31% companies worldwide still doesn't know how to apply AI to boost competitiveness

Barcelona, June 2, 2025. The SEIDOR AI Report 2025, produced by global technology consulting firm SEIDOR based on interviews with more than 1,300 companies worldwide, reveals that one in three (31%) companies still doesn’t know how to apply artificial intelligence (AI) to gain competitiveness. Although 78% of organizations plan to increase their investment in AI over the next year, many still lack a clear roadmap connecting that investment to their business priorities.

Additionally, 74% of companies believe this technology will profoundly transform the way business is conducted. AI acts as a structural driver of change, reshaping operations, decision-making, and relationships with customers, employees, and partners.

Guillermo Martínez, Global Head of Solutions & Technology at SEIDOR, states: “Many companies are investing in AI, but if that investment isn’t accompanied by a defined strategy and a vision for real impact, they risk losing momentum against competitors who are aligning technology, talent, and transformation.”

Automation and efficiency: global levers for progress

Globally, process automation is consolidating as the main area of AI application, identified by 42% of companies. It is the most natural entry point, as it improves operational efficiency, reduces costs, and frees up resources in relatively short timeframes. It is followed by software development (29%) and fraud detection (28%).

Among the most valued benefits by organizations are improved efficiency (47%), increased productivity (42%), and faster task execution (40%). Operational error reduction and fraud mitigation follow. These benefits are especially evident in sectors like technology, industry, logistics, and energy, where AI is being integrated into core business processes.

In contrast, other areas such as marketing, customer service, and personalized consumer experiences are still in earlier stages, despite their high potential to generate differentiation and added value.

Key technological domains and integrated solutions

AI is driving new use cases in already consolidated technological solutions. The environments with the highest adoption rates are chatbots and virtual assistants (76%), cybersecurity (75%), and IT support and management tools (74%). These areas attract a significant share of initial investment due to their immediate impact on both efficiency and user experience.

ERP, CRM, and HRM systems are also evolving to incorporate AI capabilities that anticipate needs, automate decisions, and offer intelligent, real-time recommendations. This evolution is generating a multiplying effect, particularly in companies with a mature technological foundation.

There is also sustained growth in AI in areas such as employee productivity, personalized marketing, predictive analytics, and workplace enhancement, expanding its reach beyond technical departments to the entire organization.