Global Survey Reveals Graph Databases Make Previously Undiscovered Data Connections, Solve Today's Most Complex Business Issues

Study of Developers, Architects and IT Professionals Reveals That Performance Is Top of Mind When Selecting a Graph Database


SAN MATEO, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 30, 2016) - Neo Technology, creator of the world's leading graph database, Neo4j, today announced the results of an independent global survey titled, 'State of The Graph Database." Conducted by Evans Data Corporation, the survey reveals that graph database users most frequently turn to the technology to address and solve business problems. The study also found that performance is the core consideration surrounding their graph database use.

"We wanted to delve into the minds of developers around the world to see what their key drivers are for selecting a graph database," said Emil Eifrem, Neo Technology's CEO and co-founder. "These results are further validation that relational databases just can't keep up -- and that graphs are the absolute best way to make sense of today's high volume of connected data."

Key Survey Findings

  • 58 percent of respondents are current graph database users.
  • Graph database users most frequently turn to graph databases to solve a business problem, and four out of five survey respondents perceive new technical capabilities gained from graph databases to be the greatest benefit that they have gathered from graph database use.
  • 57 percent typically use a native property graph model.
  • 59 percent currently perform graph-based search, and this functionality is prevalent in both small and large organizations.
  • 49 percent anticipate taking on real-time recommendations through graph databases in the next two years. 
  • Over 50 percent rated Cypher, Neo4j's declarative language as easier than SQL, with another quarter rating its ease of use as on par with SQL.

Top Use Cases for Graph Database
"Graphs are the ultimate modeling tool for relationship-based real-world scenarios."
--Bay Area Data Scientist and Survey Respondent

Graph databases can be used to address a variety of use cases across a multitude of industries, presenting intuitive means for analysts and data scientists to gather actionable knowledge. The survey findings announced today indicate the three most common use cases for graph database users are Graph based search, social network applications, and master data management. With the ability to handle complex data sets and glean key understandings from diverse, constantly changing data, real-time recommendations use cases are projected to grow significantly over the next two years.

Survey Methodology  
Neo4j approached and commissioned Evans Data Corp to conduct a Q4 2015 survey of graph database users in order to better understand their behaviors, successes, and needs. Respondents consisted of nearly 450 Neo4j familiars and users including developers, architects, and IT professionals from around the globe. Neo4j recruited and provided the respondents who have done one of the following; downloaded O'Reilly's free Graph Databases book, attended GraphConnect 2015 in San Francisco, or follow Neo4j on social networks. The online survey was conducted in English, with no geographical restrictions; 42% are within North America, another 42% are within EMEA. This survey began fielding on October 21st, in conjunction with Neo4j's GraphConnect conference, and closed on December 8th. 

To download the full "State of the Graph Database" report, please click here.

GraphConnect Europe 2016 will be held on April 26, 2016 at the QEII Centre in London -- visit graphconnect.com to register today!

Useful Links

About Neo Technology
Neo Technology is the creator of Neo4j, the world's leading graph database that brings data relationships to the fore. From companies offering personalized product and service recommendations; to websites adding social capabilities; to telecom providers diagnosing network issues; to enterprises reimagining master data, identity, and access models; organizations adopt graph databases as the best way to model, store and query both data and its relationships. Neo Technology researchers pioneered the modern graph database and have been instrumental in bringing the power of the graph to numerous organizations worldwide. Large enterprises like Walmart, eBay, UBS, Nomura, Cisco, CenturyLink, HP, Telenor, TomTom, Lufthansa, and the National Geographic Society, as well as startups like Medium, Polyvore, Zephyr Health and Elementum use Neo4j to unlock business value from data relationships.

Neo Technology is a privately-held company funded by Fidelity Growth Partners Europe, Sunstone Capital, Conor Venture Partners, Creandum and Dawn Capital, and is headquartered in San Mateo, CA, with regional offices in Sweden, UK, Germany, France and Malaysia. For more information, please visit Neo4j.com.

Contact Information:

Contact Information:
Tanya Carlsson
Kulesa Faul for Neo Technology, Inc.
707-529-6139