Workday has unveiled figures that suggest AI could unleash a £119 billion productivity boost for UK enterprises. This revelation comes at a crucial time, as the nation grapples with a productivity slump that has persisted for over a decade and a half.
The report paints a picture of a country on the brink of a seismic shift in its economic landscape. With current productivity levels languishing 24% below pre-2008 projections, the promise of AI-driven efficiency gains offers a glimmer of hope for businesses and policymakers alike.
According to the study, large businesses in the UK could save a staggering 7.9 billion employee hours annually through the strategic implementation of AI technologies.
Breaking this down to an individual level, the numbers are equally impressive. Business leaders stand to save 1,117 hours per year – equivalent to 140 working days – while individual employees could reclaim 737 hours, or 92 working days.
“Sizeable productivity growth has eluded UK workplaces for over 15 years – but responsible AI has the potential to shift the paradigm,” explained Daniel Pell, VP and country manager for UK&I at Workday.
The report’s findings come at a time when political figures are also weighing in on the role of technology in governance.
Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair recently commented that while Britain faces economic challenges, advances in technologies like AI mean there has “never been a better or more exciting time to be governing.”
Despite the optimistic outlook, the path to AI adoption is not without obstacles. The report highlights that 93% of both employees and business leaders harbour concerns related to trust in AI. This underscores the need for responsible AI strategies, comprehensive education, and transparent communication initiatives.
Other barriers to AI adoption include fears over safety, privacy, and bias (38%), the need for more time to educate teams (34%), and lack of investment (32%). Additionally, the report identified unengaged employees (41%), lack of incentives (41%), and inadequate technology (35%) as key factors hampering organisational productivity.
The potential economic impact of AI is staggering. Based on the study’s findings, an additional 2.9 hours of work per day translates to £11,058 a year of added value for each average employee. With over 10 million employees in large businesses across the UK, the cumulative effect could reach £119 billion worth of productive work annually.
However, the report also reveals a productivity paradox in the current workplace. In an 8-hour workday, employees and business leaders are genuinely productive for only 5.8 and 5.9 hours respectively—leaving over a quarter of the day unproductive.
The promise of AI extends beyond mere time savings. By taking on mundane and repetitive tasks, AI has the potential to empower workers to focus on more meaningful and impactful work. This shift could address one of the biggest barriers to productivity identified in the report: unengaged employees.
As UK businesses stand at the crossroads of this AI revolution, the report serves as both a wake-up call and a roadmap. It suggests a two-pronged approach to AI deployment: a concrete analysis of potential efficiencies coupled with a transparent strategy to tackle adoption barriers.
Realising the full potential of AI in the UK economy will require a concerted effort from businesses, policymakers, and employees alike. The successful integration of AI technologies could well determine the UK’s economic trajectory for years to come.
A full copy of Workday’s report can be found here (registration required)
(Photo by Belinda Fewings)
See also: Tech executives confident in AI skills, but adoption barriers persist
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