — Data Science & Analytics, Software Development & Engineering · Depth: Intermediate, quick

Summary

The Practical Data Community 2026 survey revealed that nearly 90% of respondents experience at least one data modeling pain point. This high percentage prompted further investigation into data modeling ownership, the existence of team standards, and the root causes of model degradation over time. The survey, which takes approximately 90 seconds to complete, aims to gather more insights on these issues. Its findings will be presented at a keynote address in Stockholm on May 7th. The survey is open to anyone involved with data models, whether in their creation, consumption, or maintenance.

Key takeaway

For data professionals involved in building or consuming data models, your input on the Practical Data Community 2026 survey is crucial. Contributing your experiences will help identify common pain points and best practices, informing future discussions and potentially shaping industry standards. Consider taking the 90-second survey to ensure your perspective is represented in the upcoming findings presentation.

Key insights

A recent survey indicates widespread data modeling pain points across the data community.

Principles

• Data modeling challenges are prevalent.
• Understanding ownership is key to model health.

Method

A short, six-question survey is being used to collect data on data modeling pain points, ownership, standards, and causes of model breakdown.

In practice

• Participate in the Practical Data Community 2026 survey.
• Attend the keynote on May 7th for findings.

Topics

• Data Modeling
• Data Engineering
• Data Governance
• Survey Research
• Data Quality Issues

Best for: Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Analytics Engineer

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Practical Data Modeling.