Digital transformation is accelerating worldwide but not all countries are moving in the same direction, or at the same speed. From bold investments to cautious, sustainable adoption, each region brings a unique perspective to the digital journey.
Based upon our Science of Productivity reports, we took a deeper look at how specific regions are approaching transformation and what’s driving or delaying progress in each market.
Where does your organization fall? And what can you do next to stay ahead?
UK: Struggling to Gain Momentum?
Across industries, organizations in the UK are pushing forward on their digital transformation journey, but many are finding that progress isn’t as fast or as smooth as expected.
Despite strong intent, the gap between ambition and execution is becoming more visible. While 89% of UK IT decision makers say their organizations have high levels of digital dexterity, this still falls short of other leading nations.
Is digital transformation in the UK slipping behind? Beneath the surface, several challenges are holding UK businesses back from realizing the full value of their digital transformation efforts, including:
• Lower confidence in digital skills across teams
• Unclear priorities are blocking progress more than in any other country
• Legacy systems, talent shortages, and regulatory uncertainty continue to weigh heavily
• Growing scepticism around AI’s value
Together these issues have the potential to severely hinder progress.
What Can UK Organizations Do?
• Align priorities across the business – co-create a clear and realistic digital roadmap by bringing leadership and IT teams together. Shared goals and consistent communication are essential to break down silos and accelerate progress
• Invest in digital upskilling at all levels – make digital fluency a company-wide expectation through microlearning, mentorship, and peer-led training
• Shift mindsets – start with projects that deliver measurable ROI, involve leadership in early successes, and highlight tangible benefits for employees
France: Racing Ahead with Bold Investments
Digital transformation remains a strong priority for those in France with businesses actively increasing investments and embracing AI as a key driver of future success. In fact, 90% of organizations are raising their digital transformation budgets, and more than half believe their success over the next three years will depend on how effectively they adopt AI.
It’s clear that French organizations are racing to stay ahead through making bold investments and deploying the latest tools. However, as ambition grows, the success of these depends on the execution and alignment with the wider goals of the business.
What Can French Organizations Do?
• Prioritize high-impact initiatives – align investments with the company’s core objectives to ensure resources go where they matter most
• Prepare employees for the AI future – build AI literacy programs and increase AI adoption through showcasing to employees how AI can directly benefit their work
• Turn ambition into execution – a bold strategy only succeeds with strong alignment, clear metrics, and consistent communication across teams
Germany: Sustainability Over Speed
For German organizations, AI adoption is being approached with measured caution. While many countries are racing ahead with rapid deployment, Germany is taking a more deliberate path to prioritize sustainability, trust, and long-term impact over short-term gains. Rather than chasing trends, businesses are asking critical questions: Does this technology reflect our values? Can it stand the test of time? And what risks must be managed before scaling?
For Germany it’s not about falling behind but instead it’s about getting it right first time.
What Can German Organizations Do?
• Communicate the value of slower adoption – share the benefits of thoughtful, long-term transformation projects to ensure employees don’t feel like they’re being left behind
• Keep momentum with measured progress – avoid paralysis by setting realistic goals and celebrating incremental wins
• Align technology with reputation – use Germany’s global reputation for engineering excellence and trustworthiness as a benchmark for digital initiatives.
North America: Spend More, Adopt Less
For US organizations, digital transformation is clearly a top priority. Companies are investing heavily in AI and other digital technologies, backed by a workforce that is already highly skilled – with 95% of IT leaders reporting strong digital capabilities across their employees. This creates strong momentum for progress, and appetite for emerging tools is growing rapidly.
Yet a gap remains. Despite the investments and enthusiasm, fewer than half of leaders believe their teams are truly prepared to adopt the next wave of technologies like generative AI. In other words, spending is high, but readiness is lagging which creates a paradox that could slow transformation if not addressed.
Looking ahead, collaboration is on the rise. While most U.S. leaders don’t expect HR and IT to fully merge in the next few years, 34% anticipate these teams will become more closely aligned – working together to support digital transformation and workforce readiness in more integrated ways.
What Can US Organizations Do?
• Shift the focus to strategic adoption – stop adopting tech for tech’s sake. Ensure that AI and the goals of the wider business are aligned
• Focus on closing the readiness gap – invest in training and upskilling programs to prepare employees for the next wave of new technologies
• Continue to improve cross-functional collaboration between HR and IT – collaborate on internal tools, like employee experience platforms and digital learning systems, and keep communication clear and open to ensure teams stay aligned
Different Paths, Shared Goals
Digital transformation has become the defining driver of competitiveness and resilience worldwide. Yet as these regional perspectives show, the journey looks very different across markets. The UK faces challenges in building momentum, France is accelerating with bold investments, Germany is prioritizing sustainability, and North America is investing heavily but still navigating adoption gaps.
No matter the approach, it is clear that success depends on aligning digital ambition with strategy, people, and execution.
Explore the Full Regional Insights
Want to dive deeper into each country’s digital journey? Explore the full reports below: