EXL Study: Only 12% of UK Firms Qualify as AI Leaders, Utilities Gain 27% Savings
EXLS•EXLS•EXLS•EXLS•EXL's 2026 UK AI study found 75% of companies believe they're ahead in AI but only 12% qualify as AI Leaders and just 3% secured new AI budgets versus 60% in the U.S. Data issues challenge 77%, while utilities report 27% cost savings and 28% margin gains from AI.
EXL surveyed 212 C-suite and senior decision makers across banking, finance, insurance, retail and utilities to gauge enterprise AI integration levels, perceptions and ROI outcomes in UK organizations.
While 75% of firms believe they lead in AI integration, only 12% meet AI Leader criteria and merely 3% secured incremental AI budgets, highlighting a significant perception gap compared to 60% of U.S. companies receiving funding.
Data quality and accessibility emerged as the top obstacle for 77% of respondents, with utilities outperforming other sectors by delivering average AI-driven cost reductions of 27% and margin expansions of 28%, underscoring varied sectoral AI maturity and returns.
