Data Expo 2025 is one of the key events for data professionals operating in Europe. This year the CloverDX team joined forces with our long-standing partners, C-Data NL, to attend the two day conference.
Over the course of the event, AI certainly had its share of attention, particularly around how to make it work in practice, the bigger theme was the continued focus on building strong and reliable data foundations and insights into what’s next in the world of data - If you missed this year's Data Expo or want a quick summary, read on to learn more:
One of the first things that struck us at Data Expo 2025 was how often conversations circled back to integration. The more people we spoke to, the clearer it became that getting the basics of data integration right is the key to building efficient, reliable data pipelines.
By the end of day two, one thing was certain: integration isn’t just a technical step, it’s a shared challenge for everyone who works with data. From IT teams managing legacy systems to engineers striving to optimise pipelines and streamline workflows, organisations everywhere are working hard to get it right. Whether it’s connecting systems, simplifying processes, or preparing data for analysis, improving data integration pipelines was considered critical to building more efficient, reliable, and future-ready data operations.
One theme that kept coming up in conversations was the challenge of getting data into systems quickly and accurately, especially when formats are constantly shifting.
“Most of the conversations at the event were about time about data ingestion. That's what's really bothering people, along with how to manage and master data management.”
- Mark de Rover, Co-founder of C-Data NL
In other words, team leads are on the hunt for smarter, faster ways to onboard data at scale, without experiencing bottlenecks or quality issues, which is something CloverDX makes possible with a suite of data management tools designed for rapid, reliable, and scalable data ingestion.
It was clear that a challenge that many business leaders are actively working to streamline was the way they handle spreadsheet related data jobs. Conversations with data leaders emphasised the need to automate repetitive tasks and create scalable workflows that reduce errors and free teams to focus on higher-value activities. Equally, we realised that people who visited our stand were increasingly interested in exploring new ways to make data processing more accessible across their wider teams.
This naturally led to strong interest in one of our easy-to-use data transformation tools, CloverDX Wrangler. Which not only empowers non-technical users to integrate, clean, and transform spreadsheet data independently, but also streamlines data validation, enables visual data mapping, and helps teams turn manual spreadsheet-based processes into fast, automated workflows, all with zero to minimal coding.
Practical case studies and presentations consistently drew the largest audiences across both days. One of the most memorable sessions came on day two, when Van Mossel Automotive Group, a long-standing CloverDX and C-data customer, presented a 1-hour session titled "Accelerating Towards Truly Data-Driven Work."
Their CIO, Koenraad Bruins, shared how, with the help of C-data and CloverDX , they’ve been able to leverage CloverDX to establish strong data foundations. This partnership has enabled their rapidly growing operations to scale effectively amid expansion challenges... a powerful, real-world example of data transformation in action.
In our Regional Sale Director’s own words:
“When Van Mossel did their talk, it was not just at capacity, but the room was overflowing. People were being turned away, but still, people were kind of clambering onto the side trying to listen to what was being said.”
- Jay Saintey-Howes, Regional Sales Director
Despite the hype around AI, the reality on the ground told a different story. AI featured prominently in conference sessions, but when we spoke to attendees, it wasn’t the number one concern.
Instead, data professionals were focused on getting the fundamentals right first, such as building strong foundations for data integration, automation whilst protecting data quality throughout pipelines. By the end of day 1 it became clear that AI initiatives are only as effective as the underlying data processes that support them.
For us, this was one of the most interesting takeaways from the event, a reminder that, even in an AI-driven world, the basics of good data management still matter most.
Booths and sessions that featured live demos and hands on experiences consistently drew the most attention. Attendees were particularly engaged with demonstrations that allowed them to see solutions in action, ask questions and understand how tools could solve real world challenges.
A standout example came from our partners at C-Data NL, whose “Puzzle Piece” concept captured a lot of interest. Their creative approach illustrated how different data platforms and processes can fit together seamlessly to create a complete, integrated workflow. It was almost a gamified way to visualise data integration — and it clearly resonated with attendees.
This concept was especially powerful in illustrating how C-Data NL and CloverDX worked together to overcome Van Mossel Automotive Group’s data integration challenges. By combining C-Data’s expertise with CloverDX’s data integration capabilities, they were able to build a strong, scalable data foundation that enabled Van Mossel to accelerate their data driven transformation.
A recurring takeaway from Data Expo 2025 was that foundational practices such as integration, automation, and data quality remain essential. Organizations are focusing on these areas to build the infrastructure and processes needed for advanced analytics and AI, ensuring they are prepared for the next wave of innovation. As the saying goes, you need to walk before you can run, and in the world of data, getting the basics right is what makes future growth and AI powered innovation possible.
Overall, it was an engaging two days filled with learning, networking, and practical insights. We’re excited to see how the discussions and strategies explored at Data Expo 2025 — especially around AI and data integration — will shape the data industry in the year ahead.
If your company is involved in data, analytics, or technology and you’d like to explore a data management solution that is as powerful as it is flexible — get in touch or book an exploratory demo to see our latest features in action.