Construction and manufacturing industry's confidence in artificial intelligence (AI) is high. More than eight in ten (82%) of Dutch companies working in these sectors are confident in AI, compared to 76% globally. Nearly six in ten (56%) EMEA companies report having achieved all or almost all of their AI goals. Among Dutch companies, this percentage stands at 63%.
This is according to research by technology provider Autodesk among nearly 5,400 global companies and experts from the construction, manufacturing, engineering and design industries. The research report provides insight into how digital transformation is increasing the resilience of companies in these sectors, while driving sustainability and shaping the future of work.
Embrace is growing
60% of companies in the listed sectors in EMEA have almost or fully achieved their goals in AI. Dutch companies perform above average in this respect; the percentage is 63% in the Netherlands and 56% globally. Three quarters of all respondents are also convinced that their organisation is making the right decisions regarding AI. An equally large group expects AI to improve their sector. 66% predict that AI will become indispensable across the board in their sector in the next three years.
The growing embrace of AI is also creating more demand for professionals with expertise in this technology. Thus, four in ten (41%) of all respondents expect the ability to implement AI and work with the technology to be the most important technical skill at the centre of their recruitment processes over the next three years. The same percentage classify AI as the most important tool enabling them to become more sustainable.
Confidence increases
AI is playing an increasingly important role in business transformations in various sectors. For instance, companies are now converting AI to increase staff productivity and automate work. Respondents expect generative AI to help make crucial design decisions on physical products, buildings and digital assets in the coming years.
76% of all respondents versus 82% of Dutch professionals say they are confident in AI for their sector. A slightly smaller group (72%) confirm that their organisation has increased spending on AI and new technologies over the past three years. 77% say they will continue to invest in AI and innovative technology over the next three years.
AI helps cope with talent shortage
Leaders from the sectors surveyed continue to struggle with talent shortages, while the speed of transformations further widens the skills gap. Professionals see the potential of AI to help manage workloads, free up employees for more meaningful and creative work and fill skills gaps.
78% of respondents say AI improves their industry and expect AI to
makes their work more creative. Almost half say AI helps increase productivity. 39% report using AI to automate common, repetitive tasks. More than 1 in 3 (35% of) industry professionals say AI will close the skills gap.
Work smarter and more efficiently
Higher costs and staff shortages are putting pressure on companies. This is forcing them to work smarter and more efficiently. 41% of respondents report that the ability to implement or work with AI will be central to recruiting new staff over the next three years.
At the same time, a shortage of the right talent with the right skills is a major barrier to business growth (43%). Over three quarters (77%) consider upskilling and training important. At the same time, only 38% have the necessary skills and resources to set up internal training programmes.
Skills development and staff training
An almost equally large group of Dutch respondents (73%) consider skills development important. At the same time, almost a third (32%) do not have the necessary skills and resources to develop internal training programmes. This makes effective training of employees in company-specific systems and processes a challenge. However, these limitations do not stop companies from offering training.
Three quarters of Dutch respondents are committed to implementing an ongoing learning and development programme. 71% are working on a training programme for digital skills. In doing so, seven in ten Dutch respondents state that digital maturity helps companies attract talent (74% in EMEA).
Support sustainability
AI can also support sustainability. Three quarters of European respondents state that sustainability initiatives help attract and retain talent. In the Netherlands, this percentage is 71%. Virtually all (99%) of the Dutch professionals surveyed confirm that their organisation is taking steps to improve sustainability. 33% confirm that AI is an important tool for their organisation to increase sustainability.
The full report is available here.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: Gordon Johnson via Pixabay
