**Asia**: A Hitachi Vantara survey reveals that 42% of Asian enterprises view AI as critical, leading global trends. However, significant challenges in data quality and access persist, with businesses investing in skills and partnerships to enhance AI integration amidst rising data demands and security concerns.
Asian enterprises are demonstrating significant progress in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into their core operations, according to recent research conducted by Hitachi Vantara, a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. The Hitachi Vantara State of Data Infrastructure Survey, which sampled 1,200 respondents globally, indicates that while 37% of organisations worldwide view AI as critical, this figure rises to 42% for enterprises in Asia. Notably, China and Singapore lead globally with 53% and 57% of organisations respectively acknowledging AI’s critical role, highlighting a decisive transition in these markets from experimentation to comprehensive AI adoption.
Despite these advancements, the survey reveals that many Asian organisations are facing substantial challenges related to their foundational data quality and availability. The data indicates that, on average, AI models within these enterprises produce accurate results only 32% of the time, while data is accessible where and when needed just 34% of the time. Alarmingly, only 30% of the data utilised is categorised as structured, suggesting that a significant portion of supplier data is unformatted and requires refinement.
The rapid increase in data volumes is exacerbating these issues, with respondents anticipating a staggering 123% rise in data storage demands over the next two years. This acceleration complicates the delivery of clean, timely data inputs necessary for reliable AI outcomes. Security concerns also loom large, affecting 44% of Asian respondents who list data security as a primary issue, surpassing the global average of 38%. In regions such as India and Indonesia, the figures are even higher, at 54% and 50% respectively, intensifying the challenge of implementing effective AI systems.
In light of these conditions, Asian enterprises are proactively investing in skills development and external expertise to bolster their capabilities. The survey found that 71% of respondents are actively hiring staff with relevant AI skills, exceeding the global average of 64%. Additionally, 68% are consulting external experts, compared to 61% globally, illustrating a determined effort to bridge expertise gaps and implement AI responsibly. Notably, individuals in Singapore, Indonesia, India, and China are engaging experts at rates above the global average, whereas Malaysia’s respondents appear to favour self-taught approaches, with 50% relying on this method for skill acquisition.
To achieve sustained success in AI, organisations in Asia must focus on establishing a solid groundwork that facilitates the thriving of AI initiatives. Among the region’s leading adopters, 40% attribute their accomplishments to the use of high-quality data, which is above the global average of 38%. Moreover, strategic partnerships play a vital role; 39% of AI frontrunners in Asia cite collaborations with AI vendors and specialists as key to their successes, outpacing the 37% global figure. Effective project management is equally crucial, with 45% of top performers in Asia accentuating robust governance frameworks as a contributing factor, significantly higher than the global average of 37%.
“The region’s markets show that when organisations pair advanced adoption with data best practices, AI can transcend pilot projects to become truly transformative,” stated Adrian Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, The Americas and Asia Pacific at Hitachi Vantara, emphasising the necessity for leaders to prioritise data availability, security, quality, and governance.
As AI applications mature across Asia, refining data practices is essential for maintaining momentum. Converting unstructured supplier data into a refined format will enhance the accuracy of AI models, while the implementation of robust security measures and governance frameworks can help meet regulatory requirements.
The survey further emphasises the recognition among IT leaders of the need for external support in various critical areas as AI initiatives advance. Hardware must be secure, continuously available, and efficient, with 36% of IT leaders indicating a need for assistance in building AI models and large language models (LLMs). In terms of data storage and processing solutions, 30% of leaders report needing help to reduce redundant or obsolete data and 29% need assistance with data preparation. Additionally, 39% seek third-party expertise for the development of effective AI models.
“By aligning AI expansion with data integrity and strategic resource investments, Asia’s enterprises can fully capitalise on their early lead,” Johnson concluded, reiterating that a focus on foundational data elements, along with strategic partnerships and effective governance, will ensure AI initiatives yield transformative and enduring value.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
