Saudi Arabian enterprises are making significant strides toward harnessing the full power of Business AI, according to a recent YouGov study commissioned by SAP. Revealed at Riyadh’s prestigious LEAP conference, this survey highlights a remarkable trend: 75% of Saudi enterprises are already running their core business operations on cloud platforms, and another 22% are poised to join them within the next 15 months.
Why is this crucial? Transitioning core functions to the cloud doesn’t just modernize IT infrastructure—it unleashes potent AI capabilities that enhance competitiveness, efficiency, and innovation.
“It’s incredibly promising to envision that by next year, approximately 96% of these businesses will leverage cloud infrastructure,” noted Ahmed AlFaifi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director at SAP, Middle East Africa – North. “Companies adopting cloud solutions instantly benefit from cutting-edge AI integrated within these platforms.”
Saudi businesses are already experiencing tangible impacts. The study reports AI being actively used in customer service (45%), marketing and communications (42%), finance and accounting (41%), sales (41%), and human resources (36%).
However, the journey towards AI excellence isn’t without challenges. Key hurdles cited include:
- High implementation costs (51%)
- Shortage of skilled AI professionals (47%)
- Complex system integrations (42%)
- Privacy and security concerns (41%)
Addressing these challenges head-on will define Saudi Arabia’s digital leadership and accelerate its transformation into an AI-driven economy. Enterprises that strategically invest in talent, integration, and robust security measures will unlock the most significant benefits from Business AI.
Is your enterprise AI-ready? It’s time to gear up for the cloud-driven future.