New Report

Smarter, Faster, Safer: The AI Revolution in Physical Operations

Download our latest State of Connected Operations Report to learn how leaders around the world are harnessing AI to empower their workforce and unlock new efficiencies.

Tap into actionable insights from operations leaders around the globe.

1,500+

leaders

countries

industries

Executive summary

AI is transforming operations. See how your peers  are using the technology.

For organizations that manage physical operations, AI no longer falls into the category of "too new to try"—it's a proven technology whose utility is expanding.

87% of organizations expect to increase investments in AI.

Organizations are investing in AI to stay competitive.

94% of leaders believe their organization needs to invest in AI so they are not left behind, and 51% of organizations are already using AI.

90% report that their employees feel positive about AI.

Increase safety & productivity with AI.

Those already using AI report improved safety (45%) and employee productivity (42%) as top benefits, and employee sentiment about the technology is high.

63% plan to adopt AI solutions from an external partner.

Leaders are prioritizing responsible AI.

58% of organizations using AI are implementing privacy and data protection measures. Most will buy rather than build, and 52% prioritize a partner’s ability to integrate with existing systems.

THE STATE OF AI TODAY

Organizations are reaping the benefits of AI, and most say they are just getting started.

Adoption of AI is accelerating. 51% use AI now, and 93% predict they will by 2026.

Global AI Maturity

32.3%

Widespread – AI is used across departments and employees are trained on how to use it

Limited – a few departments and/or employees are currently using it

Piloting – we are testing out a few specific use cases with a small group of employees

Preliminary – we have not yet begun using our AI solutions

Most organizations are in an early AI maturity phase.

68% report that their organization is currently using AI in a limited, preliminary, or piloting capacity.

Mexico and North America are leading the way.

50% of leaders in Mexico say AI use is “widespread” across their organization. Organizations in the U.S. (38%) and Canada (34%) are not far behind in AI maturity.

European organizations are ramping up investments.

80% of European leaders plan to increase AI investments in the next year.

AI USE CASES AND BENEFITS

AI’s use cases within physical operations are expanding—and early adopters report widespread benefits.

From improved safety to operational efficiency, leaders are unlocking positive ROI with AI.

AI use cases are vast.

The top use cases are customer and community support optimization, predictive maintenance, and safety and security, as well as driver assistance systems such as dash cams.

The benefits are clear.

From improved safety to employee productivity and competitive differentiation, leaders reported diverse benefits from their varied uses of AI.

Even those early in their AI journey report positive ROI.

Of the organizations that are already using AI—regardless of where they are in their implementation journey—100% report at least one benefit from their investment in AI.

TOP AI USE CASES AND BENEFITS

52%Customer and community support

51%Predictive maintenance

49%Safety and security

49%Driver assistance systems

EMPLOYEE BUY-IN ON AI

90% of employees feel positive about AI—reflecting how it’s enhancing workers’ day-to-day lives.

Leaders around the world report strong buy-in on AI from their employees.

Global employee perceptions of AI

Very positive

36%

Very positive

Somewhat positive

50%

Somewhat positive

Neutral

Somewhat negative

Very negative

Positive employee perception is ubiquitous.

In all countries surveyed, the vast majority of leaders say their employees feel positive about using AI technology.

Employees in three countries lead the way.

The U.S. (95%), France (92%), and Canada (91%) reported the highest employee sentiment.

Why? AI is directly benefiting employees.

Top-reported benefits of AI include safety and productivity, indicating how AI technology is positively impacting workers’ day-to-day lives.

What do industry leaders have to say about AI?

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Download the full report to access more data insights—and unlock actionable takeaways to keep your organization ahead of the curve.

The State of Connected Operations Report: Smarter, Faster, Safer” with two workers and AI technology overlay