According to Nucleus Research's 2026 Data Preparation Technology Value Matrix, data preparation has expanded to producing governed, AI-ready datasets for analytics and AI agents, with data readiness emerging as the primary constraint on enterprise AI. Automation has advanced from suggesting transformations to executing them, and agentic preparation is emerging as the leading capability. Platforms now profile, cleanse, classify, and transform data with minimal user intervention. "Data preparation has become a critical control point for enterprise AI," said Alexander Wurm, Principal Analyst at Nucleus Research. Self-service capabilities, including natural language interfaces and AI-generated transformation logic, are expanding. Leaders in the Value Matrix, excelling in functionality and usability, include Alteryx, Databricks, Dataiku, Domo, and ThoughtSpot. Expert vendors include Microsoft, Qlik, SAP, and SAS. Accelerators include AWS, Sigma, Tableau (Salesforce), and Zoho.