How to turn AI into business value
in 2026 and beyond

AI has become a strategic imperative for businesses. Yet despite continued investment, many organizations still struggle to scale AI beyond individual use cases and deliver measurable business value.

The AI Trends Report 2026 provides a data-driven view of how European enterprises are adopting, scaling, and governing AI. Based on a survey of 250 senior decision-makers across Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK, the report benchmarks AI maturity and uncovers the key challenges and opportunities shaping enterprise AI in 2026.

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The AI Trends Report 2026

Key findings

58% of organizations have a clearly defined AI strategy, but only 44% have a fully implemented AI operating model.
84% report measurable improvements in operational efficiency through AI, while 75% report revenue impact — highlighting a gap between productivity gains and commercial value.
79% of AI initiatives fail during or after the pilot stage, with 44% failing in the transition from pilot to production.
65% of AI projects exceed their original budgets.
40% identify integration complexity as the biggest obstacle to scaling AI, followed by talent shortages (32%), unclear ROI (32%), and fragmented data (30%).
Only 7% of organizations place AI ownership within business functions, while 48% keep ownership in IT and engineering.
66% of organizations regularly assess AI-related risks, yet governance maturity continues to evolve.
80% already share sensitive data with external AI providers, underscoring the growing importance of data governance and sovereignty.

Who should read this report?

Built for the people driving AI decisions

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C-level executives

CEOs, COOs, CIOs, CTOs, CDOs and CMOs setting the direction for enterprise AI.

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Digital & data leaders

Leaders responsible for data strategy, analytics, and AI platform decisions.

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Technology innovators

Teams building and scaling AI capabilities across the organization.

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Business transformation specialists

Those driving change programs and embedding AI into operating models.

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Private equity professionals

Investors assessing AI maturity and value-creation potential in portfolios.

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Decision-makers responsible for AI strategy, governance, and execution

Leaders who own AI strategy, set governance standards, and are accountable for turning execution into measurable business impact.

What you'll learn

The report explores:

The current state of AI maturity across European enterprises
Why many AI initiatives fail to scale
The role of operating models, governance, and organizational readiness
How leading organizations are turning AI into measurable business value
Five strategic priorities for building AI-ready organizations in 2026 and beyond

Whether you're defining your AI strategy, scaling enterprise AI, or strengthening governance, this report provides practical benchmarks and actionable insights to help accelerate your AI transformation.

AI Trends Report 2026