Executive Summary To reveal the value of Al, SAP, in collaboration with Oxford Economics, surveyed 1,600 seniorexecutives across eight global markets: Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Singapore, theUnited Kingdom, and the United States. The survey was fielded between July and August 2025. This report includes data and insights into the following themes: Al supports 25% of tasks in global businesses today, rising to41% in two years. enabled future.Businesses are integrating Al into their workforce by upskillingemployees, augmenting roles with Al, and redesigning jobs toincorporate Al. Yet 91% of businesses say staff use shadow Al atsome point, despite the vast majority (98%) taking steps tomitigate its use. The average company spends Uss26m+ on Al per year, achievingan average ROl on Al of 16% ($4.7m). Most businesses expect Alinvestments to achieve positive ROl in less than three years. their operations. The average business expects a 10% ROl fromagentic Al in the next 2 years. to help make investment decisions. Two-thirds say they are data-ready for Al, though 75% report incomplete data as a challenge. The value of Alis huge, and it'sonly growing..Al investment is expected to drive ROl of 16% this year (US$4.66m),which will nearly double in twoyears' time to 31% ($12.29m). 01AlIs a Core Partof GlobalBusiness, RightNoW. Businesses are beginning to makelarge investments in Al across manyfunctions, in hopes that they willsee positive returns. Most businesses say they arescaling Al automation andexperimenting with generative Al. 25%of tasks in global businessesare supported by Al today. Almost zero respondents said they had no plans toadopt Al automation or generative Al. 41%of tasks in global businesses willbe supported by Al in two years. While Al adoption may beenthusiastic, it is largelyhaphazard. of businesses say, despitehurdles to wider adoption,they are finding solutionsand continue to progress. Most Al investment is reported by global businesses tobe piecemeal, based on department-led prioritization,or even ad hoc. Just nine per cent of businesses areinvesting based on strategic, holistic prioritization. say Al will never become a3% central part of businessprocesses, decisions, andcustomer offerings.米 While prevailing wisdom states that Al is primarily a tool toboost efficiency, businesses around the world identifyother areas that are seeing more significant improvements. 59% effective at helping their businessovercome key challenges. The Al tool from SAP really takesour analysis to the next level. Withgenerative Al we are now able toreduce our match preparation timesignificantly and save up to 10,000hours of manual work annually.EAML1O0 Steve Arhancet Co-CEO, Team Liquid I Read More 02GlobalBusinessesAreAlreadySeeingReturns on AlInvestments. Enterprise investment in Al isaccelerating as early returns showpromise, with businesses alsobelieving Al's full potential andmaximum value is still ahead. Strong global investment in Alwill continue to increasealongside investments in data. 37%Expected increase in Alinvestment in the next two years. US$26.7MAverage spend per organization on Al for thisfiscal year.米:米一 23%Expected increase in datainvestment in the next two years. That investmentshows short-termpromise, andisexpected to doublein two years' time. of 16% this year (US$4.66m), whichwill nearly double in two years'timeto 31% ($12.29m). Businesses are optimistic about Al'spotential to rapidly show positivereturns on their investments. 79% 49% ROl faster than other technologies.米 positive ROl in 1 to 3 years.米 Businesses are optimistic about Al'spotential to rapidly show positivereturns on their investments. 65% 64% its full potential.米 Al, higher than any other investment.米 The top-ranked strategies for maximizing ROl from Alinvestments are alignment with business strategy andavailability and quality of data The Al capability embedded inSAP ... helps us process supplierinvoices 25% faster, giving ouraccounts payable team one weekper month to focus on otherstrategic business innovations." (Grower Owned)Richard Caluori Director of Corporate Controlling,Western Sugar Cooperative I Read More 03BusinessesBroadly LackConfidenceinTheir AlDataReadiness 55%lack confidence in their ability toresponsibly share and integratedata between business functions. Businesses understand the importance ofdata in Al's potential impact, and broadly lackconfidence in their readiness to integratedata meaningfully to drive Al success 71% 60%lack confidence in their ability toresponsibly share and integratedata with external partners. making decisions about Al investments. Among businesses surveyed, two thirds(64%) say their overall data readiness issufficient, while also reporting that legal.PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTrisk or compliance, finance, and HR areamong the least data ready The areas that have the least data readiness are often the most complex and data sensitive