AI ROI. Three letters (ROI) that have got boardrooms humming louder than a dodgy printer. Everyone’s chasing it. Few are catching it. And according to Dayforce’s latest Pulse of Talent report, most organisations are missing the mark entirely.
So let’s cut through the noise. Let’s talk about what’s really stopping AI ROI from becoming more than just a line on a strategy slide, and how to turn it into something that actually delivers value.
AI ROI: The Promise vs. The Pitfalls
AI ROI isn’t just a shiny goal for the annual report. It’s the difference between investing in AI and actually seeing it do something useful, like saving time, boosting productivity, or helping your people grow instead of groan.
But here’s the reality check… 95% of enterprise AI pilots fail. Not because the tech’s broken. Because the implementation is. It’s like buying a top-of-the-range coffee machine and never plugging it in.
Dayforce surveyed nearly 7,000 workers, managers, and execs across six countries. What they found was a cocktail of optimism, confusion, and a worrying lack of training. So if your AI ROI looks more like a black hole than a breakthrough, read on to find out why.
The Three Big AI Return on Investment Barriers
1. Training? What Training?
AI’s moving faster than a toddler on Haribo. But most workers are still waiting for someone to show them how to use it.
- 84% of workers and 64% of managers said they’ve had no AI training in the past year.
- Meanwhile, 63% say developing AI skills is “very important” for their careers.
That’s a massive gap. And it’s not just a skills issue, it’s a retention risk. If your people feel left behind, they’ll start looking elsewhere. Or worse, they’ll stay and disengage.
Instep UK’s take: Embed AI literacy into your learning and development strategy. Make it part of the everyday, not a one-off workshop with stale biscuits.
2. Transition Support: Missing in Action
AI has already become much more than a new tool. It’s a job reshaper. A workflow wrecker. A career curveball.
- 12% of employees say their role has already changed because of AI.
- 35% expect changes soon.
- And 42% of execs say they’d have picked a different career if they’d known how AI would impact their job.
These stats should be a flashing red light to you.
Because without proper transition support, AI feels less like a helping hand and more like a shove into the unknown. And yet, only 17% of organisations offer reskilling programmes. That’s like throwing people into the deep end and hoping they learn to swim by instinct.
Instep UK’s take: Use AI to guide career paths, match people with internal opportunities, and build a culture of mobility. Your workforce will thank you. Your retention rates will too.
3. Trust: The Missing Ingredient
AI without trust is like a satnav that occasionally fibs. You’ll use it once, then go back to the paper map.
- 58% of respondents say AI presents ethical challenges.
- Only 26% of organisations have someone accountable for ethical AI use.
- And trust levels drop dramatically the further down the org chart you go.
Execs might be gung-ho, but workers are wary. And rightly so. Bias, privacy, fairness – these can be deal-breakers.
Instep UK’s take: Build transparency into your AI strategy. Communicate clearly. Set up ethical oversight. Make trust a feature, not a flaw.
What Actually Works for AI ROI?
Here’s the good news. When AI is used strategically, not scattergun, it delivers.
Dayforce found that HR-related use cases are already driving serious value:
- 69% of execs saw transformational value from AI-driven learning recommendations.
- 71% said AI helped match employees with internal job opportunities.
- 55% of managers said AI improved HR query response times.
So yes, AI can be a game-changer. But only if you aim it at real problems. Not just “let’s AI everything and hope for the best.”
Three Must-Dos on The Path to AI ROI
1. Train Like You Mean It
- Make AI training accessible at every level.
- Use AI to personalise learning journeys.
- Track progress and close skills gaps with data-driven insights.
2. Support Career Transitions
- Adopt AI-powered career planning tools.
- Promote internal mobility with smart matching.
- Align workforce planning with individual aspirations.
3. Build Trust Through Transparency
- Communicate openly about AI tools and decisions.
- Set up ethical oversight and accountability.
- Use tech with built-in safeguards and permission controls.
Stop Chasing, Start Planning
If you’re chasing AI ROI, stop chasing. Start planning.
Train your people. Support their transitions. Build trust. Focus on use cases that actually solve problems. And for the love of all things digital, don’t let your AI strategy be just another buzzword bingo card.
Instep UK is here to help you turn AI from a shiny object into a strategic advantage. Because when tech meets trust, training, and transition, that’s when AI ROI stops being a dream and starts being your reality.
Book your free education consultation today to learn more.
