How Indian Enterprises Are Using AI in 2026: EY-CII, Deloitte and NASSCOM Findings

Mon Nov 02 2026 · DigiBuilt Team

1. The big picture: from pilots to production
2. Adoption is ahead of capability
3. Budgets are tight and governance is catching up
4. What this means for mid-size companies
5. A sensible 90-day plan

1. The big picture: from pilots to production

Several 2026 studies point in the same direction. EY and CII's report on Indian enterprises found that nearly half of the surveyed organisations are already running multiple generative-AI use cases. Deloitte's 2026 enterprise AI report, in its India edition, found Indian firms ahead of global peers on large-scale AI adoption across key functions. NASSCOM's annual review projected India's technology industry at about US$315 billion in FY26, up 6.1% from US$297 billion in FY25, with AI described as a driver of that growth.

2. Adoption is ahead of capability

The same reports raise a caution. Both the Deloitte India findings and the EY-CII findings highlight a shortage of skilled AI talent, and coverage of the Deloitte report notes Indian firms leading on adoption while lagging on expertise. The NASSCOM-EY AI Adoption Index 2.0, based on about 500 companies and published in January 2025, put the index at 2.47 in 2024 against 2.45 in 2022 and found 87% of enterprises in the middle stages of maturity. In plain terms, many firms are using AI but few have the skills and processes to scale it reliably.

3. Budgets are tight and governance is catching up

Headlines on a 2026 report describe nearly half of Indian firms as live on AI while budgets remain tight, which fits what we hear from clients: leaders want measurable results from small pilots before committing larger sums. On governance, NASSCOM's State of Responsible AI in India report, based on 574 senior executives, found that around 60% of organisations confident in scaling AI have mature responsible-AI frameworks in place.

💡 Tip:

Responsible AI does not need a big committee. Start with three rules: define what the AI may and may not do, log what it did, and keep a named person accountable for reviewing it.

4. What this means for mid-size companies

This section is our own view, not a finding from the reports. Large firms are investing heavily, but the same techniques work at smaller scale if you choose carefully. A mid-size business does not need an AI team; it needs one well-defined workflow, clean data from its ERP or CRM and someone to own the result. The talent gap the reports describe is, in practice, an opportunity to work with a partner who has already built these integrations rather than hiring ahead of the need.

5. A sensible 90-day plan

In the first month, pick one workflow with clear volume, such as customer replies, document entry or collections follow-up, and record how long it takes today. In the second month, build and test a version on real data with a person reviewing the output. In the third month, measure time saved and error rates against the baseline, write down the rules the AI follows and decide whether to extend it. This gives you evidence for the next budget conversation instead of a slide deck.

Sources

Figures are from press summaries of the named reports and were not independently audited. Report samples and definitions differ.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are Indian companies ahead of global peers on AI?

Coverage of Deloitte's 2026 enterprise AI report (India edition) says Indian firms lead global peers on large-scale adoption across key functions, but also notes they lag on expertise. Different surveys measure different things, so treat the comparison as indicative.

What is the biggest barrier to enterprise AI in India?

Reports from EY-CII and Deloitte both highlight a shortage of skilled AI talent, and coverage of a 2026 report points to tight budgets. Governance and clean data are common practical blockers as well.

Where should a mid-size company start?

With one repetitive, measurable workflow, with a person reviewing the output at first. Measure the time saved before extending it.

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