AI Is Core to Strategy for 86%—But Most Are Stuck in Data Complexity

New research underscores urgency for organizations to bridge the gap between AI ambition and real-world results, as Qlik debuts capabilities to enable trusted AI at scale

Qlik^®, a global leader in data integration, data quality, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), today released findings from a new survey revealing a stark gap between the near-universal strategic importance placed on AI and the persistent challenges organizations face in actually operationalizing it. Amid mounting pressure from investors for measurable returns on AI investments, the data underscores the growing urgency to turn AI ambition into real-world results.

The survey of 500 business leaders conducted in April 2025 found:

• Nearly 87% of respondents describe executing with AI as no longer optional, but core to their competitive strategy.
• Around 74% report infrastructure costs, disconnected data silos, or slow data ingestion as their biggest barriers to effectively scaling AI.
• Seven in ten organizations struggling with data integration specifically cite complex toolchains and fragmented data sources as their primary roadblocks.

The urgency around AI execution is particularly pronounced among younger executives. The survey found 99% of leaders aged 25-34 view proactive automation as critical to business success, compared to 83% of executives aged 55 and older. Additionally, younger professionals (ages 35 – 44) are nearly twice as likely as their older counterparts (ages 55 +) to express complete trust in AI-generated insights (48% versus 24%).

"Organizations clearly recognize that merely investing in AI is insufficient; what matters now is delivering tangible outcomes," said Mike Capone, CEO of Qlik. "Yet, as our research underscores, the road to production AI remains blocked by persistent hurdles—cost, complexity, and data fragmentation. Qlik is focused on closing this execution gap by enabling what really matters: customers using AI to solve real problems, at real scale, right now."

In addition to infrastructure challenges, trust in AI-generated insights remains a crucial factor. The survey highlights a significant trust gap within organizational ranks—88% of executives express at least moderate confidence in AI insights, but full, audit-ready trust drops to 42%. Notably, C-suite executives are 31% more likely than directors to express complete trust in AI-driven insights (48% vs. 37%).

Acknowledging these challenges, Qlik recently unveiled new capabilities at its annual Qlik Connect event earlier this month, including a new agentic experience and its Qlik Open Lakehouse. These innovations directly target the key barriers highlighted in the survey by providing unified, trusted data environments designed for seamless AI workflow integration and operational agility.

"Closing the AI execution gap requires more than aspiration—it demands practical solutions that simplify data integration, ensure governance, and empower better decision-making," continued Capone. "Our customers are already proving that when AI execution is done right, it can fundamentally transform their ability to compete and innovate."

To explore insights from the survey and discover how Qlik is enabling organizations to bridge the AI execution gap, visit Qlik.com or access keynotes and sessions from Qlik Connect 2025 on-demand.

Methodology

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 500 senior business and technology decision-makers (director+) involved in data strategy, AI adoption, analytics execution, and digital transformation in the United States (aged 25+). The data was collected between April 17, 2025 – April 23, 2025.

About Qlik

Qlik converts complex data landscapes into actionable insights, driving strategic business outcomes. Serving over 40,000 global customers, our portfolio provides advanced, enterprise-grade AI/ML, data integration, and analytics. Our AI/ML tools, both practical and scalable, lead to better decisions, faster. We excel in data integration and governance, offering comprehensive solutions that work with diverse data sources. Intuitive analytics from Qlik uncover hidden patterns, empowering teams to address complex challenges and seize new opportunities. As strategic partners, our platform-agnostic technology and expertise make our customers more competitive.

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