Professional services with mature knowledge systems are pulling ahead on AI adoption, growth, and client trust, according to new global research from iManage.
The iManage Knowledge Work 2026 Benchmark Report surveyed 3,185 business and technology decision-makers across 26 countries in October 2025. It found that organisations with well-governed, connected knowledge foundations significantly outperform peers on revenue growth, profitability, and scalable AI deployment.
The study builds on iManage’s Knowledge Work Maturity Model, which assesses how effectively organisations govern, connect, and activate knowledge across people, processes, and technology. Across industries and geographies, higher levels of knowledge maturity were consistently linked to stronger business outcomes.
AI experimentation is now widespread. Some 85% of organisations are piloting, implementing, or using AI tools. Yet only 17% report embedding AI into daily operations, highlighting a widening gap between trial and sustained operational value.
“What this data shows is that AI success isn’t about who experiments fastest – it’s about who has done the foundational work,” said Laura Wenzel, Global Insights Director at iManage. “Organisations with mature knowledge environments are better positioned to deploy AI consistently, govern it responsibly, and earn trust from both clients and employees. Without that foundation, AI simply amplifies existing friction and risk.”
The commercial impact is measurable. Organisations with higher knowledge work maturity are nearly twice as likely as less mature peers to report year-over-year revenue growth. They are also more likely to self-report profitability and stronger overall financial performance.
Customer expectations are shaping strategy. Overall, 57% of respondents say customers influence their AI adoption decisions. Among knowledge-mature organisations, that figure rises to 74%, and these organisations are twice as likely to deploy AI in client-facing tools.
Governance remains a constraint. Nearly one-third of respondents report experiencing a policy-impacting incident linked to unregulated AI tools, while almost 30% have delayed AI adoption because of security concerns. The findings suggest that without clear oversight, experimentation can introduce operational and reputational risk.
The report also challenges assumptions around workforce displacement. Fifty-seven percent of respondents say AI is primarily enhancing existing job roles rather than replacing them. Organisations with mature knowledge foundations are significantly more likely to report productivity gains from AI-enabled workflows.
Despite high levels of executive confidence — 86% say they are confident in their ability to find and reuse organisational knowledge — professionals still spend an average of 37 minutes per day searching for information. The data points to persistent search friction even in organisations that believe their systems are effective.
“This research confirms that investment in knowledge systems, architecture and AI is non-negotiable. Law firm strategy cannot be a wait and see, or be a second follower,” said Reena SenGupta, Executive Director at RSGi. “Competitive advantage is being won by the advanced knowledge organisations and now we have the data to prove it.”
Looking ahead, 72% of organisations plan to invest in a new document or knowledge management platform within the next two years. However, the report concludes that investment alone does not guarantee results. Outcomes depend on whether organisations build trusted, governed foundations capable of supporting AI at scale.
You must be logged in to post a comment.