Canva has released a new report titled Beyond the Numbers: How Data Storytelling Redefines Communication, revealing a growing disconnect in the modern workplace.

While data is now central to how organisations make decisions, many teams – especially in sales and marketing – struggle to turn insights into compelling narratives.

Based on a survey of over 2,400 marketing and sales professionals across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, the report highlights a striking contradiction: while 82% of UK professionals claim to feel confident working with data, only 42% retain that confidence once they begin data-heavy tasks.

Beyond this, nearly half of UK organisations (44%) offer data literacy training, yet 78% of professionals still experience data anxiety – and 27% admit to actively avoiding working with data altogether.

Even among those who feel capable of analysing and interpreting data, mistakes are common. Three-quarters say they are confident in their ability to interpret data, but many regularly make errors in spreadsheets: 46% struggle with formulas, and 42% have difficulty interpreting complex sheets.

As data demands rise, gaps in capability persist

As reliance on data grows, these gaps become more pressing. In the past two years, 77% of respondents say their reliance on data has increased.

Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) work with data or spreadsheets at least once a week, and 80% are now expected to be data literate as part of their role.

Despite this, traditional tools and training methods are falling short, according to the report, leaving teams overwhelmed, under-supported, and at risk of miscommunication.

The report also underscores the value of data storytelling as a solution. Among UK professionals, 82% say they feel more confident presenting data when it’s visualised, and 89% agree that visualisation improves the credibility of the information they’re sharing.

What’s the key to unlocking data confidence?

Technology is seen as a key enabler in this shift.

Nearly half (47%) of respondents say they find it difficult to switch between different data tools, and 88% are likely to adopt tools that make data visualisation easier.

Three-quarters (75%) believe AI can enhance their ability to work with data by automating repetitive tasks and suggesting effective visualisations. Still, concerns persist around trust, accuracy, and the creative limitations of AI-powered solutions.

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“Working with data shouldn’t be confined to specialists. When you give teams the right tools and training to turn numbers into narratives, you can unlock so much potential in an organisation,” said Duncan Clark, Head of EMEA at Canva, and co-founder of Flourish, a Canva company.

“The goal isn’t to make everyone a data scientist, but to empower teams to confidently make sense of the data at their disposal and turn it into compelling, engaging stories, whether it’s for internal presentations or external content. Data alone doesn’t move people, but stories do – so that’s what we should focus on.”