1 in 5 Bangladeshi CEOs say AI is already boosting revenue: PwC survey

Highlights:

• AI becoming key driver of business growth and efficiency in Bangladesh
• One in five CEOs say AI has increased company revenues
• One in four CEOs report AI-driven cost reductions
• Bangladeshi firms outperforming Southeast Asian peers in using AI for demand generation, strategic decisions
• Only 40% of CEOs say their companies have clear AI roadmap

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic buzzword for companies in Bangladesh, as it is fast becoming a core driver of operational efficiency and strategic growth. 

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) 29th CEO Survey, Bangladesh edition, one in five CEOs now credit AI with boosting company revenues, while one in four report cost reductions. 

With the use of AI, companies are seeing tangible business impact, especially in areas like demand generation and strategic decision-making, where Bangladesh is outpacing its Southeast Asian peers, the survey found.

Yet, the journey towards enterprise-wide AI integration is far from complete.

Only about 40% of CEOs say their organisations have a clear AI roadmap, and fewer than one in five believe their AI tools have access to all relevant company data. 

The lack of formal governance, limited investment and a shortage of technical talent are holding back broader adoption. 

Asif Bhuiyan, Group CEO of AK Khan & Company Ltd, said, "AI at enterprise scale is no longer a side experiment; it is the backbone of how we plan to grow across sectors. 

"But to move beyond pilots, Bangladeshi companies like ours first must get the basics right: a clear AI roadmap, the right data plumbing and governance that works in our context."

PwC surveyed 45 CEOs from Bangladesh from 30 September through 10 November last year.

Impact on jobs

According to the survey report, while some junior and mid-level roles are expected to shrink, senior positions are likely to be augmented rather than replaced, underscoring the need for targeted reskilling and workforce transition strategies.

Parallel to the AI revolution, Bangladeshi businesses are displaying an unprecedented appetite for diversification. 

Nearly three-quarters of CEOs surveyed say their companies have ventured into new sectors over the past five years, almost double the global average. 

This bold move reflects a desire to reduce concentration risk and capture emerging opportunities in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

However, the financial payoff from diversification remains limited. Only 15% of CEOs report that more than a fifth of their revenue comes from these new sectors, suggesting that most companies are still in the experimental phase. 

The challenge now is to convert these cross-sector forays into sustainable revenue streams. 

As the report notes, "Effective reinvention requires clarity on the capabilities needed to compete in new sectors, and disciplined choices about whether those capabilities should be built internally, acquired or accessed through partnerships."

Despite these challenges, optimism among Bangladeshi CEOs remains high, the survey found. 

Many companies reported increasing market share and are confident about domestic economic growth, even as global uncertainties and inflationary pressures persist.