43 Digital Transformation Statistics for 2026

Key digital transformation statistics

• Worldwide digital transformation spending is forecast to reach almost $4 trillion in 2027 (forecast by IDC, 2024).
• 72% of EU businesses reached a basic level of digital intensity in 2025 (Eurostat, 2026).
• 29% of large US manufacturers use AI and machine learning at facility or network level (Deloitte, 2025).
• 74% of professionals use AI tools every week (Thomson Reuters, 2026).
• 70% of digital transformations fall short of their objectives (BCG, 2020).
• 67% of senior leaders have had at least one transformation underperform in the last five years (EY, 2023).
• 88% of companies are already investing in agentic AI (KPMG, 2026).
• 56% of CEOs have seen no significant financial benefit from AI to date (PwC, 2026).

Technology budgets keep growing, yet many organizations still can’t show that the new tools changed how work gets done. In PwC’s 2026 Global CEO Survey, 56% of CEOs say they have seen no significant financial benefit from AI to date. The research suggests the hard part is rarely the technology. It’s adoption: whether people use what they’ve been given.

These 43 figures are for leaders building a business case or a board paper, each linked to the publisher that produced it. For where the technology is heading, see these digital transformation trends.

Digital transformation market and spending statistics

These figures show how much organizations spend and where. Most are forecasts or estimates, and each says so.

1. Worldwide digital transformation spending is forecast to reach almost $4 trillion in 2027

IDC’s Digital Transformation Spending Guide forecasts that “Worldwide spending on Digital Transformation (DX) is forecast to reach almost $4 trillion in 2027,” potentially “two-thirds of all Information and Communication Technology (ICT) spending by 2027.”

2. Latin America and China are forecast to have the fastest growth in digital transformation spending, at 17.9% and 17.4% a year

In the same IDC forecast, “The fastest growing regions are Latin America and China, which will have five-year CAGRs of 17.9% and 17.4%, respectively.”

3. Polaris Market Research values the global digital transformation market at USD 1,358.13 billion in 2025

Polaris Market Research estimates that “The global digital transformation market size was valued at USD 1,358.13 billion in 2025,” and projects “a CAGR of 28.20% during 2026 to 2034.”

4. Gartner forecasts worldwide IT spending of $6.37 trillion in 2026, up 14.2%

Gartner forecasts that “Worldwide IT spending is expected to reach $6.37 trillion in 2026, up 14.2% from 2025,” with 2025 spending estimated at $5,577 billion.

5. Switzerland, the US and Singapore top IMD’s 2025 digital competitiveness ranking of 69 economies

IMD’s World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2025 names “Switzerland, the US, and Singapore” as “the most digitally savvy nations among an eclectic group of 69 global economies.”

6. Large organizations put 13.7% of revenue into digital budgets in 2025, up from 7.5% in 2024

In Deloitte’s 2025 survey of 548 decision-makers at organizations with revenue of US$500 million or more, the average digital budget rose “from 7.5% of revenue in 2024 to 13.7% in 2025.”

Digital transformation adoption by sector

This section covers five sectors: manufacturing, healthcare, finance and banking, retail, and government. For sector detail, see the guides to digital transformation in manufacturing, in finance and in banking.

7. Manufacturing: 80% of US manufacturers are implementing or already use supply chain optimization tools

A Manufacturers Alliance survey of 199 US mid- to large-cap manufacturers, produced with Siemens, found that “80% of manufacturers are implementing or have tools on supply chain optimization already in place,” while “less than half (41%) of respondents” use IoT for advanced sensing.

8. Manufacturing: most machinery makers leave 30% to 50% of productivity value on the table, Bain estimates

Bain & Company finds that most machinery and equipment companies fail to capitalize on digital tools and Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI and robotics, “leaving 30% to 50% of productivity value on the table.”

9. Manufacturing: 92% of manufacturers say smart manufacturing will be the main driver of competitiveness over the next three years

In Deloitte’s 2025 Smart Manufacturing and Operations Survey, “Ninety-two percent of manufacturers surveyed said they believe smart manufacturing will be the main driver for competitiveness over the next three years,” up six percentage points from a survey Deloitte ran in 2019.

