Lucidworks Reveals New Insights: “Foundation-First” Strategies Yield Higher ROI
68% of B2B companies anticipate increased spending in AI for 2025
SAN FRANCISCO, August 5, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lucidworks, a prominent provider of AI-driven search and product discovery solutions, has recently unveiled enlightening data from its third annual Generative AI Global Benchmark Study. This extensive survey analyzed feedback from over 1,600 AI executives and more than 1,100 corporate websites.
The findings reveal that B2B enterprises—particularly those in sectors like semiconductor manufacturing, industrial equipment, automotive components, pharmaceuticals, and related industries—are increasingly committed to investing in AI technologies. Notably, 68% of these organizations plan to augment their AI budgets in 2025, starkly contrasting with the intentions of retailers (58%), healthcare providers (44%), and financial institutions (55%), which are curtailing their expenditures.
Michael Sinoway, CEO of Lucidworks, attributes this phenomenon to the superior returns acquired by manufacturers adopting a foundation-first strategy. “B2B sectors eschew transient trends. They modify their strategies in response to market dynamics and are now applying that same mindset to AI,” Sinoway elaborated. “They are channeling funds into AI, where it has already proven beneficial. While other industries fell prey to the generative AI hype, B2B enterprises maintained their focus on foundational elements, subsequently reaping the rewards.”
Foundation-First Strategy: A Recipe for Success
Even as B2B manufacturers deploy fewer sophisticated capabilities—only 23% engaged in agentic AI, compared to 34% in B2C—they are witnessing more favorable outcomes:
- 37% of B2B companies report substantial advantages from AI, compared to 33% within B2C.
- Essential capabilities yield double the conversion impact compared to more advanced AI features.
- AI Cost Discipline: 49% employ commercial models, 30% utilize a mix of commercial and open-source resources, and 21% rely solely on open-source solutions.
Competitive Edge for Manufacturers
- Multilingual Support: 52% of B2B companies offer services in multiple languages, against 38% in B2C.
- Robust Search Foundations: 57% have integrated vector/hybrid search features.
- Financial Prudence: B2B firms capitalize on premium AI models strictly for high-stakes applications, while utilizing open-source tools for routine inquiries.
Soaring Industry Concerns
A marked escalation in apprehension surrounding generative AI has emerged, with 83% of industry leaders signaling “significant” or “severe” anxiety in 2025, a dramatic increase from a mere 10% in 2023. The predominant worries encompass:
- Deployment Costs: An 18-fold surge since 2023.
- Data Security: Threefold increase in concern.
- Response Accuracy: An eightfold rise in apprehension.
Company Evaluations and Best Practices
Utilizing Lucidworks’ proprietary “Guydbot” AI tool, researchers have executed the inaugural objective assessment of actual AI integrations across more than 1,100 corporate platforms, spanning 48 industries. Leaders in the B2B domain, identified by the breadth of capabilities deployed, are as follows:
- Software: Microsoft (71%), IQVIA (63%).
- Semiconductors: Silicon Labs (69%), NVIDIA (65%), Infineon (63%).
- Computer Equipment: Hewlett-Packard (71%), Pure Storage (60%).
For a comprehensive analysis of the B2B landscape, download the full report here.
About Lucidworks
Lucidworks specializes in translating intricate data into actionable intelligence through its AI-enhanced search and product discovery frameworks. Clients experience an impressive 391% return on investment and are 2.5 times more inclined to implement successful AI initiatives. Renowned organizations such as Lenovo, Morgan Stanley, and American Express rely on Lucidworks to enhance digital engagements that yield substantial business outcomes. More information is available at Lucidworks.com.
CONTACT: [email protected]
Source link: Finance.yahoo.com.
