A new report from Lenovo has revealed a widening gap between the soaring investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and the ability of current workplace systems to support its full potential. According to findings published in AI Magazine, 89% of global IT leaders believe major digital transformation is required before AI can deliver on its promise of productivity gains.
The report, Reinventing Workplace Productivity, is the first installment of Lenovo’s Work Reborn Research Series 2025. It surveyed 600 IT leaders worldwide, uncovering a critical disconnect between organisations’ AI ambitions and their outdated digital infrastructures.
While 79% of respondents said AI could help employees focus on more meaningful work, fewer than half rated their existing workplace solutions as adequate. Only 36% felt their current systems support employee engagement effectively.
“The workplace technology many businesses rely on today was never designed for the demands of AI-powered operations,” the report notes, underscoring the urgency of overhauling legacy systems.
Barriers to AI Adoption
Lenovo’s research highlights several obstacles to embedding AI into everyday business processes. Among them:
- Personalisation: 63% of IT leaders agree that AI-driven, tailored digital workplaces are essential, yet many companies continue to use one-size-fits-all devices and applications.
- Support automation: 61% recognise the need for AI-based IT support, but struggle to integrate these systems into legacy infrastructure.
- Employee experience: Nearly half of IT leaders said boosting engagement is their top priority, but current tools fall short of delivering a truly connected and productive workplace.
These findings echo a separate Lenovo-commissioned study by IDC, which also named employee productivity as the top priority for CIOs in 2025.
AI as a Driver of Transformation
Lenovo’s report outlines three key areas where generative AI (Gen AI) can transform the workplace when fully integrated:
- Enhanced collaboration — through real-time translation and co-authoring tools that enable seamless teamwork across geographies.
- Creative empowerment — by automating repetitive tasks and freeing employees to focus on strategic problem-solving.
- Productivity improvements — with AI-generated insights streamlining workflows and accelerating decision-making.
Rakshit Ghura, Vice President and General Manager of Lenovo’s Digital Workplace Solutions, stressed that transformation goes deeper than automating existing workflows.
“Simply automating existing processes will only yield incremental benefits,” Ghura said. “Transforming your workplace is essential to using AI effectively.”
At the heart of Lenovo’s strategy is Care of One™, an AI-powered platform that delivers personalised digital experiences through intelligent automation, secure remote access, and proactive IT support.
Lenovo’s Recommendations for Business Leaders
To bridge the AI readiness gap, Lenovo’s Reinventing Workplace Productivity report outlines three strategic actions:
- Simplify and personalise employee experiences by tailoring workflows and tools to individual roles.
- Automate IT operations such as updates, support, and maintenance to free up resources for high-value tasks.
- Redesign workflows to fully leverage Gen AI’s capabilities for innovation and value creation.
As AI Magazine reports, Lenovo’s findings suggest that companies willing to invest in rethinking their digital workplace foundations will gain a significant competitive edge as AI reshapes global business operations.
“AI changes the rules of productivity,” Ghura concluded. “But to realise its potential, IT leaders must work alongside their executive teams to fundamentally rethink how AI can augment their organisation’s competitiveness.”
