Do you have AI appeal?

Many countries recognise the strategic importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and are responding by developing comprehensive national AI plans and by making investments to foster AI research and development. To address the skyrocketing interest in AI and its potential benefits, many consulting and research companies have published studies about AI, although most, if not all of these companies, focus on the adoption and usage of AI by large enterprises.

In this report, Analysys Mason explores the AI-related needs and behaviours of medium-sized businesses (MBs), which we define as companies with 100–999 full-time employees. We focused on this market segment because MBs, often called ‘the commercial segment’, represent a large and rapidly growing opportunity for hyperscalers, AI solution providers and technology partners serving MBs directly. In fact, many MBs (often challengers in their respective markets) expect AI to help them compete effectively with large enterprises and are keen on working with partners to use this innovative technology to help them grow.

The insights in this report are primarily derived from a survey of over 600 MBs in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. The survey data is supplemented with additional desktop research and open-ended executive interviews with several MBs, hyperscalers and technology companies (for example, managed service providers) that serve MBs with AI solutions.

We hope this study serves as a valuable resource for global technology companies (such as hyperscalers), managed service providers, telecoms operators, systems integrators and independent software vendors that serve MBs with AI solutions and advanced, AI-enabled business applications. Above all, we hope that our analysis of the unique profiles and needs of the most AI-mature MBs, which we call 'AI Chiefs', will help AI solution vendors and service providers to grow their AI appeal in the MB market.