Retailers are attaining the strongest outcomes from synthetic intelligence, with 96 per cent of AI deployments assembly or exceeding expectations, in response to new analysis from Lenovo and IDC.
The discovering outpaces different industries, highlighting sharp contrasts in how sectors are approaching AI adoption.
The CIO Playbook 2025, which surveyed 620 IT leaders throughout Europe and the Center East, reveals extensively completely different methods and outcomes in Healthcare, Retail, and Banking, Monetary Companies and Insurance coverage (BFSI).
BFSI: Cautious however efficient
The BFSI sector stands out for its cautious method, with solely 7 per cent of organisations adopting AI up to now and simply 38 per cent of AI budgets allotted to Generative AI in 2025 – the bottom of any sector.
However this warning seems to repay: 33 per cent of BFSI corporations reported their AI tasks exceeded expectations, suggesting deployments are extremely focused to particular wants.
Retail: Excessive satisfaction, measured spending
In Retail, 61 per cent of organisations stay within the pilot part, and projected spending development (97 per cent) is under common.
But the sector experiences distinctive outcomes: 96 per cent of AI deployments so far met or exceeded expectations, the best satisfaction fee of any trade surveyed.
Healthcare: Fast funding, uneven returns
Healthcare is transferring quickest, with a deliberate 169 per cent improve in AI spending in 2025, the biggest throughout all industries. However adoption stays low and efficiency blended: the sector recorded the best proportion of AI deployments falling wanting expectations.
Lenovo suggests the trade could require stronger methods and exterior help to translate spending into profitable outcomes.
Nobody-size-fits-all method for AI
Simone Larsson, Head of Enterprise AI, Lenovo, stated: “These findings affirm that there’s no one-size-fits-all method to AI. Whether or not companies want to take a daring leap with AI, or a extra measured step-by-step method, each trade faces distinctive challenges and alternatives.
“No matter these elements, identification of enterprise challenges and alternative areas adopted by the event of a strong plan gives a basis on which to construct a profitable AI deployment.”
The CIO Playbook 2025 is designed to assist IT leaders benchmark their progress and study from friends throughout geographies. It provides insights on AI technique, infrastructure, and transformation priorities for the 12 months forward and past.
