Two-thirds of surveyed enterprises in EMEA report significant productivity gains from AI, finds new IBM study

Core Insights - A new IBM study indicates significant productivity gains from AI across enterprises in EMEA, with many expecting ROI within the next year [1][2] - Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and public sector organizations are lagging behind larger private sector firms in AI-driven productivity improvements [5] Summary by Categories AI Adoption and ROI - 66% of surveyed senior executives reported significant operational productivity improvements due to AI [2][10] - Approximately 20% of respondents have already achieved ROI from AI initiatives, with 42% expecting to do so within 12 months [2][10] - 92% of leaders anticipate measurable ROI from AI Agents within two years [3] Productivity Gains - The sectors with the highest AI-driven productivity gains include software development and IT (32%), customer service (32%), and procurement (27%) [4] - The top benefits of enhanced productivity are greater operational efficiency (55%), improved decision-making (50%), and augmented workforce capabilities (48%) [4] Organizational Disparities - 72% of large enterprises reported productivity gains from AI, compared to only 55% of SMEs [5][10] - Public sector organizations are still in the early stages of realizing AI's potential, with only 55% reporting significant productivity improvements [5] Business Transformation - Nearly 24% of organizations credit AI with fundamentally changing their business models [6] - About one-third of respondents are using AI to accelerate innovation timelines (36%) and shift to continuous AI-driven decision-making (32%) [7] Workforce Impact - 48% of senior leaders believe AI is enhancing workforce capabilities, allowing employees to focus more on strategic tasks and creative work [8] Priorities for AI Implementation - 85% of respondents emphasize the importance of transparency in AI systems, while 84% stress the need for interoperability [11] - Flexibility in choosing and adapting AI solutions is valued by 85% of organizations [12] Challenges and Barriers - Security, privacy, and ethical concerns are cited as the top barriers to scaling successful AI pilots by 68% of respondents [13] - IT complexity, particularly integrating AI with legacy systems, is also a significant challenge [13] Recommendations for Enterprises - Establish an effective operating model for AI and cultivate AI literacy across all levels of the organization [17] - Develop a culture that embraces change and uncertainty to thrive in an AI-driven environment [17] - Implement AI governance to monitor and mitigate risks associated with AI deployment [17]