Businesses race ahead on AI adoption, but strategy lags behind
Businesses race ahead on AI adoption, but strategy lags behind
Global businesses are accelerating their use of artificial intelligence, but many are struggling to turn adoption into impact, according to new research from BDO.
The Techtonic States: Build Your Business Edge report found that 57 per cent of organisations are fast-tracking their journey to AI adoption, yet fewer than half, just 49 per cent, have a clear AI strategy in place.
The findings suggest that while businesses are investing heavily in AI tools, most are yet to define how those tools will drive measurable outcomes.
BDO Digital Leader Nick Kervin said the results mark a critical shift in the AI journey.
“We’ve moved beyond the question of whether to adopt AI. The challenge now is what to do with it - how to ensure it’s aligned with business goals and delivering meaningful results,” he said.
“Too many organisations are rushing to deploy technology without the strategic foundations to support it.”
The report shows that AI has seen one of the sharpest rises in importance of any technology area, climbing from eighth place in 2023 to second in 2025. But it also reveals why progress remains uneven.
Forty-two per cent of leaders say their organisation lacks the skills and infrastructure needed to navigate disruption effectively. When asked what could prevent them from realising the full benefits of technology and data, leaders pointed first to siloed or “messy” data - unstructured, inconsistent or error-prone information that limits the effectiveness of even the most advanced tools.
Nick said this disconnect between ambition and execution is a recurring theme. “Businesses are realising that AI is only as good as the data and systems behind it,” he said.
“Without clean, structured and accessible data, even the most advanced technologies risk becoming expensive distractions and may result in a loss of confidence in AI investment due to the poor quality outcomes resulting in businesses falling behind their competitors.”
He said that in an environment defined by volatility and rapid change, speed alone is no longer a measure of success.
“The winners will be those who move from adoption to alignment - building AI strategies that are intentional, disciplined and directly tied to business outcomes underpinned by solid data foundations.”
For media enquiries:
Tate Papworth
Manager, Media
E: Tate.Papworth@bdo.com.au
Ph: 0433411189