A new Gartner survey shows widespread dissatisfaction among chief audit executives (CAEs) with the effectiveness of data analytics in internal audit functions, with 80% saying they want stronger outcomes from their investments.

The survey of 107 CAEs, conducted in March 2025, found that applying data analytics within an audit engagement led to materially improved results only about half the time.

“CAEs feel pressure to get better value from their DA investments, both to meet growing stakeholder expectations and to secure further budget for continued technology investment and innovation,” says Tegan Gebert, vice president, Gartner’s Assurance Practice. But she warned that trying to apply analytics broadly “isn’t the right way to improve outcomes.”

According to Gebert, a scattershot approach often yields diminishing returns once obvious high-impact opportunities are exhausted. “Spreading analytics across every audit leads to wasted effort and diluted impact, and it likely puts a strain on the limited capacity of expert DA resources as well,” she said.

Instead, Gartner recommends CAEs personally prioritize high-impact audits where analytics are most likely to generate meaningful insights. Using structured criteria such as scorecards and alignment with strategic goals, executives should allocate resources — skilled staff, data experts, and advanced tools — to a smaller set of targeted audits.

“Once high-impact opportunities are identified and prioritized, CAEs should concentrate analytic resources. This enables deeper analysis, higher-quality insights, and greater overall value,” Gebert adds.