A Cisco study has revealed that IT partners around the world are anticipating a transformative wave of AI technology demand and believe it will drive the majority of their revenue over the next four to five years.
Titled ‘Bridging the Customer AI Readiness Gap – The opportunities ahead for partners’, the study said more than a quarter (26 per cent) of partners surveyed in the UAE believe that as much as 76-100 per cent of their revenue will come from AI-related technologies during this period.
It also found that 43 per cent of partners in the UAE believe the demand for AI-related technology investments will grow by more than 75 per cent in the next four to five years. The partners surveyed highlighted infrastructure (26 per cent), cybersecurity (26 per cent), and sustainability management (11 per cent) as the top three drivers of AI technology demand in the coming years.
As AI demand surges, partners in the UAE also foresee a significant shift in their revenue mix. In the short-term, 37 per cent anticipate AI will contribute to 26-50 per cent of their revenue a year from now, while in the long run that contribution is expected to become even higher.
Ossama Eldeeb, Regional Director for the Partner Organisation in the Middle East and Africa, Cisco, commented: “As AI becomes a cornerstone of business transformation in the UAE and broader region, it’s essential for our partners to be equipped with the skills and tools needed to lead this shift.
“The study’s findings reveal substantial opportunities for partners to drive AI adoption and support businesses in harnessing the full potential of AI. By investing in readiness and innovation, Cisco and our partners are prepared to deliver impactful solutions that align with the region’s ambitions and technological advancements.”
The Cisco Global AI Partners Study was a double-blind survey of over 1,500 IT partners across 29 markets. The findings aligned with the Cisco AI Readiness Index, which said that companies globally lack readiness for AI adoption. It revealed gaps in infrastructure, data management, governance, and talent.
The study added that partners understand the challenges they need to address to maximise the opportunities ahead.
The biggest challenges that were pointed out include inexperience in deploying new technologies (69 per cent), lack of knowledge of systems and processes (51 per cent), and a lack of available technologies (46 per cent).
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