Kapil Kukreja
New research from HLB International, the Survey of Business Leaders 2025, has highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving business innovation and profitability as companies adapt to huge technological advances.
According to Kapil Kukreja, partner in risk, assurance and consulting with HLB Mann Judd Melbourne, business leaders increasingly see artificial intelligence (AI) as an essential tool, not just for improving business efficiency and profitability but also for improving the capacity and training of their workforces.
“The survey found that 69 per cent of business leaders around the world rate AI as the most important technology over the next five years, an uptick on last year when 65 per cent singled out AI. Globally, 71 per cent of leaders say they are focusing on using AI for predictive analytics to track future trends, while 55 per cent, are using AI to improve business agility,” Mr Kukreja said.
The survey reveals that business leaders have fine-tuned their approach to AI and are modernising their operating models to enable new ways of working as well as new customer-facing offerings and technology-driven innovation.
“Business leaders have recognised the need to adapt, with quick action often needed. Technological advances, such as the doubling of computer processing power every four years, are accelerating innovation cycles. Many leaders have refined their approach, transitioning from broad experimentation with technology to targeted strategies aimed at enhancing the performance of their workforces, analytics, and, ultimately, profitability.
“Notably, 44 per cent of highly profitable companies are ahead on the AI maturity curve. Profitability is essential for the growth and sustainability of any enterprise, particularly given the current market conditions that are demanding greater agility. AI is increasingly used as part of business strategy,” Mr Kukreja said.
Cultural transformation is also important for progress, business leaders said. The survey found that profitable businesses are intentional about fostering a culture of innovation, which includes breaking silos, encouraging collaboration and leveraging AI and data analytics to understand market trends and customer behaviour.
“These actions create fertile ground for sustained profit and growth. In this year’s research, a shift in focus is evident: profitability takes centre stage over high growth rates,” Mr Kukreja said.
“In terms of using AI in the workforce, these include AI-driven training programs, streamlined recruitment processes, and predictive workforce analytics that support better decision-making across teams.”
This year’s survey also reveals that high-performing organisations, identified as ‘profit accelerators’, are overcoming challenging market conditions by focusing on three key levers of profitability—operational efficiency, innovation, and talent management.
“When looking at operational efficiency, 65 per cent of profit accelerators are considering large-scale operational transformations, such as modernising/adopting new technology systems (61 per cent) and streamlining processes (46 per cent).
“Furthermore, investment in people is also important, with 55 per cent of profit accelerators focussing on learning and development to improve the effectiveness of their workforce. Nearly half of profit accelerators report having a high performing and engaged workforce,” said Mr Kukreja.
The 2025 HLB Survey of Business Leaders gathered insights from over 1,200 leaders across 50-plus countries and was supported by expert interviews. The findings reveal that the most profitable companies, or those with profit growth of 5 per cent to 10 per cent or more, stand out for their agility and technology focus.
“Among these, 37 per cent consider their operating model optimal, compared to less than 15 per cent of their peers, underscoring the value of adaptability. Over the past decade, agile organisations with empowered teams have consistently outperformed their peers, demonstrating a unique ability to pivot quickly and capitalise on emerging opportunities,” Mr Kukreja said.
