82% of Spanish companies plan to increase their investment in digital transformation with AI as a priority

The Spanish business fabric is entering a new phase of digitalization in which technology becomes a direct lever for growth and competitive advantage with 82% of companies that will increase their investment with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a priority.

The international study carried out by Var Group and Excellera Intelligence among companies in Spain, Italy and Germany (with a turnover of more than 10 million euros) indicates that 82% of companies will increase their budget for digital transformation, while 98% consider it important to develop a digital transformation strategy.

“Digital transformation has stopped focusing exclusively on technological modernization to become a competitiveness tool,” says the Regional Lead of Var Group Iberia, Gorka Jiménez.

In fact, according to the study, 93% believe that having a digital transformation strategy is essential to obtain a competitive advantage over other companies in the market.

This does not mean that cybersecurity continues to lead current attention, with 61% of companies identifying it as a priority, although AI and the cloud are leading future investment decisions.

The study reveals another piece of information that outlines the approach that Spanish companies are taking compared to other European markets, and this is in the management and analysis of data as essential steps to maximize the potential of AI.

Given this, Gorka Jiménez points out that “after consolidating cybersecurity as an essential requirement, companies are directing their investments towards artificial intelligence and data to boost growth, improve decision-making and generate new competitive advantages.”

What’s more, Spanish companies expect a direct impact on increased sales, improved customer experience and reduced costs. This investment push is also reflected in ICT, since 59% consider that they invest more in this section than their direct competitors.

However, the integration of technology continues to face known barriers such as legacy systems, security vulnerabilities and internal resistance to change, the latter as a common trait in the Spanish business fabric that is in itself one of the biggest obstacles to accelerating digitalization in its different forms.

Finally, 95% of organizations consider the consulting component important to select a technology provider, a fact that denotes that they are not only looking for solutions, but also the best technological companions in the transformation processes.