- Elite '15% Club' companies demonstrate successful AI scaling and measurable ROI.
- Marketing efficiency improved with a 50% reduction in production time and a 25% increase in campaign reach.
- 60% of AI spending now driven by business units, showing strong operational integration.
HFS Research, in collaboration with Cognizant (NASDAQ:CTSH), has released a report unveiling that just 15% of consumer goods companies have successfully scaled AI initiatives, forming an exclusive group known as the "15% Club". These firms achieve substantial returns on investment (ROI) by prioritizing strong AI governance, agile funding, and business-driven implementation strategies.
The report highlights remarkable improvements among these companies, such as a 50% reduction in marketing production time and a 25% increase in global campaign reach. Additional advancements were noted in areas like supply chain efficiency, product innovation, and customer service.
Interestingly, the study points out that 60% of AI spending is now being driven by business units outside of central IT budgets, signifying a shift towards operationally integrated AI implementations. Key success factors include robust C-suite sponsorship, cross-functional alignment, and dedicated AI budgets.
An emerging trend among these companies is the development of "agentic AI", which refers to autonomous systems capable of executing multi-step processes with minimal human oversight. This adoption is seen in various operations such as internal reporting automation, stock-level management, and intelligent order processing.
HFS Research's CEO, Phil Fersht, emphasized that AI's success hinges on governance, flexible funding, and a business-driven approach, rather than technical capabilities alone. Cognizant is supporting companies in embracing these transformative strategies to achieve tangible performance improvements and sustain competitive advantage.
