Unisys (NYSE: UIS) has released its Digital Workplace Insights Report 2025, uncovering how AI-enabled workplace services are reshaping organizational performance across the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Surveying 1,000 C-suite and IT executives, the report highlights a widening performance gap between companies embracing AI-driven, employee-centric digital workplaces and those lagging behind.
Productivity Leaders Pull Ahead
The study identifies a top-performing segment, dubbed Productivity Leaders, who leverage AI — including generative AI (genAI) — to boost both business outcomes and employee experience. Compared with “Late Adopters,” these leaders report:
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Innovation gains: 91% vs. 17%
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Improved cybersecurity defenses: 98% vs. 42%
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ROI achievement: 99% vs. 41%
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Employee satisfaction and retention exceeding expectations: 91% vs. 31%
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Critical role of genAI during downtime: 87% vs. 35%
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Reduction in IT workload via AI: 92% vs. 42%
“The next generation of industry leaders won’t just adopt AI—they will deploy it in ways that empower employees and reinforce their business strategy,” said Patrycja Sobera, SVP and GM of Digital Workplace Solutions at Unisys. “AI alone isn’t enough; alignment across business and IT leaders is essential to sustain momentum and realize the full potential of digital workplace transformation.”
The Leadership Divide
The report highlights a divide between IT and business leaders:
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IT leaders prioritize operational efficiency, ROI, compliance, and productivity.
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Business leaders focus on employee productivity and experience, with only 32% saying digital tools work equally well for remote and in-office workers, compared to 67% of IT leaders.
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Views on genAI diverge: 72% of IT leaders see it as critical during downtime versus just under a third of business leaders.
This misalignment can slow adoption and reduce the effectiveness of AI investments if not addressed.
AI Enables Business Continuity and Reduces IT Burden
Productivity Leaders demonstrate that genAI does more than drive business outcomes — it transforms how organizations respond to technology disruptions. AI-enabled systems can:
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Reduce downtime
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Prioritize urgent tickets
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Respond instantly across time zones
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Free IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives
87% of Productivity Leaders say genAI is critical during downtime (vs. 35% of Late Adopters), and 92% report it reduces IT workload, more than double the rate of lagging organizations.
Many of these leaders are also exploring agentic AI to further enhance support, ensuring employees remain productive even during outages.
Employee Experience Drives AI Success
The report underscores that technology is only effective when paired with a human-centric approach. Productivity Leaders stand out by prioritizing employees when implementing AI-enabled solutions:
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96% understand employee technology needs, vs. 72% of Late Adopters
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Six times more likely to use experience-level agreements (XLAs) focused on human outcomes
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93% collect employee feedback on IT investments, compared with 34% of Late Adopters
This focus on employees translates directly into performance, with 91% of Productivity Leaders exceeding expectations for satisfaction and retention.
The Unisys report illustrates that AI-powered digital workplaces are no longer optional — they’re critical for sustaining productivity, innovation, and employee engagement. Organizations that invest in employee-centric AI solutions are positioning themselves to outperform competitors, while Late Adopters risk falling behind.
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