In a representative survey, the digital industry association Bitkom examined the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on digitalization. According to the findings, the vast majority of surveyed companies that use AI report positive results: More than three-quarters (77%) of them have improved their competitive position with the help of AI. For 52%, AI makes a measurable contribution to business success. Consequently, two-thirds of companies are working to consistently expand their use of AI. “Artificial intelligence is the decisive driver of greater productivity and efficiency worldwide,” says Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst. “The German economy is picking up the pace when it comes to AI adoption.”
The increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence is facilitating digital transformation within companies. Companies largely view the effects of digitalization on business success positively. 77% state that digitalization has generally brought them benefits, while 16% report significant benefits. Moreover, over three-quarters of respondents are convinced that the current crisis in the German economy is also linked to the hesitant pace of digitalization.
Even though the impact of digital transformation is viewed as promising, about half of the companies are having difficulty managing digitalization. 13% even see it as a threat to their own company’s survival. 65% recognize a competitive advantage among companies in their own industry that embraced digitalization early and consistently. This is not merely a matter of selective optimization and efficiency gains. For 42% of companies, digitalization has transformed their entire business model.
To manage the digital transformation, the use of data is of crucial importance. This is precisely where many companies have a significant amount of catching up to do. 61% have used their data little or not at all so far. Still, just under a third have now taken steps to better leverage the potential of their data in the future, and another 43% plan to do so or are discussing possible ways to achieve this. “Many German companies are sitting on a treasure trove of data that they have not yet tapped—and of which they are often completely unaware,” says Ralf Wintergerst. “This data can serve as the foundation for a genuine digitalization push, whether in the use of artificial intelligence or the development of new business segments.”
Expanding digital business is an economic necessity. Even companies whose products are currently successful or even market-leading must consider how they can enhance their products with digital services or new applications. However, 40% report that they struggle to develop new digital products or services. The continuing rise in the importance of digitalization is also evident in companies’ digital revenues. 56% expect digital revenues to increase by between 10% and 50% over the next five years. While only 6% expect to have no digital business at all in five years, 9% anticipate generating at least half of their revenue digitally.
The biggest obstacles to digitalization are high requirements for data protection (77%), a shortage of skilled workers (70%), strict technical security regulations (61%), and a lack of marketable solutions (43%). The range of internal corporate hurdles ranges from lack of time (66%) and lack of financial resources (48%) to lengthy decision-making processes (40%) and low risk tolerance (37%), as well as a lack of knowledge about best practices (26%).
Artificial intelligence has long been more than just a topic for the future – it is evolving into the central driver of digital transformation and a decisive competitive factor. Many companies are already reaping measurable benefits from the use of AI and are consistently driving its expansion forward. At the same time, it is clear that digitalization continues to pose a major challenge for numerous organizations.
A key to success lies in the consistent use of data, the potential of which has not yet been fully realized in many companies. Equally important is the ability to enhance existing products through digital services and to develop new business models.