A new SAP report has revealed that UK businesses prioritise AI investment to fuel growth, yet digital skills shortages, talent gaps, and data challenges are slowing progress.
SAP’s “Supercharging Growth with AI in the UK – a Pathway for High-Growth Businesses” report highlights AI’s growing importance. The findings show that:
- 92% rank adopting standard AI applications as a high or medium priority in the next 12 months.
- 91% are exploring emerging AI, such as generative AI.
- 39% are focusing on AI-led business automation this year.
- 50% are investing in advanced analytics to enhance decision-making.
AI is also seen as a solution to broader business challenges. Supply chain resilience is a major concern, with 91% identifying supply chain gaps as a priority. Meanwhile, 39% rank supply chain disruptions among their top three challenges for 2025, and 37% turn to AI to mitigate risks.
Despite the enthusiasm for AI, digital immaturity remains a hurdle. Legacy technology is a major obstacle for 27% of high-growth businesses, making it difficult to integrate AI solutions. Talent shortages further complicate matters, with 34% struggling to attract AI expertise. As a result, 40% are prioritising skills development.
Data is another key challenge – one in three businesses report insufficient datasets for training AI models, and 34% cite poor data quality and limited planning tools as barriers to progress.
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