Indian firms plan AI spending boost despite data readiness gaps

The surge in AI investment

Indian businesses are preparing for a significant shift in how they allocate capital toward technology. According to the Dun & Bradstreet AI Momentum Survey, nearly seven in 10 companies in the country plan to increase their spending on artificial intelligence over the coming year.

This trend suggests a high level of confidence in the technology's ability to reshape the economy. About 70% of these firms anticipate that AI will directly influence their new products, business models, or operational improvements within the next quarter.

The momentum is moving beyond simple curiosity into active integration. More than 60% of Indian businesses have already moved past the initial stages of planning and piloting to begin more serious implementation.

The data readiness hurdle

Despite the high level of investment, a significant technical barrier remains for many companies. Only 3% of the surveyed Indian enterprises describe their data as being fully ready to support AI at a large scale. This figure is notably lower than the global average of 8%.

This gap suggests that many firms may struggle to move from small experiments to enterprise-wide advantages. Without high-quality, organized data, the sophisticated tools companies are buying may not perform as expected or provide the intended benefits.

The survey highlights a clear correlation between these data foundations and financial success. Businesses that have fully AI-ready data report broad or strong returns on investment at 6.3 times the rate of those with only partially ready data.

Current adoption and returns

While the majority of firms are still navigating the early stages of adoption, some are already seeing measurable results. Currently, 30% of Indian respondents report broad or strong returns from their current AI initiatives.

A smaller portion of the market is seeing more specific successes. About 46% of respondents observe pockets of return on investment, while 10% note that most of their pilots have successfully scaled with clear gains.

The transition to production is happening at a steady pace for those who have cleared the initial hurdles. Specifically, 35% of businesses are scaling their pilots into full production, and 26% have begun embedding AI across multiple core business processes.

The workforce skills gap

Technology is only one half of the equation for successful AI deployment. The survey indicates that human capital is currently lagging behind the pace of technological access. Only 25% of Indian businesses report having strong or very strong workforce readiness for these new tools.

The data shows that half of the companies surveyed describe their internal capabilities as mixed. This suggests that while companies have the tools, they may not yet have the staff with the specific skills required to harness them effectively.

Julian Prower of Dun & Bradstreet noted that the next chapter for India involves moving from simple adoption to a true competitive advantage. He emphasized that a well-governed data foundation and an AI-ready workforce are the critical components for scaling responsibly.

Moving toward AI advantage

The findings suggest that the next phase of the AI journey in India will be defined by quality rather than just quantity. Companies that focus on the underlying fundamentals—such as trusted and connected data—will likely be the ones to see sustainable growth.

For these businesses, the goal is to move beyond experimentation to make sharper decisions and innovate with more confidence. By addressing the data and skills gaps now, firms can convert their current momentum into a lasting competitive edge.

As the market matures, the distinction between winners and losers may depend on these basics. Those who get the fundamentals right will be better positioned to turn AI potential into enduring economic success.