Many organisations in Hong Kong aren't fully capturing the value of AI, according to Workday Inc.'s new report.
"We are seeing organisations in Hong Kong grow increasingly comfortable adopting AI, but many have yet to fully capture the value it can deliver," said Daniel Cham, general manager for Workday Greater China. "As we move into 2026, the focus of AI must shift beyond adoption to measurable growth. This means investing in the right tools and capabilities to upskill employees, strengthen how AI is applied, and translate productivity gains into tangible business outcomes that support long-term organisational growth."
The AI productivity paradox
The report titled "Beyond Productivity: Measuring the Real Value of AI" has found that the most successful organisations not only implement AI but also reinvest the time it saves into their workforce by focusing on upskilling, redesigning roles, and modernising work processes.
However, in Hong Kong, 18% of companies use the time saved to increase employee workload. Additionally, 41% of the savings are invested back into technology, while only 28% is allocated to employee development.
Globally, the report indicates that companies effectively leveraging AI are using the time saved for deeper analysis, improved decision-making, and strategic thinking (57%), rather than simply increasing workload. Furthermore, a significant 79% of these companies are committing to increased skills training.
"Too many AI tools push the hard questions of trust, accuracy, and repeatability back onto individual users," said Gerrit Kazmaier, president, product and technology, Workday. "Our philosophy is that AI should do the complex work under the hood so people can focus on judgment, creativity, and connection. That's how organisations turn AI-powered speed into durable, human-led advantage."
