New survey reveals AI literacy is now a perceived requirement for successful revenue-generating teams

Seismic, the global leader in enablement, has released the Generation Enablement Report: Driving Strategic Change with the Power of AI. The report surveys over 600 full-time managers and senior leaders across sales, enablement, marketing, and customer success roles in the United States to explore AI's impact on the evolving expectations of enablement teams. The findings underscore the opportunities and challenges AI presents as Go-to-Market (GTM) leaders aim to enhance technological capabilities, boost revenue, and future-proof their teams.

The study reveals that GTM leaders are gearing up to increase their technology investments by nearly 25% by 2025, despite ongoing skepticism about AI. Ninety percent of respondents cited advancements in AI as a crucial factor driving this investment. This growth is primarily attributed to new AI features that enable organizations to gain deeper insights into their return on investment (ROI), with 88% emphasizing the importance of clearly demonstrating the impact of enablement on this investment.

The Growing Influence of Enablement Teams

“Enablement teams have become increasingly influential, driving strategic change and leveraging AI to optimize their processes and initiatives,” said Paige O’Neill, Chief Marketing Officer at Seismic. “The data is clear: if businesses are not looking to enablement technology to shorten the buying cycle and meet customer expectations, they will be left behind. Agility and adaptability, powered by AI technology like Seismic, are essential for thriving in today's dynamic market.”

Romain Brun, Director of Business Operations at CybelAngel, echoed this sentiment: “This data confirms the vision of enablement becoming a more strategic function. AI decreases the time spent on tactical tasks, allowing enablement professionals to focus on being strategic partners for the business.”

Additional Key Findings

1. AI Literacy as a Requirement

   • 77% of GTM leaders believe AI will transform their industry in the next five years.
   • 80% of organizations are prioritizing AI literacy across their teams.
   • 77% of GTM leaders have implemented AI-focused training programs for current employees, with 70% offering them to new hires. Notably, 84% of Chief Marketing Officers are already upskilling their teams on AI.

2. Adoption Challenges

   • 43% of respondents identified financial constraints as a significant barrier to implementing AI-powered solutions.
   • 58% of respondents reported generational differences in leadership making it difficult to secure buy-in for new technologies.
   • 61% revealed a stigma surrounding the term "AI," leading 45% to avoid using it in official communications.

3. Optimism for Future Integration

   • 89% of GTM leaders believe integrating AI into their strategies will drive a 29% increase in revenue over the next five years.
   • Despite current obstacles, 90% of respondents predict greater acceptance of AI across all generations in the next five years, with 91% expecting this reliance to continue growing in the next year.

The Generation Enablement Report from Seismic highlights the crucial role of AI in shaping enablement strategies and the future of GTM leadership. As organizations invest in AI technology and focus on enhancing AI literacy, they position themselves to overcome existing challenges and drive significant revenue growth in the evolving marketplace.