Over 80% of Managers Face Limits in Internal Systems; High Demand for "Execution Support" Services That Implement and Establish Solutions

AKKODiS Consulting Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenichiro Kawasaki; hereinafter referred to as "AKKODiS"), the Japanese subsidiary of AKKODiS, a global digital engineering consulting firm accelerating corporate innovation and growth in 30 countries worldwide, supports companies in improving productivity and achieving AI transformation through on-site reform capabilities and digital technology. AKKODiS conducted a survey on the current state of DX promotion and AI utilization, and external support needs, targeting 873 business professionals at the manager level or above (300-999 employees: 436 people, 1,000+ employees: 437 people) in charge of DX promotion and AI utilization within their companies. The survey revealed a significant gap between the desire to utilize AI and its actual implementation, despite growing enthusiasm. Furthermore, it highlighted the limitations of transformation solely through internal human resources and systems, as well as challenges with conventional external support, indicating a strong demand for new "execution support type services."

Survey Report: "Survey on the State of DX Promotion and AI Utilization (2026)"

Survey Results Summary

1. Approximately 87% express intent to utilize AI, with larger companies showing higher intent.

2. Only 61% of companies overall report being able to utilize AI sufficiently.

3. Over 80% of respondents in DX promotion and AI utilization stated that resolving issues solely with internal human resources and systems has reached its limits. The main reasons cited were a lack of internal skills and a shortage of personnel to bridge the gap between on-site operations and DX/AI.

4. Of managers who have used external support, 57.1% responded that it provided "recommendations only, with insufficient execution support."

5. 85% of managers require external human resources of an "execution support type" that possess expertise in DX/AI and an understanding of on-site operations, capable of supporting implementation and establishment, not just strategy formulation.

1. DX Promotion Maturity: Over 14-point Gap Between Large and Mid-sized Companies While the keyword DX has been widely recognized for some time, the proportion of companies that responded "clearly defining issues and continuously improving" their internal DX promotion was 61.3% for companies with 1,000 or more employees (hereinafter, "large companies"), compared to 47.2% for companies with 300-999 employees (hereinafter, "mid-sized companies"), showing a difference of over 14 points. This suggests that DX is more likely to be integrated into management strategy in larger companies. Meanwhile, in mid-sized companies, 37.8% still responded that they "recognize the necessity of DX but are not progressing sufficiently," indicating structural challenges such as limited capacity for digital investment and a lack of dedicated personnel. This DX gap must be recognized as a risk factor that could impact future industrial competitiveness.

State of DX Promotion Q1. Regarding your company's DX promotion, please select the one that best describes the current situation. (SA)

2. AI Utilization: "86.9% Want to Utilize" vs. 60.9% Actually Utilizing, a "Barrier to Execution" of -26 points When asked if they want to utilize AI to solve DX challenges, 86.9% of respondents overall answered "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree," confirming that AI utilization is positioned at the core of management agendas regardless of company size. Particularly in large companies, 50.7% answered "strongly agree," exceeding half of the respondents, highlighting high expectations from management for AI investment. On the other hand, the proportion of companies that responded "sufficiently utilizing (strongly agree + somewhat utilizing)" was 60.9% overall, showing a gap of approximately 26 points with the utilization intent (86.9%). Specifically, in mid-sized companies, the utilization rate was 51.3%, which is 19 points lower than the 70.4% in large companies, suggesting that limited capacity for digital investment and a shortage of dedicated personnel are reflected in the difference in execution capabilities.

AI Utilization Intent Q2. Does your company intend to utilize AI to solve DX challenges? (SA)

Actual AI Utilization Status Q3. To what extent is your company able to utilize AI to solve DX challenges? (SA)

3. Over 80% of Companies Feel Limits in Internal Human Resources and Systems, Regardless of Size Regarding whether they feel limits in internal human resources and systems for promoting DX challenges and AI utilization, 82.8% of mid-sized companies and 83.3% of large companies responded "feel limits (strongly feel + somewhat feel)," revealing that over 80% of companies, regardless of size, face challenges in terms of human resources and systems. The primary reasons cited (Q5) were a "lack of specialized knowledge (DX/AI)" across all company sizes (57% on average), highlighting the reality that internal human resource development is not keeping pace with the rapid evolution of AI technology. Following this, "lack of personnel to connect on-site operations with DX/AI" was cited by 51%, indicating a structural shortage of "bridging personnel" who possess both advanced technical knowledge and an understanding of on-site operations in the Japanese market. Both of these top items were at high levels, suggesting the presence of complex, human-resource-driven challenges.

