Productivity supports the growth agenda

South African organisations are already reporting productivity gains from workforce reskilling, AI-enabled tools and process redesign. Reskilling is cited by 53% of local respondents, compared with 33% globally. AI-enabled tools are cited by 50%, in line with the global result, while business-process redesign and simplification is cited by 47%, broadly matching the global 46%.

These findings are best understood as supporting the broader growth agenda. The additional capacity created through skills, technology and process improvement becomes strategically important when it is redirected towards innovation, stronger customer propositions, improved execution and new sources of revenue.

AI is an enabler, not the headline

AI is already being used in South African transaction evaluation, but adoption remains concentrated in pilots and inconsistent use across multiple activities. Ninety-six percent of respondents are either piloting AI in selected activities or using it across multiple activities, compared with 54% globally. None report that AI is embedded across most transaction activities and central to transaction strategy, compared with 12% globally. The strategic priority is therefore not AI adoption in isolation. It is using technology selectively and responsibly to improve the quality, speed and consistency of decisions that support growth and value creation.