Austrian Post: The use of AI alone does not make a digital transformation
Two-thirds of Austrian companies rely on artificial intelligence (AI) – more than three times as many as in 2023 reports Austrian Post.
The third digitalization study* by Post Business Solutions paints an ambivalent picture: While artificial intelligence (AI) is widely gaining ground in domestic companies, many are treading water when it comes to overall digital progress. 67 percent of the companies surveyed are already using AI in various business areas. Compared to 2023, this is a significant increase – at that time it was only 20 percent. The companies see three main advantages of the use of AI: the automation of complex tasks (57 percent), productivity increases (52 percent) and faster data analysis as a basis for decision-making (49 percent). Only four percent see “no advantages at all” (2023: 15 percent). The majority (61 percent) are sure that AI will significantly change their business model in the next five years. So it’s no wonder that pilot projects are increasingly being transferred to regular operation, and 58 percent of companies plan to implement AI even more in the next twelve months (2024: 35 percent). Nevertheless, only 49 percent of those surveyed rate their degree of digitization as (rather) advanced – seven percentage points less than in 2024.
“The use of AI alone does not make a digital transformation. The figures clearly show that although Austrian companies are buying tools and want to integrate AI even more strongly into their business processes, half of the companies do not have a clear strategy in this regard. However, without structured data, strategic orientation and sufficient resources, the best AI will remain ineffective and the digitization of the Austrian economy will be wishful thinking – and we cannot afford that in the face of international competition,” says Barbara Potisk-Eibensteiner, Chief Financial Officer of Austrian Post AG.
FEAR OF THEFT OR MANIPULATION OF DATA IS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE
Around half of Austrian companies cite the fear of data theft and manipulation as the biggest obstacle to the digitization of their business processes (45 percent). High investment costs (35 percent) and the lack of qualified personnel (31 percent) are further braking factors, but are becoming less important compared to previous years. With regard to concerns about the use of AI, half of the companies also say they are afraid of data misuse or data protection concerns. Other uncertainties concern human reasoning, which cannot be completely replaced by AI (54 percent), and the difficulty of checking whether AI provides errors or incorrect information (48 percent). The results also show that the use of AI has – still – not brought the hoped-for increase in efficiency for a good third of companies (35 percent vs. 38 percent in 2024). Austrian companies clearly agree on one point: For 94 percent, human control remains essential when using AI. This is an increase compared to previous years (2023: 86 percent; 2024: 91 percent).
Barbara Potisk-Eibensteiner says: “Austrian companies know that they have to act on AI – but many still see the technology primarily as a tool for cost optimization. This is too short-sighted: If you only see AI through these glasses, you will hardly develop concrete use cases that create real added value. This is exactly where the biggest brake is currently located. With Post Business Solutions, we can support companies in exactly this – after all, according to the study, only 50 percent of large and 33 percent of smaller companies have sufficient internal resources for AI and digitization projects.”
POST BUSINESS SOLUTIONS: AI EXPERTISE FROM A SINGLE SOURCE
Post Business Solutions GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of Österreichische Post AG, supports business customers in outsourcing and automating their postal and document processes. This reduces costs and optimizes processes. As an Austrian company with the highest data protection and security standards, Post Business Solutions supports over 500 customers with its own AI competence center, especially in the health insurance and ESG sectors. Their DAiTA platform for document processing, for example, shows how great the leverage is: A large company processes about 500,000 documents per year – at a cost of six euros per document, costs of three million euros per year are incurred. Intelligent automation can save up to 60 percent of these costs, which corresponds to 1.8 million euros per year while increasing the volume of documents. With its new “Fraud Detection” product, Post Business Solutions is addressing the biggest concern of domestic companies: manipulation and data misuse. The product, which is currently being tested with the first customers, combines AI-supported analysis with human control (human-in-the-loop). In this way, manipulated or forged documents can be identified, data protection incidents can be prevented and incorrect data bases for AI systems can be avoided.
George Wallner, Managing Director of Post Business Solutions, knows from practice: “The question is no longer whether companies use AI, but how. In 2026, the focus must be on the question of what context is at stake, no longer just which concrete model. After all, data quality and concrete goals are decisive for success. AI technologies are becoming more and more powerful and at the same time more cost-efficient. But the decisive factor remains that real added value can only be created with well-thought-out processes, strategic integration and, above all, data security. Those who set the right course now will secure sustainable competitive advantages. We support companies in this – from analysis and process design to implementation and ongoing operation.”
The study results in detail: https://www.post.at/g/c/digitalisierungsstudie
