AI won’t revolutionise your business in the future – It’s doing it now: Here’s how to start
Our recent market survey shows that most Finnish companies understand AI’s potential to significantly boost productivity. However, the companies already achieving a leap in productivity are the ones integrating AI agents into their business operations, claims CEO Sami Karkkila.
In my work, I regularly discuss business and technology issues with corporate executives. Lately, I’ve made a habit of asking each leader I meet when they believe AI will start to significantly impact their company’s business.
The vast majority say they believe AI and AI agents will indeed revolutionise business – but only a year or two from now. Only a few of the leaders I’ve spoken with believe the transformation is already underway.
These conversations come to mind as I review the results of our latest market survey, which looks at how large Finnish companies are using AI to improve productivity.
A full 74% of the executives who responded to the study agreed with the statement, “I believe AI will significantly increase our business productivity within the next couple of years.” However, only 12% fully agreed that “AI projects have delivered results that enhance team- or process-level productivity.”
It’s hard not to conclude that this 12% represents the same group of frontrunners as the executives who told me the AI revolution has already begun. Achieving a leap in productivity requires recognising that AI is not just an intriguing phenomenon – it’s a fast-moving train you need to board now.
From individual improvements to holistic productivity gains
In a previous market survey conducted last fall, we examined the technology investments of large Finnish enterprises and the benefits they had achieved. Only just over one-fifth of respondents felt that their tech projects had delivered significant benefits: genuine leaps in productivity.
The recent survey on the role of AI in productivity builds directly on those findings. Once again, the results show that Finns understand the importance of new technology. However, only the most advanced players have managed to achieve truly significant results.
According to the survey, most Finnish companies are still relying on isolated AI experiments. Only six percent have integrated AI agents into their core business platforms.
It’s no coincidence that among these pioneering platform users, 70% are already seeing productivity gains from AI at the team and process levels – not just in individual performance.
Developing standalone applications is no longer enough
The productivity leap made possible by AI isn’t just about a new kind of technology that improves individual tasks. AI agents built into business platforms work seamlessly across all levels of operations – developing standalone applications is no longer sufficient. The key question is not just how to use AI, but what we want AI agents to do, based on what data, and within what kind of operating model.
Achieving a productivity leap also requires business leadership to take ownership of the technological transformation. The leadership must renew the entire organisation so that its roles, skills, and culture support the realisation of AI’s benefits.
At the same time, the role of partners is evolving. A technology partner’s role is first and foremost that of a coach: helping the client company understand the potential AI offers for its business and building a roadmap for transformation.
A core part of this role is the ongoing collection of insights – and sharing that knowledge with our partners.
Download the free market research report on AI and the productivity leap
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