AI adoption: According to BCG, 74% of companies struggle to achieve value and scale

Despite years of investing, hiring talent and launching pilots in artificial intelligence (AI), 74 percent of companies are still struggling to achieve value and scale, according to a new study from Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

“Despite the widespread implementation of AI programs across industries, only 26 percent of companies have developed the capabilities necessary to go beyond proofs of concept and generate tangible value,” BCG said.

The report, titled “Where’s the Value in AI?”, is based on a comprehensive survey of 1,000 CxOs (Chief Experience Officers) and senior executives from over 20 industries, 59 countries in Asia, Europe and North America, covering ten key industries. Participants were asked to rate their organization’s AI maturity across 30 key business functions.

While only 4 percent of companies have developed cutting-edge AI capabilities across functions and are consistently generating significant value, another 22 percent have implemented an AI strategy, built advanced capabilities, and are beginning to realize significant gains.

Companies are experimenting with AI

The report said India is leading the way in AI adoption with 30 percent of Indian companies maximizing AI value, surpassing the global average of 26 percent.

“Indian leaders prioritize fewer, high-impact AI initiatives, scale these efforts 1.7x more effectively than others, and achieve a remarkable 2.1x ROI compared to global competitors. With 100 percent of companies actively experimenting with AI, India stands out for its willingness to harness the potential of AI. Additionally, the maturity of AI leaders in India extends across both traditional and digital sectors, indicating widespread adoption that creates value beyond typical technology-driven industries. As India’s AI leaders move beyond productivity to transform and invent new business models, India is poised to lead not only in AI adoption but also in generating significant and measurable value,” said Saibal Chakraborty, India Leader, Technology and Digital Advantage Practice, BCG