Innovation and Investment Outpace Integration as UK Firms Overestimate AI Readiness, OneAdvanced Finds

Birmingham, UK – 15 January 2026 – UK organisations are investing in artificial intelligence faster than they can integrate it, creating a growing execution gap between ambition and reality, according to OneAdvanced’s 10th Annual Trends Report.

Based on insights from more than 4,500 UK senior decision makers across a range of industries, the research finds that while AI adoption and integration is now the top business priority, many organisations remain constrained by fragmented systems, limited workforce readiness, and weak operational execution.

The report shows that organisations are investing in technology at such a pace they are struggling to embed it into everyday workflows. Nearly two thirds (59%) organisations report difficulties integrating software platforms, with more than half (56%) describing themselves as being in ‘automation purgatory’ – stuck between manual processes and fully integrated, AI-enabled operations. These challenges continue to delay decision-making, limit visibility, and reduce the real-world impact of AI investment.

Despite this, perceptions of progress remain high. Half (51%) of organisations believe they are ahead of their competitors when it comes to AI-enabled workstreams, and 30% consider themselves to be on par. However, 49% of respondents also admit that AI is used in less than 25% of day-to-day operations, indicating a widespread overconfidence in UK companies’ AI maturity.

The research also highlights a significant perception gap between leadership and operational teams. C-suite executives believe they are extracting three times more value from AI investments than managers on the ground, while operational teams are substantially less likely to benefit from data-enabled decision support. This suggests that insight is reaching senior leadership, but it is unable to be consistently translated into operational delivery.

Workforce readiness remains a critical constraint. While skills gaps are identified as one of the most significant organisational challenges, training and development are ranked as the lowest business priorities. This imbalance is creating a bottleneck in effective human–machine collaboration and limiting organisations’ ability to scale AI beyond isolated use cases.

Simon Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of OneAdvanced, said:

“Ten years ago, our Annual Trends research found that British organisations expected their digital transformation to be largely complete by 2026. However, this is far from the case. While innovation and investment have raced ahead, integration lags and the failure to adequately prepare people to harness AI’s potential means that the promise of human–machine collaboration remains out of reach. If the UK wants to lead on the global stage, it has to drive better AI adoption at pace as a matter of urgency, or be left behind.”

 

-ENDS- 

 

ABOUT ONEADVANCED

OneAdvanced is a leading provider of AI-powered sector-focused SaaS software, headquartered in Birmingham, UK. Our mission is to power the world of work through software and services that effortlessly get the job done for our customers, giving them the freedom to focus on thriving for their customers, people and communities.      

Customers trust OneAdvanced to deliver digitalisation through innovative technology, addressing business problems through intelligent insight. With over 30 years of deep sector knowledge and experience, we are a strategic partner to our customers, who touch the lives of millions of people every day. From caring for patients in the NHS and social care to meeting tenants' housing needs; supporting learners in education and apprenticeships to navigating complex legal matters; and making sure goods get to their destination on time managing complex supply chains. 

 

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Email: sally.scott@oneadvanced.com Mobile: 0773 050 3155

 

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