Sense of Limits in Internal Resources Q4. Do you feel there are limits to your company's internal human resources and systems in promoting DX challenges and AI utilization? (SA)

4. 85.0% of Companies Require "Execution Support Type" External Human Resources Regarding the necessity of "external human resources who engage deeply with the site, supporting everything from issue discovery to proposing improvements, execution, and establishment" (Q6), 85.0% of respondents overall answered "necessary (very necessary + somewhat necessary)," indicating that the paradigm shift from traditional proposal-based consulting to implementation and establishment support is clearly recognized by companies. When selecting external support, "specialized knowledge (DX/AI)" (46.8% overall) and "on-site understanding" (45.6% overall) were nearly tied, suggesting that possessing advanced technical knowledge and the ability to deeply engage with the on-site environment are key deciding factors in selection.

Necessity of Execution Support Type External Human Resources Q6. Do you believe execution support type external human resources are necessary for future DX/AI promotion? (SA)

Factors Emphasized in Selecting External Support Q7. When selecting external support, which factors do you emphasize? (MA - up to 3 items)

Comment from Toshiki Isa, Director and Chief Operating Officer, AKKODiS Consulting Inc.

"The survey results confirmed the structural reality of a significant gap between 'intent' and 'execution' in the DX promotion and AI utilization of Japanese companies. While expectations for AI are high regardless of company size, complex barriers such as a lack of on-site skills, insufficient necessary personnel, and underdeveloped governance are hindering implementation.

Particularly noteworthy is the clear shift in demand for external support from 'proposal/strategy formulation' to 'execution and establishment support.' Over 80% of companies recognize the limitations of their internal systems, indicating a rapidly growing demand for external personnel who can consistently handle everything from issue discovery to improvement proposals and execution support by engaging directly with the on-site operations.

AKKODiS Consulting offers 'Fusion Activators,' personnel who combine DX/AI expertise with an understanding of on-site operations, entering client companies' sites to execute tasks together with clients from issue discovery through to execution and establishment. We believe this service can be a solution to the 'barrier to execution' revealed by this survey."

≫Fusion Activators: What are Fusion Activators

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[Survey Overview]

Survey Name

Survey on the State of DX Promotion and AI Utilization in Companies 2026

Survey Target

Business professionals at the manager level or above, involved in DX and AI utilization promotion, working at companies with 300 or more employees.

Survey Method

Internet survey (Fastask)

Survey Period

May 2026

Number of Valid Responses

n=873 (300-999 employees: 437 people, 1,000+ employees: 436 people)

Survey Conducted By

AKKODiS Consulting Inc.

* When quoting graphs or figures from this release, please cite "Survey by AKKODiS Consulting Inc. (May 2026)."

* Percentages in the text may not sum to 100% due to rounding to the second decimal place.

About AKKODiS Consulting Inc.

Akkodis is a global digital engineering consulting firm that redefines how processes and products are developed, operated, and optimized using technology, accelerating organizational innovation and growth. With deep expertise in AI, data, cloud, edge, and software engineering, it provides industry-leading technology consulting. Through a robust and scalable delivery model and highly specialized personnel, it offers end-to-end solutions from strategy formulation and consulting to implementation. With its commitment to Akkodis Intelligence, it drives business transformation by merging the accelerating impact of technology with human intelligence and collaboration.

As part of the Adecco Group, Akkodis is headquartered in Switzerland and has 40,000 tech consultants and digital specialists in over 30 countries worldwide, offering Consulting, Solutions, and Academy services. With extensive experience in major global industries, Akkodis solves complex corporate challenges and supports sustainable growth and the realization of social value.

AKKODiS Consulting Inc., the Japanese subsidiary, operates under the vision "Transforming Japanese Companies into Global Companies, Starting with On-Site Reform." Its team of over 6,000 tech consultants with deep on-site expertise promotes transformation from within organizations through a unique approach of fusing with the client's on-site operations, achieving dramatic productivity improvements through AI transformation, and co-creating world-scale businesses with clients.

[AKKODiS Website] https://www.akkodis.co.jp/