DataLab and Data Integration User Experience Survey

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Release date and time
07/11/2025 4:00pm AEDT

From 16 May to 6 June 2025, the ABS conducted the third annual DataLab and Data Integration User Experience Survey. 

The survey provided DataLab users an opportunity to share what’s working well, offer feedback on areas for improvement, and suggest new features they’d like to see introduced.

The 2025 survey collected information on:

The feedback received will help shape the future of DataLab and data integration services and products, including PLIDA and BLADE.

The 2024 results informed a number of improvements, including: 

  • Publishing additional PLIDA explanatory notes and a FAQ section in the PLIDA Portal and increasing consistency between PLIDA and BLADE documentation.
  • Initial efforts to enable PLIDA portal access outside of the DataLab.
  • Updates to the DataLab User Guide to include additional technical support and troubleshooting assistance.
  • Refreshment of DataLab training and updates to the quiz.
  • Publishing additional DataLab costing detail to improve charging transparency.
  • Updates to software to improve system stability.
  • A one stop shop for clients to submit and track clearance requests and new templates to streamline clearance processes.

Survey respondents by sector

The ABS received survey responses from 217 active users of the DataLab from Commonwealth and State government, academics, and public policy research institutes. This is an increase from 184 survey responses in 2024 and 179 survey responses in 2023. 

Sector202320242025
Commonwealth government11793125
State and local government201412
University/academic397176
Public policy research institutes364

myDATA

In 2025, the survey introduced new questions aimed at capturing respondents' experiences with myDATA.

A majority of respondents (88%) reported using myDATA within the past 12 months. 

When asked about their level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with myDATA, 39% of users indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience, while 59% were satisfied or very satisfied with their response to email enquiries. 

myDATA processes

When asked about the myDATA processes, users found submitting an email enquiry and managing training enrolments to be the easiest.

Change requests

myDATA users were asked to rate the ease or difficulty of submitting various change requests within the myDATA system. Among those who had submitted requests, updating researcher information was the considered the easiest, with 43% rating the process as either very easy or easy.

In contrast, updating data was viewed as the most challenging, with 32% describing this process as difficult or very difficult. 

Feedback indicated that some of the challenges were due to system limitations and processing delays.

DataLab onboarding and training

Respondents were asked to rate the usefulness of the DataLab safe researcher training. 

In 2025, 83% of attendees found the training useful or very useful, down slightly from 86% in 2024.

The DataLab system

In 2025, 69% of respondents indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience using the DataLab system over the past 12 months. This represented a slight improvement from 2024 (66%).  

Satisfaction with aspects of the DataLab system

The aspects of the DataLab system that respondents were most satisfied with were:

  1. Communication of system updates or outages (76%)
  2. Connection, log-in or stability issues (73%), one of the top areas of dissatisfaction in 2024.

Features respondents would like to see added to DataLab

Respondents were asked to consider the types of features or software they would most like to see added to the DataLab.

Database functionality and software was the most requested (16%), followed by self-managed virtual machine sizes (14%) and a collaborative code repository platform (12%).

The most frequently requested software or features for inclusion into the DataLab were:

  • VS Code
  • AI-based coding tools
  • Python/R package support

19% of respondents indicated they do not have requirements for additional features or software.

Feedback on the DataLab system

Additional feedback was received from respondents regarding their experience using the DataLab service. The feedback confirmed that the DataLab is a valuable platform but highlighted several areas to enhance the usability of the system and assist with research outcomes. 

Key themes include system performance, software functionality, documentation quality, and communication processes. Leading from this feedback, a number of actions are being pursued to support the DataLab service offering. 

Further information is available under Next Steps.

Client support

In 2025, 61% of respondents who sought assistance from DataLab client support in the past 12 months reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the support they received. This result is down from 72% in 2024.

DataLab Outputs

In 2025, 69% of respondents who submitted output clearance requests over the past 12 months reported that the communication regarding the clearance was good or very good. This was down from 85% in 2024.  

