AI-led workplaces twice as likely to beat revenue goals

Companies that invest strategically in AI-enabled digital workplace services are twice as likely to beat sales and revenue targets as those that hold back, according to new global research from Unisys.

The study indicates a widening gap between organisations that use AI to reshape everyday work and those that move more slowly.

It links AI deployment in employee-facing IT with higher revenue, stronger innovation, improved cybersecurity and better staff retention.

The Unisys Digital Workplace Insights Report 2025 is based on a survey of 1,000 C-suite and IT executives across the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific.

It focuses on how organisations use AI, including generative AI, in digital workplace services amid economic uncertainty.

The research identifies a group of "Productivity Leaders" who invest heavily in AI-enabled digital workplace services and employee experience. It compares this group with "Late Adopters" who have limited AI use in workplace systems.

Among Productivity Leaders, 65% report exceeding sales and revenue expectations. The comparable figure for Late Adopters is 33%.

The study finds that 91% of Productivity Leaders report improved product and service innovation. Only 17% of Late Adopters report similar gains.

Cybersecurity outcomes also diverge. Ninety-eight percent of Productivity Leaders say they have enhanced cybersecurity. Only 42% of Late Adopters report such improvement.

On financial returns, 99% of Productivity Leaders say they have improved ROI. Among Late Adopters, 41% report better ROI.

Employee outcomes show similar gaps. Ninety-one percent of Productivity Leaders say they exceed expectations for employee satisfaction and retention. The figure among Late Adopters is 31%.

Unisys states that the findings link AI use in the digital workplace with resilience as well as growth. It highlights the role of AI in business continuity, IT operations and staff engagement.

"The next generation of industry leaders won't just adopt AI, they will deploy it in ways that empower employees and reinforce their business strategy," said Patrycja Sobera, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Workplace Solutions, Unisys.

"Thriving organisations combine smart AI investments with a deep understanding of employee needs. But AI alone isn't enough - alignment across business and IT leaders is essential to sustain momentum and realise the full potential of digital workplace transformation."

The report says leadership priorities often diverge inside the same organisation. IT leaders focus on operational efficiency, ROI, compliance and productivity. Business leaders focus more on employee productivity and the consistency of tools across different work settings.

Only 32% of business leaders say digital workplace tools function equally well for remote and office-based staff. Among IT leaders, 67% say tools perform equally well for both groups.

Views on generative AI differ. Just under a third of business leaders see generative AI as critical for reducing downtime. Seventy-two percent of IT leaders say generative AI is critical in this area.

Downtime and support

The report describes a shift in how organisations handle technology disruptions. It links generative AI-based workplace systems with shorter outages and faster responses.

Productivity Leaders use AI-enabled service tools that triage incidents and prioritise urgent tickets. These tools route issues and give employees quicker paths back to normal work.

Unisys notes that generative AI tools operate continuously across time zones. The tools respond to outages at any time of day and support business continuity.

Eighty-seven percent of Productivity Leaders say generative AI plays a critical role during downtime. Among Late Adopters, 35% share that view.

Ninety-two percent of Productivity Leaders say generative AI reduces downtime and IT workload. This is more than double the rate reported by Late Adopters.

These organisations also increase use of generative AI in support functions. Ninety-two percent say they embrace generative AI in this area, while only 32% of Late Adopters do so. Many Productivity Leaders are also exploring so-called agentic AI for targeted support.

Employee focus

The study links effective AI deployment with a strong focus on employee experience. It states that Productivity Leaders place staff needs at the centre of digital workplace design and governance.

Ninety-six percent of Productivity Leaders say they understand what employees want from technology. The figure among Late Adopters is 72%.

Productivity Leaders are six times more likely than Late Adopters to use experience-level agreements. These focus on human outcomes rather than traditional service metrics.

Ninety-three percent of Productivity Leaders say they have formal processes for gathering employee feedback on IT investments. Thirty-four percent of Late Adopters report similar processes.

Unisys links this approach with stronger workforce outcomes. It notes that 91% of Productivity Leaders exceed expectations for employee satisfaction and retention.

The company says it will track these trends in future editions of the Digital Workplace Insights series as organisations expand AI use in everyday work.