10. Manufacturing: 44% of manufacturing leaders say the data they collect has doubled in two years

The National Association of Manufacturers reports that “44% of manufacturing leaders say the amount of data they collect is double what it was two years ago,” and, by their own projection, expect it to triple by 2030.

11. Manufacturing: 29% of large US manufacturers use AI and machine learning at facility or network level

Deloitte’s 2025 Smart Manufacturing and Operations Survey of 600 executives at US manufacturers with US$500 million or more in revenue found that “Twenty-nine percent are using AI/machine learning (AI/ML) at the facility or network level,” and “24% have deployed generative AI at the same scale.”

12. Healthcare: 70% of US non-federal acute care hospitals engaged in all domains of interoperable exchange in 2023

The US Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT reports that “70% of non-federal acute care hospitals engaged in all domains of interoperable exchange (send, find, receive, and integrate) routinely or sometimes in 2023.”

13. Healthcare: some countries use less than 5% of health data to improve health, the World Bank estimates

The World Bank’s report Digital-in-Health: Unlocking the Value for Everyone estimates that “some countries use less than 5% of health data to improve health.”

14. Healthcare: 71% of US hospitals have routine access to outside clinical information, but only 42% say clinicians routinely use it

In the same ONC data brief, “Seventy-one percent of hospitals reported routine access to necessary clinical information from outside providers, but less than half (42%) indicated that clinicians routinely use it when treating patients.”

15. Finance: IDC forecasts digital transformation spending in financial services to grow 20.5% a year

In IDC’s Digital Transformation Spending Guide, “The financial services industry is growing at a very fast pace with a five-year CAGR of 20.5%,” and robotic process automation-based claims processing is the fastest-growing use case, at 35.1% a year. Both figures are forecasts.

16. Banking: Citi forecasts AI could lift global banking profits to $2 trillion by 2028

A Citi GPS forecast says AI “could potentially drive global banking industry profits to $2 trillion by 2028, a 9% increase over the next five years.”

17. Banking: nearly two in three of the top 40 US banks have announced programs to make their data AI-ready

Deloitte’s 2026 banking and capital markets outlook found that “nearly two in three of the top 40 banks have publicly announced” programs to make their data AI-ready, based on the banks’ announcements, earnings calls and filings.

18. Banking: more than 90% of bank data users say the data they need is often unavailable or slow to retrieve

Deloitte’s 2026 banking and capital markets outlook cites its 2024 data and analytics survey, in which “more than 90% of data users in banks reported that the data they need is often unavailable or takes too long to retrieve,” and 81% of respondents cited data quality as a top challenge.

19. Retail: US brands say they personalize 62% of customer experiences, while US consumers say 44% feel personalized

Deloitte Digital’s 2026 research, surveying 1,000 US consumers and 480 leaders at US B2C companies, found that “Brands in 2026 estimate they personalize 62% of customer experiences” while “consumers say only 44% of their experiences feel personalized.”

20. Retail: 45% of consumers in 23 countries turn to AI during their buying journeys

IBM’s Institute for Business Value and the National Retail Federation found that “almost half (45%) turn to AI for help during their buying journeys,” in a 2026 study of over 18,000 consumers in 23 countries.

21. Government: 71.9% of people in the EU aged 16 to 74 used public authorities’ websites or apps in 2025

Eurostat reports: “In 2025, 71.9% of people in the EU aged 16-74 used websites or apps of public authorities.”

Digital adoption statistics

Digital adoption here means business and government use of digital technology by industry, firm size and country. The State of Digital Adoption report covers adoption inside organizations; see what the 2025 report covers and the 2024 findings.

22. 48% of large EU businesses made e-sales, against 23% of SMEs

Eurostat’s Digitalisation in Europe, 2026 edition reports that 24% of EU businesses conducted e-sales, and “The share of large businesses with e-sales was significantly higher (48%) than that of SMEs (23%).”

23. Denmark (42%), Finland (38%), Sweden and Belgium (35%) lead EU business AI use, against 20% across the EU

The same Eurostat publication reports that in 2025 “the use of AI technologies was highest in Denmark (42%), followed by Finland (38%), Sweden and Belgium (both 35%),” and lowest in Romania (5%).

