Enterprises wasted $104M on underused tech in 2024 while 75% of workers struggle to harness AI efficiencies, new WalkMe research finds

Rhea-AI Summary

WalkMe (WKME) has released its annual State of Digital Adoption 2025 report, revealing significant challenges in enterprise AI adoption. The study, based on 3,700 respondents and data from 1.5 million users across 2,400 enterprise applications, shows enterprises lost over $104 million in 2024 due to underutilized technology.

While 79% of executives are confident about meeting AI transformation goals, only 28% of employees feel adequately trained, and merely 25% can use AI efficiently. Enterprise AI spending is projected to increase 64% in 2025, from $14M to $23M. Companies implementing digital adoption best practices can improve their digital transformation ROI from 22% to 64%.

The report highlights a significant visibility gap, with executives estimating 37 applications in use while the actual average is 625. Employees waste an average of 36 working days annually due to technology frustrations. Digital adoption investment has increased from $2.8 million in 2023 to $5.1 million in 2025.

Positive

• Digital adoption investment nearly doubled to $5.1M in 2025
• Implementation of digital adoption best practices can triple ROI from 22% to 64%
• 73% of large organizations have dedicated digital adoption teams
• Survey based on large sample of 3,700 respondents and 1.5M users

Negative

• Enterprises lost $104M in 2024 due to underutilized technology
• Only 28% of employees feel adequately trained in AI
• Only 25% of workers can use AI efficiently
• Employees waste 36 working days annually due to tech issues
• 17x discrepancy in application usage awareness shows poor visibility

Insights

Digital Transformation Analyst

Digital Adoption Gap Creates $104M Enterprise Wastage While Presenting Growth Opportunity for WalkMe

WalkMe's latest research reveals a striking paradox in enterprise AI adoption that directly validates the company's market positioning. While executives express 79% confidence in meeting AI transformation goals, only 25% of employees report successfully using AI to improve efficiency – exposing a critical implementation gap that's costing enterprises $104 million annually in wasted technology investments.

This disconnect represents both a market-wide problem and a specific opportunity for WalkMe's Digital Adoption Platform. With enterprise AI spending projected to surge 64% in 2025 (from $14M to $23M), organizations desperately need solutions that bridge the gap between technology investment and actual workforce utilization – precisely what WalkMe offers.

The research highlights a particularly alarming visibility problem: executives believe their organizations use an average of 37 applications, while WalkMe's data shows the actual number is 625 – a 17x discrepancy. This massive blind spot prevents efficient software management and creates fertile ground for WalkMe's analytics and adoption tools.

For investors, three metrics signal potential revenue acceleration for WalkMe:

• Digital adoption investments nearly doubling from $2.8M to $5.1M (2023-2025)
• 73% of large organizations now employing dedicated digital adoption teams (up from 63%)
• Enterprises implementing even one digital adoption best practice seeing ROI improvements from 22% to 64%

This research strategically positions WalkMe at the intersection of two high-growth markets: AI implementation and digital adoption. As organizations recognize that AI success depends not just on technology acquisition but on effective human utilization, WalkMe's platform becomes increasingly essential rather than optional.

The timing of this report aligns with growing market recognition that the "last mile" of technology implementation – actual user adoption – remains the critical factor determining ROI. With employees wasting an average of 36 working days annually due to technology frustrations, the productivity gains promised by AI remain largely theoretical without proper adoption strategies.

While this self-published research inherently promotes WalkMe's solutions, the endorsements from major organizations like Accenture, EDF Renewables, and State Farm lend credibility to the findings and suggest growing enterprise acceptance of digital adoption platforms as essential infrastructure rather than optional add-ons.

AI investment booms with major gap between AI ambitions and employee readiness

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WalkMe, the leader of the Digital Adoption Platform (DAP) category for effectively navigating technology change, today released its annual report, The State of Digital Adoption 2025, Special AI Edition. This year’s report focuses on AI adoption in the enterprise and highlights an alarming disconnect – while 79% of executives express confidence in meeting their AI transformation goals, only 28% of employees feel adequately trained and only 25% report being able to use AI to work more efficiently.

