'data-reliant' originates from the combination of 'data' and 'reliant', where 'data' refers to 'facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis' and 'reliant' means 'dependent on something'.

The term 'data-reliant' evolved from the increasing importance of data in decision-making processes, particularly in the digital age.

Initially, 'reliant' meant 'dependent on something', and with the advent of big data, it evolved to specifically mean 'dependent on data'.