24. 72% of EU businesses reached a basic level of digital intensity in 2025

Eurostat’s Digitalisation in Europe, 2026 edition states: “In 2025, 72% of all EU businesses reached a basic level of digital intensity.” “The share for SMEs was 71%,” and large businesses “stood at 96%.”

25. 53% of EU businesses bought cloud computing services in 2025

The same Eurostat publication reports: “In 2025, 53% of businesses in the EU bought cloud computing services.”

26. 62.1% of Canadian enterprises in covered sectors adopted at least one advanced technology in 2022

Statistics Canada’s Survey of Advanced Technology found that “62.1% of enterprises in sectors covered by the 2022 Survey of Advanced Technology (SAT) adopted at least one type,” led by utilities (80.5%) and professional, scientific and technical services (75.2%).

27. IMARC Group estimates the global digital adoption platform market at USD 909.4 million in 2025

IMARC Group estimates that “The global digital adoption platform market size reached USD 909.4 Million in 2025,” and forecasts “a growth rate (CAGR) of 17.96% during 2026-2034.”

Workforce and skills statistics

These figures cover how employees use AI and what employers expect of their skills. For how HR teams manage the shift, see this guide to HR digital transformation.

28. 74% of professionals use AI tools every week

Thomson Reuters’ Future of Professionals Report 2026 found that “74% of professionals are already using AI tools every week,” in a survey of 1,816 professionals across law, tax, audit, accounting, compliance, risk and global trade in 62 countries.

29. 40% of EU citizens lacked basic digital skills in 2025

Eurostat’s Digitalisation in Europe, 2026 edition reports that “40% of EU citizens lack basic or above basic digital skills,” against an EU target of 80% of the population with at least basic digital skills by 2030.

30. 53% of organizations lack the talent to deliver their digital transformation strategies

In KPMG’s Global Tech Report 2026, a survey of 2,500 executives in 27 countries and territories, “53 percent of organizations report they still lack the talent needed to realize their digital transformation strategies,” even as they invest in upskilling.

31. 23% of US workers use AI or machine learning to automate repetitive tasks, and another 60% are willing to

EY’s 2023 study of 1,001 US workers found that “23% of survey respondents currently use artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) to automate repetitive tasks” and “another 60% are willing to use it for that purpose in the future.”

Digital transformation success and failure rates

The digital transformation success rate depends on who measures it and how, so each figure names its survey and sample. For the obstacles behind these numbers, see these digital transformation challenges; for the people side, see these change management statistics.

32. Digital leaders achieve earnings growth 1.8 times higher than digital laggards

BCG’s 2020 research found that “Digital leaders achieve earnings growth that is 1.8 times higher than digital laggards” and “more than double the growth in total enterprise value.”

33. 56% of CEOs say they have seen no significant financial benefit from AI to date

In PwC’s 29th Global CEO Survey of 4,454 CEOs in 95 countries and territories, “56% say they have seen no significant financial benefit to date” from AI, and “only one-in-eight (12%) CEOs say AI has delivered both cost and revenue benefits.”

34. 74 percent of executives say their AI initiatives create measurable business value, but only 24 percent are scaling AI with ROI across multiple use cases

KPMG’s Global Tech Report 2026, a survey of 2,500 executives in 27 countries and territories, found that “Seventy-four percent of respondents report that their AI initiatives are creating measurable business value,” but “only 24 percent say they are scaling AI and achieving ROI across multiple use cases.”

35. Deloitte links managing digital change well to a 14% market cap differential

A Deloitte analysis of 4,600 companies’ financial reports over 10 years found that companies “effectively aligning digital change initiatives with their strategy and technology investments experience a 14% market cap differential compared to those that have a strategy and are investing in technology but fail to effectively manage the change,” which Deloitte puts at a “$2.75 trillion potential advantage for Fortune 500 firms alone.”

36. 67% of senior leaders have had at least one transformation underperform in the last five years

EY reports that transformations “typically fall short of their goals: 67% of senior leaders have experienced at least one that has underperformed in the last five years.” It adds that emphasizing human factors and considering both leaders and workers can raise the probability of success “to more than 70%.”

37. Technology high performers report an average ROI of 4.5x, more than double the 2x average

In KPMG’s Global Tech Report 2026, high performers, “those organizations leading in technology maturity, process maturity and value,” are “reporting an average ROI of 4.5x, more than double the industry average of 2x.”

