New Workday Research: Companies Are Leaving AI Gains on the Table

Core Insights - AI is providing productivity gains, but organizations are not fully capitalizing on its value due to time lost in rework and low-quality outputs [1][4][6] - Successful organizations reinvest AI time savings into employee development and skill-building, leading to sustained business impact [2][8] Group 1: AI Productivity and Rework - Nearly 40% of AI time savings are lost to rework, including correcting errors and verifying outputs from generic AI tools [6] - 85% of employees report saving one to seven hours per week using AI, but much of that time is offset by rework, creating a false sense of productivity [4][6] - Employees aged 25–34 represent 46% of those dealing with the most AI rework, despite being perceived as tech-savvy [6] Group 2: Reinvestment Strategies - Organizations are more likely to reinvest AI savings into technology (39%) rather than employee development (30%) [5] - Only 14% of employees consistently achieve clear, positive outcomes from AI, indicating a need for better integration of AI into workflows [6] - Companies that see real returns from AI are more likely to use saved time for deeper analysis and strategic thinking (57%) rather than simply increasing workload [7] Group 3: Training and Role Evolution - 66% of leaders prioritize skills training, but only 37% of employees experiencing high rework have access to it, highlighting a disconnect [6] - In 89% of organizations, fewer than half of roles have been updated to reflect AI capabilities, leaving employees to reconcile outdated job structures with modern tools [6][8] - Organizations that effectively reinvest in upskilling and collaboration see improved outcomes and reduced rework [8]