AI Adoption Reaches a Critical Milestone After Dun & Bradstreet Global Survey
AI Adoption Reaches a Critical Milestone After Dun & Bradstreet Global Survey
In a groundbreaking survey conducted by Dun & Bradstreet, it has been revealed that a staggering 97% of businesses across the globe are now engaged in active AI initiatives. However, despite the enthusiasm for AI adoption, only a mere 5% of these organizations report that their data is adequately prepared to support effective AI implementation. This situation puts businesses at a unique inflection point for the future of AI technology.
The survey, known as the AI Momentum Survey, uncovered that more than half of the companies surveyed, specifically 56%, plan to elevate their investments in AI over the next 12 months. At the same time, there are promising signs of returns on investment, with 60% of the participating businesses reporting measurable outcomes from their AI efforts. Notably, 24% of these organizations indicate that they are experiencing significant or strong returns on their investments.
Cayetano Gea-Carrasco, the Chief Strategy Officer of Dun & Bradstreet, commented, "The vast majority of businesses are already witnessing some return from AI, which is a significant milestone in itself. However, the survey highlights a crucial constraint that inhibits further progress: the readiness and effectiveness of data operations."
Identifying the Bottleneck
As organizations strive to maximize their AI capabilities, the AI Momentum Survey indicates that the bottleneck preventing them from scaling efficiently lies in their data infrastructure. Companies can deploy advanced models that generate insightful data, but these models struggle to act reliably without consistently verified business identities across their operational systems. This lack of a unified identity layer results in erratic outputs and uneven returns on investment.
The survey points to several key findings that reflect the overall health of AI adoption:
- - Adoption and Investment Growth: 97% of companies acknowledge active AI initiatives, and of those, 30% are scaling AI into production, while 26% are operationalizing it across crucial business processes.
- - Realized Returns, Yet Uneven: Close to two-thirds of organizations are reporting early signs of ROI, but only 10% can claim strong returns, demonstrating that a large portion of businesses is still navigating the initial phases of AI implementation.
- - Data Preparedness Concerns: A significant barrier to achieving successful AI outcomes is illustrated by the fact that only 5% of the surveyed firms claim their data is fully readied for AI applications. The concerns surrounding data quality, integrity, and compliance risks have emerged as prominent obstacles.
A Shift in Perspective
Looking back at 2025, most studies conveyed a sentiment of limited financial returns resulting from AI experimentation among enterprises. However, the latest survey suggests a promising shift in this narrative, showing that a considerable number of organizations are now seeing notable returns. Early indications of ROI are becoming far more common, providing a more optimistic picture for the future of AI within businesses.
Moreover, as AI agents begin to utilize enterprise data and platforms at unprecedented scales, this emphasizes the essential need for a shared understanding across all systems involved. Gea-Carrasco stated, "To ensure successful AI deployment, every system interacting with these agents must recognize the entity being processed. Our D-U-N-S® Number is integral to this process. Companies securing a verified business identity and consistency in their data will be at a significant advantage."
Conclusion
The DB AI Momentum Survey serves as a crucial quarterly global study, capturing data from 10,000 businesses across 32 countries regarding their engagement, investment, and progress with AI technologies over time. As AI continues to advance, companies are anticipated to focus on strengthening their data frameworks and enhancing infrastructure, ultimately striving for greater consistency and reliability as they harness the transformative potential of AI.
Dun & Bradstreet, the company behind these valuable insights, has been a cornerstone in providing verified business identities since 1841. Its legacy continues as it supports entities in navigating changes and propelling growth with dependable, validated data infrastructure.
For more information, visit Dun & Bradstreet.
Topics Business Technology）
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