38. Only 10% of organizations using agentic AI report significant ROI from it so far

In Deloitte’s 2025 AI ROI survey of 1,854 executives in Europe and the Middle East, 57% of respondents already use agentic AI, and “just ten percent of surveyed organizations said they are currently realizing significant ROI from agentic AI.”

39. 70% of digital transformations fall short of their objectives, BCG’s 2020 study found

BCG found that “70% of digital transformations fall short of their objectives,” and that companies which get six factors right “flip their odds of success from 30% to 80%,” in a 2020 study of 825 senior executives.

40. Most executives in Europe and the Middle East report satisfactory ROI on a typical AI use case within two to four years

Deloitte’s 2025 AI ROI survey of 1,854 executives in 14 countries found that “most respondents reported achieving satisfactory ROI on a typical AI use case within two to four years” and “Only six percent reported payback in under a year.”

AI and emerging technology statistics

This section keeps only the AI figures that bear on transformation. For the full set, see these AI adoption statistics.

41. 88% of companies are already investing in agentic AI

KPMG’s Global Tech Report 2026 found that “Eighty-eight percent of companies are already investing in agentic AI,” and “Sixty-eight percent of respondents are aiming for the highest level of AI maturity in their organizations.”

42. 20% of EU businesses used AI in 2025, up from 13% in 2024

Eurostat states: “In 2025, 20% of businesses in the EU used AI,” up from 13% in 2024; 55% of large businesses and 19% of SMEs used it.

43. 35% of internet users in the EU used generative AI tools in 2025

Eurostat reports: “In 2025, more than a third of people (35%) in the EU used generative AI tools, among those who had used the internet in the previous 3 months.” The share was 65% for people aged 16 to 24.

What the numbers mean for digital adoption

Three patterns run through these figures.

• Spending keeps rising. IDC and Gartner both forecast growth in technology spending, and large organizations put a bigger share of revenue into digital budgets in 2025 than in 2024.
• Use is uneven. Adoption varies by sector, firm size and country. Large EU businesses use AI far more often than SMEs, and SMEs trail large businesses on basic digital intensity.
• Results lag the spend. BCG, EY, PwC and KPMG each find that many organizations haven’t captured the value they expected from their programs.

The gap sits between buying technology and using it. More than half of organizations say they lack the talent to deliver their transformation strategies; most professionals surveyed already use AI tools every week, and yet most CEOs have seen no significant financial benefit from AI. Returns arrive when a use case is adopted: most executives in Deloitte’s survey report satisfactory ROI on a typical AI use case within two to four years.

This is where a digital adoption platform fits. WalkMe’s AI-enabled Action Bar reads context across the screen and suggests the next best action inside the applications people use, and its adoption analytics show where people stall or drop off, and whether AI investments are paying off. For what these patterns look like inside named companies, see these digital transformation examples.

How we chose these statistics

Each figure had to address technology spending, adoption, the workforce, or results; be traced to its publisher; and be dated. We included primary research from named research and consulting firms (IDC, Gartner, BCG, Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, EY, Bain, IMD, IBM and Thomson Reuters), government statistics (the US Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, Eurostat, Statistics Canada and the World Bank) and industry surveys with a stated method. Two market sizes come from commercial research firms (Polaris Market Research and IMARC Group); their entries say so.

We published the numbered figures between 2020 and 2026. Every figure links to a publicly available source that we checked in October 2026. We label forecasts, estimates, and projections as such. Many figures cover one country or region, so each entry names it. 

Turn the spend into adoption

The spending figures and the success figures describe the same organizations. Budgets grow, yet many programs still miss targets, and the gap between AI initiatives that create measurable value and those that scale and achieve ROI is wide. Closing that adoption gap is the step between the spend and the returns that digital and technology leaders report.

When you use these numbers, cite the primary source, year, and sample so your case holds up in front of a board. If you’re planning a program, start with a digital transformation strategy. If your challenge is proving that people use the AI and software you’ve bought, WalkMe turns AI potential into AI performance. To see whether your most critical investments, like AI, are paying off, explore WalkMe’s adoption data.