Study: AI has created a competitive edge for nearly half of large organisations – the front group is already building a digital workforce
In just six months, artificial intelligence has evolved from small-scale experiments into a catalyst for business renewal, reveals a new market study by business technology company Sofigate. The forerunners have invested hundreds of thousands of euros in AI and are deploying AI agents as a digital workforce. Meanwhile, half of organisations risk lagging behind in development.
Sofigate’s third market study explored how artificial intelligence is transforming the way organisations work. Conducted in autumn 2025, the qualitative interviews brought together business leaders from large companies in Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
According to the study, 45 per cent of respondent organisations have already gained a competitive advantage through AI. This group no longer runs small-scale pilots or builds isolated AI projects; instead, they are renewing their business operations with AI.
The change has been rapid compared to last spring’s study, says Niina Uusi-Autti, CCO, Deputy CEO at Sofigate.
“In just six months, we’ve moved from observation mode to a time of genuinely harnessing AI. Organisations are now leading AI from the business, gaining a competitive advantage as customer experience and efficiency improve. At the same time, they are beginning to see new opportunities. This shows a major shift in mindset,” Uusi-Autti says.
“The market, however, has clearly split in two: the half that has gained a competitive advantage is picking up speed, and the gap to those still waiting is widening as expertise accumulates in favour of the forerunners.”
The study identified a small leading edge (7%) within the front group that has already transformed the way it works significantly.
“The sharpest edge is still narrow, but it has succeeded in making AI a central part of its operations. These leaders are setting the example in building new business with AI and are on their way to becoming AI-first organisations that design their services and decision-making around artificial intelligence,” Uusi-Autti continues.
Investments in AI reach several hundred thousand euros
The study shows that investments in adopting AI have grown significantly.
All respondents report investing in artificial intelligence, but among the front group – those who have already gained a competitive advantage – spending now reaches at least several hundred thousand euros. In addition to technology, these resources are directed towards renewing operations and developing employee capabilities.
“The front group is already moving towards scaling AI, which is also reflected in their level of investment. As companies gather more measurable results, their confidence to invest also grows. I strongly believe this will soon be visible in their growth figures and in improved operational efficiency, directly on the bottom line,” says Uusi Autti.
AI has created new roles
The study reveals that artificial intelligence has already created new roles and transformed existing ones. Over a third of respondents (36%) say AI has changed job roles within their organisation. In the front group of organisations that have already gained a competitive edge through AI, the share climbs to nearly three in five (58%).
What’s noteworthy, according to Lassi Kurkijärvi, Executive CTO at Sofigate, is that these new roles are emerging within business operations and at their interfaces, not in IT.
“AI roles are no longer confined to IT; they are now business development roles that blend change leadership with a deep understanding of both business and technology. Contrary to common belief, AI hasn’t made people redundant, it has created entirely new kinds of work,” Kurkijärvi says.
An impressive 61 per cent of respondents agree or somewhat agree that their organisation’s accumulated technological debt no longer hinders the use of AI. More than half (55%) have already begun introducing AI agents capable of handling tasks independently, and one in ten (10%) report using more than ten such agents in production.
“We are now witnessing the third wave of AI transformation, where AI agents are evolving into a digital workforce operating alongside humans. Organisations that have the ability to renew themselves will gain a decisive lead,” Kurkijärvi concludes.
Media contacts:
Anna de Torres, Chief Marketing Officer, Sofigate
anna.de.torres@sofigate.com
tel. +358 50 576 6015
The third market study examining the impact of artificial intelligence on organisational competitiveness was conducted between 3 September and 6 October 2025 through qualitative interviews involving 31 executives from Finland, Sweden and Denmark. The respondents represented senior decision-makers and leaders at the highest levels of their organisations. The participating organisations operate in industry, energy and infrastructure, financial and insurance services, professional services, education and public administration. The majority were large or very large companies with annual revenues ranging from hundreds of millions to several billions of euros. The full market study report is available for download on our website.
Sofigate is the leading business technology company in the Nordics. We are pioneers in enterprise-level AI services, combining our unique expertise in business transformation, AI agents and leading technology platforms such as ServiceNow and Salesforce. We are the founder of the Business Technology Forum and the developer of the globally used Business Technology Standard, BTS. Our team of over 800 experienced professionals supports customers across six countries and nine offices in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Hungary and Poland.
Sofigate’s net sales amount to EUR 150 million, and the company is primarily owned by its management and employees. More information: sofigate.com
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