AI Adoption Yields Returns
Companies see AI ROI, but strategy and governance hold back full potential
A recent report by SAP, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, surveyed 2,600 business leaders across 13 countries and found that AI now supports nearly one-third of all tasks in the average organization. This represents a rise from 25% last year to 30% this year. The report also notes that ROI expectations for agentic AI have increased from 10% last year to 17% this year.
According to Sean Kask, chief AI strategy officer at SAP, the shift from experimentation to execution is beginning to show real returns, but there is still room for improvement. Kask emphasizes that AI lacking context, such as processes, data, or governance, can create activity without outcomes or even pose risks.
The report highlights that many organizations believe AI could deliver more value, but the gap is attributed to strategy, data, and governance rather than access to the latest models. Despite accelerating investment, over half of organizations still invest in AI in an ad hoc or piecemeal manner, with only 17% reporting a strategic approach.
Why it matters
This trend indicates a growing recognition of AI's potential to drive business value. As companies move from experimentation to implementation, the focus shifts from mere adoption to strategic integration and governance. The increasing ROI expectations for agentic AI suggest that businesses are becoming more sophisticated in their understanding of AI's capabilities and limitations.
This trend indicates a growing recognition of AI's potential to drive business value.
What you can learn from this
- AI strategy and governance are crucial for maximizing ROI and minimizing risks, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach rather than piecemeal investments.
- Data quality and context are essential for AI to deliver meaningful outcomes, highlighting the importance of integrating AI solutions with existing processes and data architectures.
- As AI adoption becomes more widespread, the demand for professionals who can develop and implement strategic AI plans will continue to grow, making AI strategy and governance valuable skills to acquire.
We teach this
Sources
- Companies are finally seeing AI ROI — and now they know how much more value it can deliver — VentureBeat
Our reporting is an original summary; full coverage is at the links above.
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