Mumbai, July 30: Workday, Inc., the enterprise AI platform for HR, finance, and IT, released The copy/paste economy: Why task-oriented AI is failing the enterprise in India, a new research report that reveals a disconnect between employee enthusiasm for AI and how organizations are deploying it. While 89percentage of Indian employees say AI has improved their day-to-day work experience, only 32percentage say AI is embedded into the core systems where work happens.
The research found that while AI is helping employees complete individual tasks more efficiently, disconnected systems and workflows continue to consume substantial employee time and limit the value organisations can realise from AI. More than one-third of employees lose over seven hours each week moving information between systems, while 56% devote at least half of their effort to coordinating across systems and teams instead of creating value for their organisations.
Despite these challenges, the findings paint an optimistic picture of India’s workforce. Nearly all employees report a positive day-to-day work experience, and more than nine in ten say they make meaningful progress, feel a strong sense of ownership over their work, and understand how their contributions support broader organisational goals. This presents a significant opportunity for organisations to move beyond standalone AI tools and embed AI into the core systems and workflows where work happens, reducing operational friction and enabling employees to focus on more strategic, high-value work.
“Our research shows that Indian employees are ready to embrace AI and are already experiencing its benefits in their day-to-day work. The next phase of enterprise AI will depend on how effectively organizations integrate AI into the way work gets done. As long as employees continue to navigate disconnected systems and workflows, organizations will only realize a fraction of AI‘s potential. Those that embed AI into the core of their business operations will be better positioned to simplify work, improve decision-making and create meaningful value across the enterprise,” said Sunil Jose, President, Workday India.
The next phase of enterprise AI is not about adding more tools; it is about embedding AI into the systems and workflows where work happens. Nearly all employees (95%) say AI increases their confidence in decision-making when they trust the underlying systems and data. Organizations that embed AI into trusted enterprise workflows can simplify operations, reduce friction and create more capacity for employees to focus on strategic, high-value work that delivers stronger business outcomes.