SAP study: 91% of Saudi organizations achieve or exceed their goals for artificial intelligence initiatives
A new study reveals an increasing trend of Saudi institutions towards strategic investment in artificial intelligence, in parallel with accelerating efforts to qualify human resources to benefit from these technologies.
59% of institutions adopt a strategic approach to investing in artificial intelligence, while 54% of them implement extensive programs to develop skills and rehabilitate human resources.
Saudi companies continue to achieve tangible business results from artificial intelligence initiatives, as they adopt a more strategic approach to expanding the use of these technologies, in parallel with accelerating efforts to qualify human talent to benefit from them, according to a new survey conducted by YouGov and commissioned by SAP, which included senior IT officials in the Kingdom.
The results of the study show that artificial intelligence has moved beyond the experimental stage to become an essential part of business practices. Half of the participants reported that artificial intelligence initiatives in their organizations exceeded expectations, while 41% confirmed that they achieved the desired results. At the same time, 59% indicated that their organizations are adopting a strategic approach to investing in AI across the entire organization. These results indicate that organizations in the Kingdom are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence according to a clearer approach, driven by business needs and focused on achieving measurable results.
Ahmed Al-Faifi, senior vice president and CEO of SAP in the North Middle East and Africa region, said: “Organizations in the Kingdom are increasingly turning to using artificial intelligence to achieve tangible business results, support more reliable decision-making, and expand its use across the entire organization in a responsible manner. What draws attention in the results of the study is that organizations no longer view artificial intelligence as a separate technology, but rather as a fundamental business enabler. Organizations are now combining thoughtful investment in artificial intelligence with the qualification of human competencies, which forms the basis for achieving value. sustainable use of these technologies in daily business operations.
The study also highlights the extent of the efforts made by companies to prepare their human resources for the next stage of using artificial intelligence. 54% of participants reported that their organizations are implementing extensive programs to develop employees’ skills or rehabilitate them in line with new work requirements, while 52% indicated providing training programs directed to specific jobs, while 53% confirmed that they are working to attract new competencies specialized in artificial intelligence. These results reflect a growing realization that achieving sustainable value from artificial intelligence does not depend on adopting technologies alone, but also requires investing in developing the skills of human resources and enabling them to employ these technologies efficiently in their daily work.
These indicators reflect the maturity of the artificial intelligence market in the Kingdom, as institutions adopt a clearer approach to investing in these technologies, in conjunction with enhancing the readiness of their human resources to benefit from them. This trend contributes to the transition of artificial intelligence from limited-scale initiatives to achieving a broader and more sustainable impact at the level of the entire organization.
Al-Faifi concluded by emphasizing that the results of the study reflect the continued momentum that the Kingdom is witnessing in adopting artificial intelligence, with institutions expanding in employing these technologies to enhance productivity, accelerate the pace of decision-making, and raise the readiness of human resources, in support of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, and to enhance the competitiveness of the national economy based on innovation and knowledge.
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