Data Management by Companies in Germany: An Empirical Stocktaking

This leads, for example, to increased transparency and efficiency along supply chains, which makes it possible to respond flexibly to changes in processes and the market. While the advantages of data sharing seem obvious from a macroeconomic point of view, it is unclear to what extent companies themselves are aware of these benefits and use data together with other companies. Against this backdrop, a representative survey was conducted among German companies from the industrial and industry-related service provider sectors in autumn 2021. The results are also evaluated according to certain company characteristics. The study shows that 71 per cent of companies in Germany do not fulfill the requirements for efficient data management, while 73 per cent do not use data jointly with other companies. Those firms that make joint use of shared data are more likely to be receiving data than providing it. While many companies complain of insufficient economic incentives for sharing data with other enterprises, they also face daunting legal obstacles. 68 per cent of the companies surveyed say that legal barriers make data sharing difficult.