SPI Research opens 2026 AI benchmark survey for professional services

SPI Research has launched its third annual study of how AI is affecting professional services performance, with a survey open through Sept. 15. The confidential benchmark aims to measure whether AI investment is translating into better delivery, productivity, client outcomes and financial results.

Why it matters: - Professional services firms are spending more on AI, but the industry still lacks a clear read on whether that investment is improving results. - SPI Research says the 2026 benchmark is meant to give leaders a credible way to compare AI adoption, prioritize use cases and measure business impact. - The report is also intended to help firms understand the shift from AI experimentation to more structured deployment. - Existing SPI Research customers will get a current AI lens on top of the operational and financial benchmarks they already use. - Technology partners will get a read on the capabilities, risks and outcomes professional services organizations are prioritizing.

What happened: - SPI Research opened participation in its third annual Impact of AI in Professional Services Benchmark Survey on July 22, 2026. - The independent study focuses on how AI is affecting professional services delivery, workforce productivity, client outcomes and financial performance. - The survey is open to professional services executives, operational leaders and technology decision-makers. - Participation takes about 10 minutes, and qualified respondents will receive the full 2026 report by email when it is published. - The survey remains open until Sept. 15. - More information is available in the survey link.

The details: - The 2026 study builds on SPI Research’s 2024 and 2025 research to create a year-over-year view of AI adoption across professional services organizations. - The survey will examine where AI is creating measurable value and where expectations remain ahead of results. - The study will also look at how agentic AI is changing operating models. - The research will assess AI use across service delivery, resource management, knowledge work, client engagement and business operations. - It will also examine strategic priorities, implementation risks and performance expectations shaping investment decisions. - Responses will be confidential and analyzed only in aggregate. - Findings will be segmented, where possible, by organization size, sector and geography. - The survey will gather evidence in four areas: hype versus measurable value, leadership priorities, use cases in practice and business impact. - Business impact measures include service delivery performance, resource utilization, client satisfaction and profitability.

Between the lines: - The benchmark reflects a broader push in professional services to move AI discussions away from general enthusiasm and toward measurable outcomes. - The focus on agentic AI suggests the market is already looking beyond simple automation toward more advanced workflow changes. - SPI Research is positioning the study as a management tool, not just a research exercise, by tying AI adoption to the metrics leaders already use. - The research design signals that firms want evidence on where AI is delivering value now versus where adoption is still ahead of proven returns.

What's next: - SPI Research will close the survey on Sept. 15 and publish the 2026 report after analysis is complete. - Participants who complete the survey will receive the full report directly by email. - Organizations that want a briefing or want to discuss how the findings relate to their own performance can contact SPI Research at info@spiresearch.com.

The bottom line: - SPI Research is using its third annual AI benchmark to test a central question for professional services: whether AI is changing performance in ways that can be measured, compared and managed.