Help establish the 2026 AI industry benchmark
What has changed since 2025?
SPI Research’s 2025 study captured responses from 146 professional services and embedded services organizations worldwide. It showed rapid AI adoption, but significant gaps between experimentation and measurable business results.
The 2026 study examines how that has changed, including generative AI, GenAI, agentic AI, AI copilots and AI ROI, alongside the impact on billable utilization, productivity, project margins and service delivery.
It also explores how AI is being incorporated into professional services automation (PSA) and delivery models across consulting firms, PSOs and other professional services organizations in the United States, United Kingdom and worldwide.
Your participation will help establish the next industry benchmark.
What you’ll receive:
- A complimentary copy of SPI Research’s 2025 AI in Professional Services report
- A complimentary copy of the 2026 Impact of AI on Professional Services findings report when published in October
- Early access to benchmarks covering AI adoption, productivity,
utilization, commercial impact and AI ROI - Independent SPI Research analysis of how professional services
organizationsare converting AI investment into measurable business results - The opportunity to benchmark your organization’s progress against the wider professional services market
Free of charge. No sales pitch. Just independent, practical benchmark insight.
Who should participate?
Organizations
- IT consulting and technology services firms
- Management and specialist consultancies
- SaaS and software professional services teams
- Embedded services organizations
- Architecture, engineering and construction firms
- Marketing, creative and digital agencies
- Accounting, advisory and legal services firms
- Other project-based and services-led businesses
Relevant leaders
- Professional services executives
- Consulting and delivery leaders
- Operations and transformation leaders
- Technology, data and AI leaders
- Finance and commercial leaders
- Talent and workforce leaders
- Product and innovation teams
- Executives responsible for AI strategy or governance
Organizations do not need to have a mature AI strategy to participate. We want to hear from firms at every stage, including those that have not yet introduced AI formally.
Why this research matters
AI has moved from experimentation to a strategic and operational priority for professional services firms.
The challenge is no longer simply adopting AI, but turning that investment into measurable improvements in productivity, service delivery, utilization, margins and growth.
SPI Research’s 2026 study will measure how the market has progressed since 2025 and identify the practices separating AI leaders from the rest of the industry.
What the 2026 survey will explore
The research will examine how professional services organizations are adopting AI, where it is creating measurable value and what prevents organizations from moving successfully from experimentation to scaled deployment.
AI strategy and maturity
How organizations are approaching AI leadership, investment and adoption—from initial experimentation and employee-assistance tools through to AI agents and AI-first operating models.
Use cases and productivity
Where AI, including generative AI and AI copilots, is being applied across sales, proposals, research, project planning, resource management, knowledge sharing, service delivery, software development, reporting and internal operations.
Commercial and operational impact
The effect of AI on employee productivity, billable utilization, service quality, revenue, margins, profitability and AI ROI, as well as the development of AI-enabled services, pricing models and client propositions.
Workforce, technology and governance
How organizations are addressing skills, training, employee adoption, data readiness, systems integration, security, privacy, governance and the risks associated with scaling AI.
What the findings report will provide
The 2026 report will turn the survey results into practical benchmarks showing how your organization compares with peers, alongside recommendations for improving AI performance.
Industry benchmarks
Independent data showing how professional services organizations are adopting AI, which technologies and use cases are gaining traction and how adoption differs by organization type and maturity.
Evidence of business impact
Analysis of where AI is improving productivity, service delivery, revenue, margins and profitability and where organizations are struggling to demonstrate measurable returns.
Characteristics of AI leaders
Insight into the strategies, operating practices, technologies, skills and governance approaches associated with more advanced and successful AI adoption.
Priorities for the next stage of adoption
Practical recommendations to help organizations move from isolated experiments to scalable, governed and commercially valuable AI capabilities.
The report will also compare the 2026 results with SPI Research’s 2025 findings to show how quickly the professional services market is progressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the survey take?
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Who should complete the survey?
The survey should be completed by a leader or informed representative with knowledge of their organization’s AI strategy, technology, operations or professional services performance.
Relevant participants may include professional services executives, consulting and delivery leaders, operations and transformation leaders, technology, data and AI leaders, finance and commercial leaders, and executives responsible for AI investment or governance.
Does our organization need to be using AI already?
No. We want to hear from organizations at every stage of AI adoption—from those that have not yet introduced AI formally to businesses deploying AI agents and AI-enabled operating models at scale.
Responses from organizations in the early stages of adoption are just as important to establishing an accurate industry benchmark.
Are survey responses confidential?
Yes. Individual responses will not be published or shared, and no participating individual or organization will be identifiable in the research findings.
Survey results will be analyzed and presented only in aggregated or anonymized form.
How will our contact information be used?
Contact information is collected only to validate participation, communicate about the research and provide participants with the 2026 findings report.
Any use of personal information will be handled in accordance with SPI Research’s privacy policy.
What will participants receive?
Participants who complete the survey will receive a complimentary copy of the 2026 Impact of AI on Professional Services findings report when it is published in October 2026.
The report will provide independent benchmarks covering AI adoption, use cases, productivity, commercial impact, governance and the practices associated with more successful AI adoption.
When does the survey close?
The survey is open until 15 September 2026.
The findings report is currently planned for publication in October 2026. We encourage participants to respond as early as possible so their organization’s experience can be included in the research.
Help establish the industry benchmark
Whether your organization is evaluating AI, running selected pilots or deploying it at scale, your experience will contribute to a more accurate picture of how AI is changing professional services.
The survey is open until 15 September 2026.
Responses are confidential and findings will be reported only in aggregated or anonymized form. The findings report is planned for publication in October 2026.
For research inquiries, contact info@spiresearch.com.