Despite the buzz around Artificial Intelligence (AI), adoption isn’t yet widespread at an enterprise level. According to the latest Business Insights Report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), just 21% of UK businesses are using some form of AI. The gap between AI’s promise and its deployment stems from a common shortfall: the absence of a clear, actionable strategy to turn ambition into execution.
Yet, amid this gradual adoption, one group is quietly taking the lead: data analysts. Traditionally at the forefront of digital transformation, they are once again setting the standard. Analysts are not just leveraging AI tools; they’re delivering measurable value to their organisations. The question is: what are they doing differently, and how can leaders apply these lessons to accelerate adoption across the broader business?
How analysts are leading the way
The scale of AI adoption among data analysts is striking and far beyond what most would expect. According to our 2025 State of Data Analysts in the Age of AI Report, a whopping 97% of UK analysts use AI in their daily work, with 87% specifically using analytics automation. This isn’t just a response to industry buzz. Adoption rates indicate that analysts recognise AI’s potential to redefine their role and workflows.
While broader workforce sentiment remains cautious, with an ACAS study finding that one in four UK workers fear AI could lead to job losses, analysts are more confident. Only 13% of those we surveyed expressed serious concern about displacement. Instead, the majority are embracing the shift – 76% agree that the future of business analysis is rooted in AI and automation.
Analysts aren’t just using AI to enhance their own work; they’re applying it to create value across the entire organisation. From informing strategic decisions to shaping leadership priorities, their expertise is helping define the future of business. Our research shows that UK analysts are harnessing AI and automation to craft strategies that drive revenue growth, reduce costs, and strengthen planning across critical areas such as workforce management, financial strategy, and operations.
The results speak for themselves. With 84% of analysts reporting increased job satisfaction and 94% stating their roles are now seen as more strategic, AI is reshaping how analysts are valued. By streamlining tasks, strengthening stakeholder communication, and unlocking new opportunities for career growth, analysts are demonstrating that AI is far more than a productivity tool.
Scaling analyst innovation
It’s clear that analysts are committed to AI and automation, but what’s even more telling is their belief in its broader potential. In fact, 74% of the analysts we surveyed said that AI can improve most other business functions. To unlock enterprise-wide adoption, organisations must empower departments beyond data teams to align their outputs with strategic objectives. Whether the goal is to boost efficiency, customer service outcomes or revenue, AI and automation tools must be used to track and influence KPIs. By following the lead of analysts, other teams can make AI and data-driven decisions at scale –something that should be at the top of the list of every forward-thinking leader.
Of course, this kind of transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a shift in how businesses approach AI and data literacy, along with a culture that integrates analytics and AI tools into daily workflows. When employees can interpret and act on the insights these tools provide, they make faster, smarter decisions that drive better outcomes. A continuous feedback loop further validates investments in data analytics, reinforcing their value across the organisation.
Alongside this, businesses should take advantage of low-code and no-code platforms. These tools democratise access to AI and data analytics, enabling employees without technical expertise to uncover insights, automate tasks, and identify meaningful outcomes. By making these tools available across departments from sales and marketing to finance and operations, organisations reduce reliance on data specialists and empower entire workforces to explore, test, and act on data independently to influence key performance metrics.
Putting AI in every team’s hands
As data analysts earn recognition from leadership for their effective use of AI, they are paving the way for wider adoption across the organisation. Their success marks a pivotal shift: AI and data analytics are becoming integral to everyday decision-making, no longer confined to specialists but embraced as a shared responsibility at every level.
The message for leaders is clear: take a page from the analysts’ playbook and empower teams to generate actionable insights that drive key performance metrics and deliver a competitive advantage.
