Over three quarters of project professionals in the UK financial services sector are implementing artificial intelligence (AI) as part of their everyday processes, according to a new survey by the Association for Project Management (APM), the chartered membership body for the project profession.

The survey of 1,000 project professionals, carried out by national research company Censuswide, demonstrates the growing benefits of AI adoption in the project profession.

Adoption of AI tools has been seen across all sectors, with 77% of project managers in the financial services sector stating that AI has been integrated into project management processes at their organisation. This is only just behind the manufacturing sector which leads the way at 78% and is closely followed by aerospace & defence and healthcare & pharmaceuticals both at 75%.

Professor Adam Boddison OBE, chief executive of APM, said:“AI is a hot topic in all industries, sectors, and professions. This research goes to show the project profession is a leader when it comes to using AI for positive change. The emerging technology is already having a significant impact on projects, and we expect this to continue for the foreseeable future.

“Furthermore, following Kier Starmer’s promise to fast-track decisions on major infrastructure projects, the use of AI throughout this could be essential. The implementation of AI provides the opportunity to significantly improve the prospects of projects of all scopes and scales being delivered on time, to cost, and to quality.”

Survey respondents identified specific areas where AI tools have even greater potential to enhance project management outcomes. Performance analysis emerged as the top area for improvement potential, cited by 28% of respondents. This was followed by data analysis at 26%, and administration tasks, such as form-filling and record-keeping, at 25%.

The findings demonstrate that AI is proving particularly valuable in streamlining time-consuming manual tasks, enhancing the accuracy of data analysis, and providing project managers with the insights needed to support strategic decision-making processes.

Professor Adam Boddison OBE continued: “By automating manual processes and enhancing analytical capabilities, AI can help organisations deliver projects more efficiently and effectively.

“However, as adoption increases, it’s important that project professionals take the lead in ensuring AI tools are used responsibly and ethically. By doing so, we can unlock even greater potential for AI to support project delivery across all sectors.”

Case Study: Network Rail’s data-first strategy for AI adoption

Network Rail’s Wales and Western region delivers large-scale infrastructure projects worth £1 billion annually.

Recognising the challenge of managing vast amounts of project data, the team implemented a transformative data-first approach. By centralising project data from multiple platforms and leveraging tools like PowerBI and SharePoint, they developed intuitive dashboards and automated reporting systems.

This strategy not only improved data accessibility and accuracy but also enhanced decision-making and project efficiency. A rapid roll-out across the region enabled significant cost savings, faster reporting and reduced manual errors.

Over three months, sustained training and iterative updates ensured widespread adoption. The resulting systems recorded over 60,000 user interactions in 90 days, demonstrating robust engagement.

Network Rail’s success showcases the potential of combining innovative tools with strategic planning to harness AI effectively in project management

Case Study: predicting project outcomes with MIGSO | PCUBED’s AI Capability

MIGSO-PCUBED, a leading global consultancy in project, programme, and change management, developed its Intelligent Project Prediction (IPP) platform to transform how organisations forecast project outcomes.

Using advanced AI and machine learning, IPP identifies potential risks and performance issues early in the project lifecycle. By analysing historical project data and generating predictive insights, the tool allows project managers to proactively address challenges, optimise resources and improve overall efficiency.

The implementation of IPP represents a significant step in leveraging AI to enhance decision-making and foster greater project success. This innovation aligns with MIGSO-PCUBED’s commitment to digital transformation, demonstrating how AI-driven solutions can support more informed, agile and strategic project management approaches.

The initiative underscores the transformative impact of AI when combined with traditional project management expertise.

As organisations continue to embrace AI, the project profession has an opportunity to shape how these tools are utilised to deliver long-term value. This includes addressing potential risks, ensuring effective training for project professionals, and maximising AI’s ability to drive innovation and tackle existing challenges, such as the industry-wide skills gap.