I have written several articles on how the analyst relations (AR) industry is undergoing a fundamental shift driven by AI, including How Industry Analyst Relations Is Evolving in the New Age of AI and The New Role of Analyst Relations in the AI-Driven Buyer Journey. Last week, I attended an in-person conference, KCG Connects 2026, to gain better insights into this change and its implications for my clients. What stood out most is this: the industry is no longer as unified a market, with the top three firms dominating influence and activity. It has now split into a market for Gartner and one for all other firms. This change has several implications for how you should best manage and leverage the ROI on your analyst relations program.
As a fractional AR leader, my role is to help companies navigate this divide. The forces redefining analyst relations are not theoretical. They are already shaping how influence works in real buying cycles. Staying current isn’t optional anymore. It’s how you stay competitive. Here are the key takeaways I learned from attending this event.
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