INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Software for Business
Organisations talking the talk with AI – but just 13 % have acted
Despite all the conversation and excitement surrounding AI , new research has found that just 13 % of businesses are currently using it .
Yet , although current uptake is low , greater investment is on the horizon for the majority . The research of 150 senior business decisionmakers by cloud accounting software , bluQube , found that 35 % are planning to invest in AI over the next year and 17 % said they ’ ll be investing over the next three years .
A quarter ( 25 %) believe they will eventually be able to reduce staff numbers and staffing costs due to AI and 6 % said AI has already allowed them to do this .
However , the findings also point to a clear reluctance to embrace AI among some leaders , with 15 % saying they ’ re unlikely to invest over the next three years and 12 % with no plans to invest at all in future .
When these respondents were asked why they ’ re not planning to use AI , expense ( 35 %) came out top of the list . A third ( 33 %) agreed they didn ’ t have enough time to implement and train AI , while 23 % had concerns around security breaches .
Operations is the most common area currently being impacted , cited by over half of respondents already using AI ( 52 %), followed by production ( 48 %) and customer service ( 38 %). Sales and marketing ( 33 %) and finance and accounting ( 29 %) came out bottom of the list .
However , when respondents were asked which areas of their business they felt would be most impacted by AI moving forwards , it was sales and marketing ( 34 %) and finance and accounting ( 32 %) that came out on top .
Simon Kearsley , CEO at bluQube , said : “ AI seems to have erupted recently and is dominating conversations across many different facets of business . While current uptake is low , it ’ s clear that many organisations have plans to implement AI in various ways in the near future .
“ The research raised some interesting findings about the role these business leaders see AI taking in their businesses , with some even viewing it as a means to replace elements of their human workforce .”
He continued : “ While much of the current sentiment around AI is positive , some business leaders feel unable , or are unwilling , to embrace it . And , although hesitations are understandable , inaction could see them being left behind .
“ It ’ s the businesses that remain open to possibilities and ready to adapt that will be the better equipped to remain competitive , profitable and reach new heights .” p
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