Business Value of AI Is Spiking, Driven by Increased Adoption and Agentic Expectations, SAP Finds
SAP, Wednesday, July 15th, 2026
SAP and Oxford Economics find global AI ROI rising to 21% this year, with agentic AI returns quadrupling.
SAP and Oxford Economics surveyed 2,600 business leaders across 13 countries and found companies are finally converting AI spend into returns. Global ROI from AI is projected at 21% this year, up from 16%, and expected to reach 38% within two years.
Agentic AI is a major driver, with projected returns of $17.6 million within two years, more than quadrupling earlier estimates.
Barriers remain: 73% cite data quality problems, 78% say upskilling lags AI development, and only 12% report full governance readiness. SAP frames the path forward as its Autonomous Enterprise approach, pairing technology with contextual data, processes, and governance.