AI value hinges on information management strategies, study finds

Findings suggest a comprehensive IM strategy may also help overcome top challenges organisations faced during AI implementation

Organisations with mature information management (IM) strategies are 1.5 times more likely to see the benefits of AI, despite data quality challenges, a new report found.

The survey, AI and Information Management Report, conducted by AvePoint surveyed over 750 digital workplace leaders across the world and industries.

According to the survey, fewer than half of organisations are confident they can use AI safely today.

Before implementing AI, 71 per cent of organisations were concerned about data privacy and security, while 61 per cent were concerned about quality and categorisation of internal data.

Fewer than half have an AI acceptable use policy, despite widespread use of publicly available generative AI tools (65 per cent of organisations use ChatGPT and 40 per cent use Google Gemini today).

When implementing AI, 45 per cent of surveyed said they encountered unintended data exposure, meaning one of their biggest concerns became reality.

CRN spoke to Chris Shaw, UKI&SA country channel manager at AvePoint to find out how channel partners can help their clients address information management and AI setbacks.

He told us: "From our conversations and experience in the channel so far, we are seeing a real willingness to adopt AI and explore how it can be harnessed to drive productivity for customers.

"Partners and MSPs are getting behind this drive to adopt, but it's really highlighting the need for data and information management to be reviewed, controlled and actioned.

"AI can be the greatest tool for productivity, but it can also lead to serious data breaches (both internally and externally) and highlight the data sprawl most customers know about but can't control.

"MSPs and partners can assist customers in a couple of simple ways by helping to identify the initial pain point that AI will fix, meaning that the adoption is easier and delivered at greater scale while also streamlining data through classification, optimisation and archiving motions.

"The data classification problems we are seeing are universal problems that all customers face and AI is a major catalyst for change in driving behaviour."

Data privacy and security

"Unsurprisingly, data privacy and security were among the top concerns for organisations before implementing AI," added Dana Simberkoff, chief risk, privacy and information security officer, at AvePoint.

"The reality is that not enough organisations have the proper policies in place today, which exposes them to risks that could be mitigated, if they better protect and govern their data and educate their employees on the safe usage of this technology."

The survey exposed contradictions in organisations' perception of readiness for AI compared to their reality.

Many companies experience gaps in data readiness and information management that have already or will pose significant obstacles to safe and successful AI implementation.

88 per cent of companies surveyed report they have an IM strategy in place, but 44 per cent lack basic measures such as archiving and retention policies and lifecycle management solutions.

Just 29 per cent of organisations use automation in most aspects of their IM strategy. But data volume is growing, with 64 per cent of organisations managing at least one petabyte of data and 41 per cent managing at least 500 petabytes of data.

When implementing AI, 52 per cent of surveyed faced challenges with internal data quality.

Creating ROI

Additionally, effective IM strategies can lead to a meaningful return on AI investments, according to the survey.

Organisations with mature IM strategies are 1.5 times more likely to realise benefits from AI than those with less mature strategies.

But despite this correlation, not enough organisations acknowledge the value of information management in AI success, with only 17 per cent recognising a robust IM strategy as the most effective way to ensure ROI on their AI investments.

This year, organisations are significantly increasing their investments in AI, with 83 per cent planning to increase their AI spending and 79 per cent investing in licensed AI such as Copilot for Microsoft 365.

In addition, 60 per cent of organisations plan to allocate at least a quarter of their technology budget to AI in the next five years.

However, less than half of organisations (46 per cent) offer AI-specific training, hindering their employees from safely using and optimising this technology.