Qlik®, a global leader in data analytics and AI, has released new survey findings that highlight a critical challenge: while AI is seen as essential to competitive strategy, organizations are struggling to translate that strategic intent into effective implementation. The report, based on responses from 500 business leaders, shines a light on the key roadblocks and emerging trends around AI execution.
Findings from Qlik’s 2025 Survey
1. AI is No Longer Optional—It’s Strategic
- 87% of business leaders state that executing with AI is now essential to their competitive strategy.
- AI has shifted from being a technology investment to a business necessity.
2. Infrastructure and Data Challenges Stall Execution
- 74% cite infrastructure costs, data silos, and slow ingestion as top barriers.
- 70% identify complex toolchains and fragmented data sources as key obstacles to scaling AI.
- Disconnected systems are significantly delaying AI project deployment and impact.
3. Generational Divide in AI Readiness and Trust
- 99% of leaders aged 25–34 view automation as critical to business success.
- Younger leaders (35–44) are nearly twice as likely to fully trust AI insights compared to those aged 55+ (48% vs. 24%).
- Indicates a shift in AI adoption attitudes that may influence future corporate strategies.
4. Trust Gap in AI-Generated Insights
- While 88% of executives express moderate confidence in AI, only 42% have full, audit-ready trust.
- C-suite executives are 31% more likely than directors to express complete trust (48% vs. 37%).
- Trust remains a significant hurdle for scaling AI decision-making across all organizational levels.
5. Qlik’s Response: Practical Solutions to Bridge the Gap
- At Qlik Connect 2025, the company unveiled new tools like the Qlik Open Lakehouse and an agentic AI experience.
- These offerings target major execution hurdles: data integration, governance, and seamless AI workflows.
- Designed to unify data environments, reduce complexity, and accelerate real-time AI adoption.
Qlik’s 2025 survey makes it clear: businesses are no longer debating the value of AI—they’re struggling with how to make it work in practice. Infrastructure limitations, trust issues, and generational divides all contribute to a growing AI execution gap. With its latest innovations, Qlik is positioning itself as a key enabler in turning AI ambition into scalable, real-world outcomes. The future of AI in business depends not just on technology, but on the ability to integrate, govern, and trust it effectively.
