Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the business landscape, reshaping how organizations drive revenue, engage with customers, and streamline operations. To better understand how companies are leveraging AI, we conducted a comprehensive survey of 200 people in businesses across a variety of industries. This survey sheds light on where organizations stand in their AI journey, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they are looking to capitalize on. Here are some of the key findings.
Who Participated in the AI Strategy Survey?
Our AI Strategy Survey gathered insights from professionals across the United States, focusing on participants that work at companies with 50 to 1,000 employees, reflecting a mix of small to mid-sized organizations. The survey targeted individuals in key sectors such as Sales, Finance, Banking, Insurance, Consulting, and Business Services. All respondents hold managerial roles, providing a strategic perspective on how AI is being adopted and prioritized within their organizations. This demographic ensures the survey captures actionable insights from decision-makers at the heart of AI implementation efforts.
Do You Have an AI Strategy in Place Today?
When asked about their current AI strategy, 61% of respondents indicated that they have a formalized AI strategy in place today. However, 39% of companies do not yet have a defined approach, highlighting the varying levels of AI adoption across organizations.
Where in the Organization Are You Prioritizing the Use of AI?
AI adoption varies widely depending on organizational priorities. According to the survey:
- 23% are focusing on marketing.
- 23% are leveraging AI in sales.
- 22% prioritize customer service.
- 8% use AI in procurement.
- 6% selected other.
This distribution shows that businesses feel AI is a very versatile tool in addressing challenges across multiple business functions.
What AI Tools Do You Have Deployed to Your Revenue Team?
Revenue teams are at the forefront of AI adoption, with tools designed to enhance productivity and decision-making. The most commonly deployed tools include:
- Chat GPT (23% of respondents)
- ZoomInfo Copilot (7%)
- Google Gemini (4%)
- Microsoft Copilot (4%)
- Salesforce (4%)
Not surprisingly, Chat GPT was the most commonly used tool. There are a few key reasons why that is; ease of use, low cost (and free option), no implementation required, and vast number of problem-solving use cases. Overall, AI tools are helping teams close deals faster, improve forecasting accuracy, and create more personalized customer experiences.
What Problems Are You Most Interested in Using AI to Solve?
Businesses are eager to tackle a variety of challenges using AI. According to our survey:
- 24% want to automate manual tasks.
- 21% want to identify blind spots in the sales process.
- 19% want AI to help the team close deals faster.
- 17% want to use AI to recommend next steps in the sales process.
- 15% want AI tools to replace more expensive tools in use today.
- 3% want AI to help with other problems.
Other areas of interest include social media, web development, and customer service, showcasing the broad potential of AI to solve critical pain points.
What Barriers to Adoption of AI Exist in Your Organization?
Despite the enthusiasm for AI, several barriers still hinder widespread adoption:
- None (23% of respondents)
- Cost (6%)
- Trust and ethics (4%)
- Data privacy and compliance (3%)
- Implementation (3%)
- Leadership resistance (2%)
These barriers highlight the need for a higher understanding of how AI tools work, how the data is used, and how they're implemented to accelerate adoption and justify the ROI.
Key Takeaways
The results of our AI Strategy Survey reveal that while many organizations are embracing AI, others are still in the early stages of their journey. As AI continues to evolve, companies must address barriers to adoption, align their strategies with organizational goals, and focus on measurable outcomes.
At Cirrus Insight, we have recently launched our own AI tool, Meeting AI, that automates pre-meeting research by supplying comprehensive insights on companies and contacts ahead of scheduling meetings, to maximize the impact of customer meetings.
