The vast majority (82%) of respondents need quick and easy access to data, IT systems, and applications to stay productive and work efficiently. Access to data is critical. More than half (59%) of department managers are involved in finding, proposing, or creating new ways to provide external digital services, such as building self-service web portals or mobile applications to connect with customers. However, only 29%, or less than a third, believe that their companies effectively combine and use data from various sources to generate additional business benefits.

"In a digital world, every industry needs to prepare for rapid change and every enterprise must respond to new customer needs faster than ever," Brent Hayward, CEO of MuleSoft, said.

"These studies have shown that data is one of the most important resources that companies need to run efficiently and achieve better and better results. The company must equip each employee with the tools and authority needed to integrate data and use its potential no matter where they are. This will enable key projects to be completed quickly, innovate on a large scale, and products and services even better combined," he added.