[AI (Generative AI/AI Agent) Usage Survey] 88.8% of Management and Specialist Departments Using SaaS Use Generative AI/AI Agents in Daily Work; Only 2.4% Rely on AI Agent Automation as Primary Method

KiteRa Inc. (CEO: Takafumi Uematsu, Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, reading: KiteRa, hereinafter 'the Company'), which provides 'KiteRa Biz' for companies and 'KiteRa Pro' for labor and social security attorneys as internal regulation DX services under its mission of 'Creating a world where people can work with peace of mind,' conducted a survey on the actual usage of AI (Generative AI/AI Agents). The survey targeted 1,087 business professionals aged 20-59 belonging to management and specialist departments who use SaaS (software services) in their daily work.

As the use of generative AI expands and interest in highly autonomous AI applications like AI agents grows as the next stage of DX, attention is focused on how the roles of existing digital tools, including SaaS, will change.

This survey visualized the usage status of generative AI or AI agents, the status of their introduction and utilization at workplaces, the means of carrying out daily work, satisfaction with current means, SaaS usage status, and the areas of SaaS used at workplaces.

As a result, it became clear that while the use of generative AI or AI agents is expanding, automation by AI agents is currently at a limited stage as the primary means of daily work.

Survey Summary

88.8% are 'using' generative AI/AI agents in their daily work

The most common means of carrying out daily work is 'using both SaaS and manual work' at 28.6%. 'Automation by AI agents' remains at only 2.4%

Satisfaction with current means is 72.5% for 'very satisfied/satisfied'. By means, satisfaction is 84.3% for 'SaaS including AI (auto-summarization, checking, etc.) functions' and 82.7% for 'SaaS-centric'

The top SaaS used at workplaces are 'expense reimbursement' at 58.3%, 'attendance management' at 55.8%, 'workflow/application approval' at 52.7%, and 'accounting/financial management' at 50.2%

Introduction/utilization of generative AI/AI agents is 'progressing in some departments' at 48.2%, the highest. 'Progressing company-wide' remains at 35.6%

Usage status of generative AI/AI agents introduced at workplaces is 'use occasionally' at 53.9% and 'use constantly' at 35.7%

Survey Results

[Q1] 88.8% are 'using' generative AI/AI agents in their daily work

When asked, 'Do you use generative AI or AI agents in your daily work? (Single answer),' 88.8% answered 'Yes' and 11.2% answered 'No.'

[Q2] The most common means of carrying out daily work is 'using both SaaS and manual work' at 28.6%. 'Automation by AI agents' remains at only 2.4%

When asked, 'Please tell us the closest means of carrying out your daily work (Single answer),' the responses in descending order were: 28.6% 'Using both SaaS (cloud services) and manual work,' 24.7% 'Mainly doing manual work using paper, email, word processing software, spreadsheet software, etc.,' 23.4% 'Mainly using SaaS (cloud services),' 20.6% 'Mainly using SaaS (cloud services) including AI functions (auto-summarization, checking, etc.),' 2.4% 'Automated by AI agents,' and 0.3% 'Other.'

[Q3] Satisfaction with current means is 72.5% for 'very satisfied/satisfied'. By means, satisfaction is 84.3% for 'SaaS including AI functions' and 82.7% for 'SaaS-centric'

When asked, 'Are you satisfied with your current means? (Single answer),' 57.3% answered 'Satisfied' (most common), followed by 25.4% 'Dissatisfied,' 15.2% 'Very satisfied,' and 2.1% 'Very dissatisfied.'

It was found that 72.5% are 'satisfied (very satisfied/satisfied)' with their current means of carrying out daily work.

Furthermore, comparing 'satisfaction by means of carrying out daily work,' the means with the highest proportion of 'satisfied (very satisfied/satisfied)' was 'Mainly using SaaS (cloud services) including AI functions (auto-summarization, checking, etc.)' at 84.3%, followed by 'Mainly using SaaS (cloud services)' at 82.7%.

[Q4] The top SaaS used at workplaces are 'expense reimbursement' at 58.3%, 'attendance management' at 55.8%, 'workflow/application approval' at 52.7%, and 'accounting/financial management' at 50.2%

When asked, 'Please select all SaaS (software services) used at your workplace (Multiple answers),' the responses in descending order were: 58.3% 'Expense reimbursement,' 55.8% 'Attendance management,' 52.7% 'Workflow/application approval,' and 50.2% 'Accounting/financial management.'

[Q5] Introduction/utilization of generative AI/AI agents is 'progressing in some departments' at 48.2%, the highest. 'Progressing company-wide' remains at 35.6%

When asked, 'Is the introduction/utilization of generative AI or AI agents progressing at your workplace? (Single answer),' 48.2% answered 'Progressing in some departments' (most common), followed by 35.6% 'Progressing company-wide,' 6.6% 'Have never used,' and 3.8% 'Generative AI or AI agents have not been introduced.'

It was found that the introduction/utilization of generative AI or AI agents is 'progressing company-wide' for only 35.6%.

[Q6] Usage status of generative AI/AI agents introduced at workplaces is 'use occasionally' at 53.9% and 'use constantly' at 35.7%

When asked, 'Do you use the generative AI or AI agents introduced at your workplace to perform your work? (Single answer),' 53.9% answered 'Use occasionally' (most common), followed by 35.7% 'Use constantly,' 6.6% 'Have never used,' and 3.8% 'Generative AI or AI agents have not been introduced.'

Consideration

This survey visualized how daily work is carried out, the usage status of SaaS, and the status of AI introduction and utilization at workplaces, amidst the expanding use of generative AI or AI agents.

As a result, it was shown that the use of generative AI and AI agents has already become widespread in management and specialist departments, with 88.8% utilizing them in some form in their daily work.

On the other hand, only 2.4% of respondents use AI agent automation as their primary means of carrying out work. This indicates a clear gap at the present time between the penetration of AI utilization and the establishment of autonomous automation by AI agents as the main way of working.

Satisfaction with current work means was 72.5% answering 'satisfied (very satisfied/satisfied),' with particularly high levels for SaaS including AI functions at 84.3% and traditional SaaS at 82.7%. Furthermore, the top SaaS used at workplaces were in areas centered on back-office operations, such as expense reimbursement, attendance management, workflow/application approval, and accounting/financial management.