AI in Belgian organisations: Where are we today and what’s next?
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved from a mere buzzword into a fundamental component of innovation and growth strategies for businesses. Yet, for many Belgian organisations, an important question persists: Are we truly materialising the full potential of AI?
Our Tech Strategy and AI survey 2024 gathered insights from CIOs and technology leaders across Belgium to understand their use of AI and the challenges they encounter. The results paint a compelling picture: While there’s a strong interest in exploring the potential of AI, scaling these efforts to drive significant business transformation remains a considerable hurdle.
The key question now is: Where do organisations currently stand and how can they move from experimentation to full-scale AI adoption?
Challenges with AI adoption: AI remains a hurdle to scale
On a positive note, the adoption of AI is gaining momentum within Belgian organisations. Our survey results revealed that an encouraging 76% of companies are currently experimenting with and piloting AI solutions. This demonstrates a strong interest in AI across a range of sectors. However, only 21% of organisations have progressed beyond the pilot stage, where AI is fully integrated into daily operations and delivering significant results. The truth is, scaling AI is a complex endeavour. As a CIO or business leader, you may find yourself tackling three recurring challenges when it comes to scaling AI:
1. Cybersecurity and data governance
It's no surprise that 97% of CIOs surveyed have identified cybersecurity as a major concern. AI depends heavily on high-quality, accessible data, but mishandling this data - whether through breaches or inadequate governance - poses significant risks.
2. Adapting operational models
Scaling AI isn't just about the technology; it often requires rethinking operational models. Processes, teams and even decision-making structures need to align with a more data-driven, AI-powered approach, which many companies find challenging.
3. Addressing skills gaps
A notable statistic reveals that only 43% of companies are investing in digital literacy training for their employees. While this is a step in the right direction, it’s not enough. If your workforce lacks the knowledge to effectively use AI tools or is resistant to change, scaling AI will continue to be an inefficient task.
How can PwC help you with AI adoption?
At PwC, we believe that AI goes beyond just developing a first proof of concept. It's about achieving economic impact and tangible returns. Our experience shows that organisations that excel with AI adopt a strategic, phased approach:
1. Build trust through responsible AI
The effectiveness of AI depends on robust governance. Organisations need to establish strong frameworks to manage risks, ensure ethical use and maintain compliance. Trust is crucial for gaining both internal adoption and external success.
2. Start with specific, targeted use cases
Instead of attempting to address everything at once, prioritise solving one or two well-defined business challenges with AI that deliver economic value to your organisation. This aligns with the "start small, scale fast" philosophy, allowing for focused efforts that can be expanded upon success.
3. Invest in people and data foundations
AI thrives on high-quality data and skilled people. We support our clients in developing AI-ready data platforms and emphasise the importance of upskilling their teams in a phased way. Ultimately, technology cannot succeed without the acceptance and support of people.
Client success stories
Boosting efficiency at a leading global supply chain organisation
One notable example of our work is our collaboration with a major leader in the global supply chain market. By implementing Microsoft Copilot, we integrated AI into the company’s daily operations, which streamlined workflows, enhanced decision making and boosted overall efficiency. This success was achieved through a phased implementation strategy and a strong focus on change management, ensuring widespread adoption throughout the organisation.
Driving AI adoption at NATO
Together with the NATO Standardization Office (NSO), we developed an AI-powered solution featuring natural language processing and text analytics to assist their volunteer subject matter experts in better managing and navigating the NATO standardization documents used across the alliance. Through frequent collaborative sprints and iterative development, we implemented a chatbot prototype and an automated document annotator. These innovative AI solutions enable the NSO to address its community more broadly to bring together divergent national views more easily.
These projects are an example of how tailored solutions and phased implementation can deliver quick wins, encourage trust and create momentum for scaling AI.
What’s next for AI in Belgian organisations?
As AI technology continues to mature, the companies that’ll succeed are those that prioritise investing in upskilling their workforce and developing strong business cases. The questions that organisations need to raise are:
Are we ready to boost the skills of our employees and provide them with the tools needed to scale AI solutions?
Do we have strong governance frameworks in place to make sure that AI’s implemented ethically and responsibly?
Most importantly, are we aligning our AI initiatives with our overall business strategy to achieve significant economic benefits?
AI is no longer just a luxury; it’s now essential for sustaining your competitive edge. At PwC, we’re dedicated to helping organisations navigate the human and economic challenges of this transformative technology, making sure it’s practical, scalable, used responsibly and aligned with your business goals.
Contact us
Partner Technology Consulting & Innovation, PwC Belgium
Tel: +32 495 59 08 40
