AI Adoption Soars in UK Business: 75% Embrace Automation for Growth, Efficiency, and Better Customer Service

AI Takes the Lead: 75% of UK Businesses Now Using or Exploring AI to Power Operations

A recent survey of 750 UK businesses by Moneypenny reveals that artificial intelligence is becoming a key part of business operations across the country. Over two-thirds of companies are either already using or considering AI to improve efficiency, support decision-making, and fuel growth.

The research highlights how AI adoption is growing swiftly, especially in marketing, analytics, and customer service. AI is shifting from a future possibility to an active tool helping companies manage repetitive tasks, boost productivity, and deliver faster, smarter results.

Key Findings

• 75% of UK Companies Are Now Using or Exploring AI
  Marketing, content creation, and analytics top the list for AI use.
  47% of businesses use AI for analytics, 45% for customer service/chatbots, and 42% for productivity and marketing.
• AI Adoption Is Especially High in Larger Businesses
  80-90% of companies with 250–500 employees are considering AI, compared to 66% of microbusinesses.
  28% fully embrace AI, while 40% adopt it selectively.
• IT & Telecoms and Legal Sectors Lead
  64% of IT and Telecoms companies use AI for content and marketing.
  Legal (53%) and HR (52%) firms rely heavily on AI for telephone answering, a traditionally human role.
• Regional Trends: London Leads, but North East and Northern Ireland Are Catching Up
  Up to 85% of London businesses are AI-active.
  Northern Ireland and the North East top full AI adoption at 40%, outpacing Greater London’s 35%.
• AI Delivers Clear Benefits
  Time savings (54%), productivity gains (43%), and cost savings (42%) are the most cited advantages.
  Companies use AI not just to automate but to make decisions faster and more accurately.
• Concerns Persist
  Data security (43%), staff anxiety (42%), and customer experience worries (32%) are top challenges.
  Ethical, transparent, and human-centred AI implementation remains essential.
• Businesses Seek More Support
  58% of companies using AI want better guidance on effective implementation.
  The most trusted sources are AI providers (38%), review sites (37%), and business advice outlets (36%).

This data makes it clear that AI is not a plug-and-play solution. Success depends on using AI thoughtfully—handling routine tasks to free up employees for complex or sensitive work. This blend of technology and human input can improve customer experiences and operational efficiency.

For operations professionals looking to deepen their AI knowledge, exploring targeted training can be valuable. Resources like Complete AI Training’s courses by job role offer practical guidance on leveraging AI effectively in business settings.

With AI adoption growing steadily, operations teams that embrace it carefully and ethically will be better positioned to optimize workflows and support business growth.

Research commissioned by Censuswide between May 1st – 6th 2025 among 750 UK businesses.