Dun & Bradstreet's Survey Shows AI ROI Growth Amid Data Challenges

Insights from Dun & Bradstreet's AI Momentum Survey

In a recent survey conducted by Dun & Bradstreet, involving 10,000 businesses, significant advancements in the realm of enterprise AI are being reported. A striking 75% of the organizations surveyed indicate that they have observed some level of Return on Investment (ROI) from their AI initiatives. This is a clear indication of AI's growing traction within the business sphere. Interestingly, as part of this positive trend, 48% of enterprises point to what they describe as "pockets of ROI," while another 28% claim to experience "broad" or "strong" ROI across a variety of projects. However, amidst this optimism lies a stark challenge: merely 6% of these businesses claim that their data infrastructure is fully prepared to support AI solutions at scale.

This mixed response signifies that enterprise AI is gradually transitioning into a new maturity phase. Organizations are increasingly recognizing the value derived from AI technologies, yet they face obstacles when it comes to consistently replicating those returns across their operations. This paradox is also evident in the deployment of AI projects. Data suggests that more organizations are progressing beyond initial planning stages. Notably, the proportion of respondents currently scaling AI initiatives has climbed to 34%. As AI projects formerly positioned as pilot schemes begin to advance into operational phases, the prevalent concern shifts toward whether the realized advantages can be extended across various departments within the company. The crux of this issue lies in addressing data readiness which remains a significant gap.

According to further analysis, while nearly half of the organizations report that their enterprise data is "partially ready" (47%) or "mostly ready" (36%) for AI implementation, only a small fragment (6%) assert their data is fully prepared for large-scale AI operations. This discrepancy sheds light on a critical hurdle: the journey from initial AI project success to widespread enterprise implementation of AI yields reliable and consistent returns.

Gary Kotovets, Chief Data and Analytics Officer at Dun & Bradstreet, encapsulated the current landscape of AI adoption succinctly. He remarked, "The challenge now is that AI adoption has outpaced data readiness. That is why only a few organizations have turned pilots into PL-level ROI." He emphasized the importance of ensuring that AI models have robust business context captured accurately and consistently, which is vital for effective deployment and decision-making across various systems and teams.

He further elaborated on the solutions offered by Dun & Bradstreet. Their identity infrastructure aims to ground AI initiatives in validated business contexts, significantly reducing the chances of inaccuracies and providing businesses with the confidence necessary for utilizing AI technologies. The DB Commercial Graph™ created by Dun & Bradstreet serves as a linchpin, enabling organizations to access verified business contexts. This reduces the redundancies and complexities commonly associated with data discovery and reconciliation that occur across departments.

Beyond the statistical figures, the key revelations from this survey illustrate an uneven yet persistent growth pattern in AI ROI among organizations. More than 75% of businesses acknowledge some measurable successes from their AI-related efforts. However, the realization of AI's full potential remains contingent upon a more robust data preparedness landscape. Historically, 2026 is marked by steady advancements in AI adoption, with companies compelled to refine their data infrastructures to transform sporadic ROI into solid, repeatable benefits on an enterprise level. Ultimately, the success of AI technologies hinges on ensuring data integrity, timeliness, and reliability, which are essential to making informed decisions across diverse use cases.

Dun & Bradstreet’s AI Momentum Survey is not merely another industry analysis; it serves as a crucial benchmark reflecting the ongoing dynamics of AI integration within businesses, highlighting both successes and challenges faced in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. For a complete understanding and ongoing updates regarding these trends, Dun & Bradstreet provides comprehensive resources that track enterprise AI investments and deployments over time.

For additional insights and future analyses, visit Dun & Bradstreet.