Feedback from users highlighted several key areas for improving clearance request process, including enhancing the myDATA portal and submission procedures. 

DataLab Charging

In 2025, 38% of respondents responsible for managing DataLab project costs indicated the DataLab charges were easy or very easy to understand. This result is consistent with the 2024 response (39%).  

ABS recently enhanced the presentation of DataLab charging information on its website and improved self-help resources to better support users in planning, tracking, and understanding of DataLab charges

PLIDA

In 2025, 79% of PLIDA users were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience using the asset, consistent with 2024 (80%).

Research needs

In 2025, 72% of users reported that PLIDA mostly or completely meets their research needs, down from 82% in 2024.

PLIDA barriers

Of the respondents who use PLIDA, just over half (56%) reported no barriers to use. Of those who did, the most common barriers related to data custodian approval (42%) and data coverage (41%).

PLIDA User Documentation and Features

The documentation and features PLIDA respondents were most satisfied with were the PLIDA Data Item List (63%) and the PLIDA Modular Product (PMP) Portal User Guide (58%).

Suggestions for how the ABS could improve PLIDA supporting resources include:

  • streamlining pathways to key information on the ABS website.
  • making information available outside of DataLab.
  • better promotion of documentation and features, including the PMP and Code Sharing Library.

PLIDA Core Modules

In 2025, users were invited to provide feedback on the PLIDA core modules for the first time. 

Two in three PLIDA users (66%) indicated they had used at least one core module. Among these users, satisfaction was highest for the Demographic module (80% satisfied or very satisfied), and the Locations module (76%). Users reported 60% satisfaction with the Relationships module, followed by 54% for the Scoping module.

BLADE

One in four (26%) survey respondents reported accessing BLADE for a research project in 2025. Of these, 80% were satisfied or very satisfied with the BLADE asset overall, up from 77% in 2024.

Research needs

In 2025, 73% of users considered BLADE mostly or completely meets their research needs, up from 72% in 2024.

Barriers to BLADE use

Of the respondents who use BLADE, 62% reported no barriers to their use. For those who did, the most common barriers were data coverage and organisational capacity or priority.

BLADE metadata and explanatory notes

In 2025, 69% of BLADE users were satisfied or very satisfied with BLADE metadata and explanatory notes.

BLADE improvements

Respondents were asked to suggest improvements they would like to see applied to BLADE, these suggestions included the creation of a BLADE portal. 

Custom data integration service

Feedback about custom data integration was provided by respondents who have utilised this service. 

Of the total number of respondents to the survey, 22% have utilised the custom data integration service. Of these respondents, 78% were satisfied or very satisfied with the custom data integration service overall, up from 58% in 2024.

Research needs

In 2025, 90% of respondents who used the custom data integration service reported that their research needs were mostly or fully met, up from 80% in 2024.

Feedback on the custom data integration service highlighted ongoing cost-related concerns and process-related barriers, particularly around timeliness and communication. ABS efforts to streamline approvals and communication are ongoing. 

Next steps

The ABS will finalise the implementation of initiatives committed to from the 2024 survey and commit to a range of additional actions informed by the 2025 survey results, including:  

  • Adding frequently asked technical questions to the PLIDA Portal for all products. These will be updated monthly based on queries received from DataLab researchers.
  • Development of a BLADE portal, based on the PLIDA version, and is expected to be completed this financial year.
  • Replacing mandatory face to face training with a series of e-learning modules. These will be designed for specific roles and include additional optional learning modules to support researcher access and use.
  • Redesign of ABS webpages to enhance navigation and improve user experience, including strengthening self-help resources—making it easier for users to find information and support independently.
  • LabLink improvements, and annual software refresh enhancements. With the aim of reducing disruptions and increasing stability.
  • Further streamlining of the project submission process to improve the client experience. 

 

DataLab and Data Integration surveys will continue to be conducted in the future to gauge client satisfaction and to allow users to help shape the future of the DataLab and data integration services.  

Feedback provided by users will also be considered to help improve the overall survey experience.  

Please direct any questions to info@mydata.abs.gov.au.