Four out of five Polish managers use artificial intelligence tools in their daily work—but mostly for basic office tasks and data analysis—according to a survey by WEBCON. Fewer than one in ten large enterprises in Poland are prepared for full, strategic AI implementation in business processes. In comparison, 41% of managers in large German companies say their organizations are ready. The main barriers to wider AI adoption in Polish companies are data security concerns and a lack of technological expertise.
Polish managers are eager to use AI: 80% say they apply it to everyday personal productivity tasks such as text generation (54%), data analysis (48%), reporting (30%), and other creative work. The survey, conducted by ARC Rynek i Opinia and TGM Research on behalf of WEBCON, involved 200 managers from large enterprises in Poland and Germany. However, this usage is largely limited to task-level improvements. Over 30% of Polish managers report that their companies are still only analyzing potential AI applications, and just 8% declare that their organizations are ready to implement AI in core business processes to generate real financial value.
“This is a relatively small percentage, but it aligns with broader industry findings. Independent studies also indicate that only around 5% of AI implementations today result in tangible business benefits,”
says Michał Potoczek, CEO of WEBCON, in an interview with Newseria.
In Germany, 41% of managers believe their organizations are ready to deploy AI solutions. Only 2% say their companies are not interested in AI at all, compared to 40% in Poland.
Germany’s advantage stems from defined AI strategies and established security policies. Security fears—especially around data protection—are the top barrier to AI adoption in Polish companies, cited by 38% of surveyed managers. Another 23% see insufficient tools and competencies as key obstacles.
“There are multiple perspectives. From a board-level viewpoint, data security is the primary concern. Large language models are usually cloud-based, which requires careful handling of data inputs and robust security policies to govern how and where models are used,”
notes Potoczek.
“On the other hand, there’s a skills gap. Companies need to know how to use AI to create business value, which often requires rethinking how applications are built, deployed, and optimized for cost and revenue impact.”
Interestingly, 82% of respondents believe AI tools can improve team performance, but one in four managers aren’t sure how AI might support their team’s work. Expectations for AI are high, but translating these into practical business outcomes remains a challenge.
“Most Polish companies now have an AI strategy—on paper. They want to use AI to boost efficiency and create new revenue streams, but few actually implement principles that drive value. Many firms are still experimenting with AI on the side. The real challenge is moving from testing to integrating AI into core business processes,”
explains the WEBCON CEO.
“Our goal is to show companies how to embed AI within existing workflows and quickly generate value.”
According to a report published by NASK in June, 29% of professionals in AI-vulnerable positions fear that AI could lead to job loss. One in five workers in low-risk roles share similar concerns. Experts say this anxiety stems from a lack of education about AI tools.
“It’s up to leadership to build a strategy that includes employees—showing them that the goal is to enhance performance, not replace people. Organizations must invest in reskilling and align AI with overall productivity strategies,”
summarizes Potoczek.
The WEBCON report highlights that many companies aren’t yet supporting employees in building AI competencies. One in three Polish managers hasn’t participated in any AI-related training or received company guidelines on the topic, and 8% are still waiting. Meanwhile, 20% say they’ve had to learn on their own. By contrast, in Germany, only 10% of managers have had no AI training or guidance, while 84% have already received some form of education.
