Microsoft is conducting in-depth research on AI adoption in the workplace, examining what’s successful for individuals, what obstacles are emerging, and how businesses can transition from initial exploration to widespread enterprise-wide integration. Currently, we’re uncovering fresh insights from Copilot prospect feedback, revealing which key job attributes are already experiencing an early AI-driven advantage. We explored one of the primary ways people claim to benefit from AI: leveraging time-saving advantages financially. Let’s dive deeper into this topic.
In our ongoing Copilot Utilization within the Office survey, we queried 1,300 early customers who use Copilot about the average daily time savings they’ve achieved since adopting the tool. They had the option to choose from six solutions: I haven’t observed any time financial savings; less than 5 minutes daily; 5-10 minutes; 11-30 minutes; 31-60 minutes; and greater than an hour. We analyzed the data by job function, then examined how much time individuals in various roles reported saving.
According to new data, individuals in cybersecurity, product growth, and sales/enterprise growth experience the greatest daily time savings, while those in procurement, legal, and supply chain face the least amount of efficiency gains. As users traverse the digital landscape, a mere 24-hour period proves sufficient for many to genuinely appreciate the value of AI, highlighting the crucial threshold required to foster lasting AI adoption.
AI Saves Time Throughout Capabilities
Enterprises across various sectors are experiencing substantial cost reductions, thereby amplifying the value proposition of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This table illustrates the perceived time savings that individuals across various professions experience when using AI. Responses from a survey, focused on six categories of time-based financial savings, have been quantified to determine the average perceived time savings. The bars are primarily organized according to these averages.
Microsoft Copilot Adoption in the Workplace Survey.
Researchers posit that the value derived from AI in jobs is largely influenced by two crucial factors:
In its early stages, the value and practical applications of AI become increasingly evident in specific areas. In gross sales, individuals can liberate a significant amount of time by saving on financial transactions, which allows them to focus on building meaningful relationships with their prospects. While lawyers operate within frameworks that prioritize confidentiality, privacy, and attorney-client privilege, these stringent requirements can hinder their ability to integrate AI tools into their workflow.
Diverse industries exhibit vastly distinct capabilities for rapid transformation. In the rapidly evolving field of cybersecurity, individuals must proactively adopt innovative technologies to effectively counter emerging and increasingly sophisticated threats. While professionals in supply chain roles may need to adopt new skills more gradually, as they often must integrate multiple vendors and legacy technologies within their operations.
While adoption rates may vary depending on individual, team, and organization, it’s undeniable that professionals are increasingly embracing AI in their daily work, with a striking 75% of global data staff currently utilizing artificial intelligence tools, as reported by our research. To harness the excitement around AI and drive enterprise transformation, it’s crucial to understand how diverse stakeholders across various functions are leveraging AI to inform your organization-wide implementation. Discover the latest insights and guidance in our Work Development Index, as AI reshapes work for employees and executives worldwide.
What more do you want to know about AI at work?
to the WorkLab e-newsletter.
