Lenovo CIO Playbook highlights AI growth in EMEA region

Lenovo has released its latest CIO Playbook, "It's Time for AI-nomics," offering insights into the future of AI adoption based on research conducted across Europe and the Middle East.

The research, conducted in collaboration with IDC, underscores a significant anticipated increase in AI spending within the Europe and Middle East (EMEA) regions. Survey data suggests that AI is set to account for 20% of IT budgets by 2025, doubling from the previous year. This study, which involved 620 business and IT leaders from mid to large businesses, aims to understand how these organisations plan to integrate AI into their operations.

The study reveals that the deployment of generative AI is expected to rise substantially over the next year, increasing from 12% to 44% of AI usage among companies. Generative AI is poised to become the focal point of AI investment, contrasting with a reduced focus on predictive and interpretive AI technologies. Rory Powrie, Senior Account Manager at Lenovo, shared some highlights regarding UK-specific findings, noting an 84% increase in AI investment since 2024, with a considerable portion of organisations already engaged in deploying AI-powered PCs.

Data quality and compliance issues remain significant challenges for organisations aiming to scale their AI initiatives. According to the report, common barriers to successful AI implementation include data sovereignty, integration ease with existing systems, the need for employee training, and data quality. Greg Smith, Executive Director and General Manager, EMEA Lenovo Solutions & Services Group, commented: "With enthusiasm around AI high in the region, businesses must work hard to overcome barriers to its adoption and integration to avoid disillusionment and drive return on investment. Leaders are quickly growing in confidence and looking to diversify their approach with models like AI-as-a-Service. Leveraging the right expertise and professional services will help maximise the successes that AI can bring, opening the door for targeted adoption that helps solve business challenges and drive growth."

Business and IT leaders in the EMEA region report the highest satisfaction globally with AI projects undertaken in the last 12 months. According to the study, 94% of AI initiatives met or exceeded expectations, with nearly a third surpassing anticipated outcomes, in stark contrast to North America where only 16% of projects exceeded expectations. This high satisfaction level fuels optimism, with 55% of management teams positive about AI's potential.

Amidst growing satisfaction and investment, the demand for AI Professional Services is also projected to rise. While currently used by 27% of surveyed businesses, a further 72% are considering or planning to employ such services. Giovanni Di Filippo, President of EMEA Infrastructure Solutions Group at Lenovo, noted: "The EMEA markets present a diverse landscape of AI adoption and it is clear that most organisations have moved past the hype phase of AI and have shifted focus from experimentation to full implementation. As organisations across EMEA look to move into AI growth areas, their preference for a mixture of on-prem and hybrid AI hardware is driven by the need to retain control over data security and privacy, crucial for handling sensitive information and ensuring regulatory compliance."

According to the findings, a hybrid infrastructure emerges as the primary architecture for AI in enterprises, with 65% of organisations using on-prem or hybrid systems. Public cloud solutions, in contrast, are less frequently relied upon. Preben Fjeld, Vice President and General Manager of Personal Computing Devices Services, Lenovo EMEA, commented on this trend: "Businesses are increasingly prioritising technology that supports AI-driven workforce productivity, and 2025 will mark a major shift in AI PC implementation as organisations move from piloting to implementing new devices. With the availability of AI PCs and edge devices being a top factor for successful AI implementation, success can only come from a coherent, joined up AI strategy."