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

SAP customers still slow to deploy AI broadly

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