SAP’s latest customer survey reveals why businesses are slow to adopt AI

Business software leader SAP’s latest customer survey reveals that enterprise-wide AI adoption remains limited, despite growing interest in process optimization and data analysis applications.

Current state of adoption; SAP’s comprehensive survey across user groups in the Americas, UK, Ireland, and German-speaking countries shows modest AI implementation rates.

• Only 5-7% of organizations report using AI across multiple business areas
• A quarter of respondents (24-29%) have implemented AI in select areas
• Between 10-13% have not deployed any AI solutions
• Most organizations (44-52%) are still in the learning phase about AI capabilities

Implementation challenges; Several key barriers are preventing widespread AI deployment among SAP customers.

• Limited internal AI expertise, with only 6-7% of organizations considering themselves AI experts
• Difficulty in selecting appropriate AI tools for specific business needs
• Concerns about data quality, security, and governance
• Shortage of skilled personnel to manage AI implementations

Strategic focus areas; Organizations are prioritizing specific use cases where AI can deliver immediate business value.

• Process optimization leads adoption priorities, with 53-61% of respondents targeting internal business process improvements
• AI-powered data analysis is another key focus area, cited by 54-60% of organizations
• Integration-related applications are gaining traction, including anomaly detection and creating connections between SAP and non-SAP systems
• Financial analysis automation represents another promising application area

Current initiatives; Many organizations are taking measured steps toward AI adoption.

• Between 25-32% of respondents are currently running AI pilot projects
• Companies are focusing on controlled experiments before broader deployment
• Organizations are investing in AI education and skill development
• Testing is concentrated in areas with clear business cases and measurable outcomes

Looking ahead; The mixed sentiments toward AI technology among SAP customers suggest a cautious but steady path toward increased adoption as organizations build expertise and overcome implementation hurdles.