Digital immaturity – in skills, data, and infrastructure readiness – is holding the UK back from its AI adoption ambitions and growth goals, according to research from SAP.

As many as eight in ten businesses are prioritising growth over improving customer experiences, and over a third (37%) suggesting they will be turning to technology to help them manage their spending and increase automation across their business.

However, legacy technology, talent gaps, and insufficient datasets continue to delay these AI plans from coming to fruition.

AI Ambitions

The vast majority (92%) of UK businesses surveyed by SAP rank the adoption of standard AI applications as a high or medium priority in the next 12 months, with a similar amount (91%) actively exploring the use of emerging applications like generative AI.

About two in five (39%) are prioritising AI-led business automation this year, while one in two are actively investing in advanced analytics to refine their decision-making capabilities.

The UK’s high-growth organisations have also highlighted AI’s role in addressing macro-barriers to growth, like supply chain issues. As many as 91% see closing supply chain gaps as a pressing priority and 39% rank supply chain disruptions as one of the top three business challenges in 2025.

To that end, more than one in three (37%) are turning to AI and automation to help them weather economic uncertainty and build supply chain resilience.

“AI is revolutionising the renewable energy sector, driving smarter decisions and operational efficiency to support growth and resilience,” said Simon Duckett, chief digital officer at Sonnedix, a global renewable energy producer and SAP customer.

“In a rapidly evolving market, AI’s predictive models and advanced analytics help us strengthen our supply chain, adapt to economic uncertainty, and seize new opportunities.

“By combining cutting-edge technology with human innovation, AI ensures we remain agile and prepared to scale and adapt to change sustainably.”

Recommended reading

• Has Digital Transformation Matured Into Productivity?
• Data Skills Gap Leading to Productivity Shortfalls
• AI Skills Gap Puts Public Sector Projects in Jeopardy

Digital Immaturity

Despite these grand ambitions and budget allocations, digital immaturity continues to stand in the way of AI adoption and progress.

The research found that legacy technology was cited by 27% of UK high-growth organisations as a key barrier to scale, underscoring the difficulty of integrating cutting-edge solutions into outdated systems.

Talent gaps further amplify the problem, with more than one third (34%) struggling to attract and retain professionals with the expertise needed to harness AI effectively. That’s why 40% now prioritise skills development as a cornerstone of their growth strategy.

Data continues to be highlighted as a key growth obstacle. As many as one in three indicate that insufficient datasets are hindering AI model training, while 34% point to poor data and limited planning tools as significant barriers to progress.

“Addressing barriers to growth, like digital immaturity, must be a priority for the UK’s high-growth organisations if they wish to reach their potential,” said Wesley Doyle, head of new business, corporate, SAP UKI.

“As our report shows, many have identified AI as the key that unlocks business agility, resilience and efficiency, and enables innovation at scale. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, organisations that make bold moves in AI will position themselves to flourish in today’s data-driven economy and lead the way in shaping the UK’s growth agenda.”