Nintex Survey Reveals 86% of Saudi CIOs Prioritize Automation as Key to Unlocking AI Value
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — As organizations in Saudi Arabia rapidly embrace artificial intelligence (AI), a recent survey conducted by Nintex, a leader in business orchestration, highlights that many AI initiatives fail to yield measurable business value without establishing robust automation foundations.
The survey, which involved C-suite executives and senior managers from 100 Saudi companies with over 250 employees, indicates a strong consensus on the necessity of automation in preparing operations for AI. Notably, 62% of respondents reported that integrating AI with automation has led to the most significant business outcomes. Furthermore, 86% acknowledged that automation is a critical first step for the successful implementation of AI in business processes. This underscores the essential role of automation in structuring workflows, enhancing data quality, and facilitating effective AI scaling.
Growing Focus on Automation Strategies
The findings reveal that Saudi businesses are proactively working to strengthen their automation foundations. According to the survey, 82% of organizations plan to implement formal automation strategies within the next seven to twelve months. Additionally, 43% have already initiated the automation of processes across various business segments, indicating substantial progress toward establishing the operational frameworks necessary for enterprise AI adoption.
Samir Akel, Regional Vice President at Nintex, emphasized the importance of laying the right operational groundwork. He stated that organizations recognizing AI’s potential will derive the most value by first establishing effective automation. Automation serves as the structural backbone that enables AI to function efficiently, connecting systems, improving data quality, and translating insights into tangible operational improvements.
The Challenge of Demonstrating AI Value
For many Chief Information Officers (CIOs), the pressing issue is not whether to adopt AI, but how to demonstrate its value. As organizations invest significantly in AI technologies, expectations from boards and executive teams are shifting from mere experimentation to achieving measurable outcomes that enhance efficiency, expedite decision-making, and directly impact business performance. CIOs face mounting pressure to showcase clear return on investment (ROI), manage increasing data complexity, and make quicker decisions as AI becomes integral to critical business workflows.
However, the effectiveness of AI systems is intrinsically linked to the processes and data environments that support them. Without well-structured workflows and properly managed data flows, organizations often struggle to convert AI insights into real operational impact. Automation addresses this challenge by standardizing processes, connecting systems, and ensuring that data flows consistently and in a governed manner throughout the organization. Essentially, automation amplifies the effectiveness of AI, enabling organizations to unlock its full potential.
Integration of AI and Automation
The research also indicates a growing recognition among organizations of the value in integrating AI and automation from the outset. Half of the respondents (50%) reported that AI and automation are now being designed in tandem from the beginning, reflecting an increasing maturity in how organizations approach digital transformation.
These findings illustrate how Saudi organizations are adopting a structured approach to digital transformation, aligning with the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 economic diversification and digital transformation objectives. By prioritizing automation and process orchestration, CIOs are laying the groundwork necessary for AI to deliver scalable, enterprise-wide value across various sectors, including government, financial services, energy, and large-scale enterprises.
As the adoption of AI continues to accelerate, the research suggests that organizations focusing not only on deploying new technologies but also on building the operational foundations to support them will realize the most significant benefits. This approach ensures that AI initiatives evolve beyond mere experimentation and yield sustained business impact.
For further insights into the survey findings, visit Zawya.
About Nintex
Nintex, known as the possibility engine, empowers organizations to harness the power of agentic business orchestration by integrating process intelligence, workflow orchestration, low-code development, and agentic AI to create solutions tailored to their unique business challenges. Over 7,000 public and private sector organizations across more than 100 countries rely on Nintex and its global partner network to enhance business process orchestration and unlock the full potential of their workforce.
Media Contact
Cheryl King, cheryl@kingandcopr.com
Published on 2026-04-08 11:43:00 • By the Editorial Desk
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