New figures show gap between AI ambition and execution: lack of direction and knowledge biggest obstacles.

Although AI is now on the radar of almost every organization, only a handful of companies feel truly mature in applying it. Most companies are still in the exploratory phase or cautiously doing their first pilots. This is according to a recent survey of professionals, held ahead of Ciphix’s event “One step further with AI.

AI is on the agenda, but implementation remains off

The results show that 72% of organizations have not yet implemented structural applications. Indeed, not a single respondent currently calls AI “strategically embedded. “Many companies see the potential, but lack the clout to go from intention to implementation,” says Philippe Neven, spokesman at Ciphix. Only one in four says they are now applying AI in a structural way within some processes. The rest remain stuck in plans and experiments, the step to broader implementation is hardly ever taken.

Efficiency is the key word

Remarkably, the added value of AI is almost unanimously recognized. 97% of respondents see efficiency and automation as the main driver. Innovation of products and services (38%), employee satisfaction (31%) and cost savings (19%) are also mentioned. Only 6% say they do not yet have a clear picture of the value AI can bring.

The biggest obstacle: not knowing where to start

The biggest obstacles to wider adoption of AI lie not so much in the technology itself, but in how organizations have structured their processes and people. There is no lack of automation, but often a lack of visibility into where the most impact can be made. Lack of knowledge, limited change power and lack of clarity about the right first step are most often mentioned.

It is striking that precisely these points are at odds with where organizations do expect to get the most value from AI: efficiency improvement and automation. The ambition is there, but the translation into action is lacking. About a third of the respondents cited lack of knowledge, manual labor or resistance to change as the most important barriers. In addition, for almost 30% a lack of budget or other priorities also plays a role. Remarkably, technical problems such as outdated systems or data quality seem to weigh less heavily.

Cautious optimism, but the big leap fails to materialize

Still, there is reason for optimism. Four in 10 organizations expect to launch more AI pilots in the coming year, and a third see room to build on existing applications. So the ambitions are there. But large-scale integration? That remains out for now. Only 6% of the respondents indicate that they are working on it in the short term. That says something: not about lack of interest, but about the lack of direction. Many organizations simply do not know how to take that next step.

“The ambitions are there, but they lack direction and concrete steps. That is where we as Ciphix want to help with this event,” says Cousins.

New AI applications remain under the radar

A striking detail from the survey is that new AI applications such as so-called AI agents (systems that perform tasks and make decisions independently) are still largely unknown. Only a handful of respondents have experience with them. This shows that there is still much to discover, precisely at the intersection of automation and autonomy. Generative AI is becoming more familiar, but the next step lies in smartly deploying AI as a digital colleague: less text, more action.

From ambition to action

The common thread in the survey is clear: AI is alive and well, but still often gets stuck in abstract plans. This is precisely why it is important to get moving. No longer wait until everything is perfect, but start small and learn from it. A pilot is not an end goal, but a valuable first step. It not only helps to test AI applications, but also exposes where processes, data quality or collaboration are still faltering. Those insights are at least as valuable as the technology itself.

“A great example is Royal Flora Holland, one of the speakers at the event. Starting with AI confirmed that the basics were not in order. Because that was factored in, we started working in parallel on process optimization and data cleaning. Thus, the start of one AI project led to organization-wide changes and attention at board level,” says Marijn van de Poel, Chief Proposition & Technology Officer at Ciphix.

Those who start now grab a head start. Not by thinking big right away, but by starting smart. During the event One step further with AI on June 24, Ciphix brings together professionals who want to do exactly that: exchange knowledge, share practical experience and discover together where AI can already make a difference today.