The report uncovers the staggering cost of digital inefficiencies, with enterprises losing over $104 million in 2024 alone due to underutilized technology and poor productivity practices. With AI spending expected to increase 64% in 2025 from $14M to $23M at large enterprises, companies must take proactive steps to ensure maximum ROI. According to the report, enterprises that implement even a single digital adoption best practice can nearly triple their digital transformation ROI from 22% to 64%. This gap reveals that without effective digital adoption, AI investments often fail.

These insights are drawn from a survey of 3,700 senior executives and employees, as well as proprietary data from a subset of WalkMe’s user base, 1.5 million users across 2,400 enterprise applications. The full report provides actionable strategies for business leaders to close the AI adoption gap, optimize IT investments, and enhance workforce productivity in 2025 and beyond.

"As we release the fourth annual State of Digital Adoption report, it’s clear that while AI is transforming enterprise ambitions, its success hinges on people," said Dan Adika, Co-Founder & CEO of WalkMe. "Over a decade of innovation in digital adoption has shown us one truth: technology alone doesn’t deliver results – people do. This year’s findings outline actionable steps leaders can take to close the readiness gap and turn their AI investments into impact."

The report also revealed an alarming visibility gap in how employees are using software in their roles. Executives believe an average of 37 applications are in use at their organizations, but WalkMe’s data shows the average number is actually 625, a 17x discrepancy. This gap is hindering organizations' ability to manage their software investments and properly support digital transformation.

“WalkMe’s research highlights a clear need for organizations to bridge the AI adoption gap, and digital adoption platforms play a vital role in enabling organizations to maximize their AI transformation efforts,” said Andrea Lippin, Managing Director, Talent & Organization at Accenture. “The report showed that AI has sparked 93% of enterprises to reevaluate key parts of their digital organization, including IT infrastructure, software applications, and talent to unlock the benefits of AI. We are entering a new chapter of business innovation that will have lasting implications across industries. And that is why we recommend a WalkMe first approach—ensuring that AI adoption is not only strategic but also seamless, intuitive, and scalable.”

"The success of AI in the enterprise is all about execution and, as this research shows, much of that is in the hands of employees,” said Alexa Cordell, Sr. Learning Technology Manager, EDF Renewables. “It’s about ensuring employees can seamlessly adopt and integrate it into their workflows to drive both individual and organizational success.”

Additional highlights from the research include:

• Employees still deal with technology frustrations, wasting an average of 36 working days a year.
• Average digital adoption investment rose from $2.8 million in 2023 to $5.1 million in 2025.
  • Digital adoption teams have grown: 73% of large organizations have six or more people responsible for driving software adoption, compared to 63% in 2024.
    

Download The State of Digital Adoption 2025 complete report here.

Register now to join WalkMe and speakers from Accenture, State Farm, and EDF Renewables for an interactive webinar, Bridging the AI Divide: Insights from the State of Digital Adoption 2025 February 25th at 11:00 AM ET.

About WalkMe:
WalkMe, an SAP company, pioneered the world’s leading Digital Adoption Platform, enabling organizations to navigate the change brought on by technology. Leveraging over a decade of experience, WalkMe’s platform integrates generative AI to deliver proactive, accessible, and actionable insights. Our context-aware solutions guide users through any workflow, identifying and resolving digital friction to ensure seamless execution of critical processes across all departments. Trusted by global leaders like IBM, Nestlé, ThermoFisher Scientific, and the U.S. Department of Defense, WalkMe empowers organizations to maximize software ROI and drive people-centric digital transformation. Visit www.walkme.com.

Media Contact:
Melanie Pasch
press@walkme.com

FAQ

How much money did enterprises waste on underused technology in 2024 according to WalkMe's report?

According to WalkMe's 2025 report, enterprises lost over $104 million in 2024 due to underutilized technology and poor productivity practices.

What is the expected increase in enterprise AI spending for 2025?

Enterprise AI spending is expected to increase 64% in 2025, rising from $14M to $23M at large enterprises.

How many working days do employees waste annually due to technology frustrations?

Employees waste an average of 36 working days per year due to technology frustrations.

What is the gap between executive perception and reality in enterprise application usage?

Executives believe 37 applications are in use, while actual data shows 625 applications on average, representing a 17x discrepancy.

How has digital adoption investment changed from 2023 to 2025?

Digital adoption investment has increased from $2.8 million in 2023 to $5.1 million in 2025.