Nexthink unveils AI Drive to measure & boost workplace AI ROI

Nexthink has announced the launch of AI Drive, a new feature designed to help organisations understand and measure the impact of artificial intelligence tools in the workplace.

The introduction of AI Drive comes amid growing concern from IT leaders about realising a return on investment from generative AI technologies. According to research by MIT, 95% of AI projects deliver no measurable business return, despite nearly all IT leaders - 96% - agreeing that the technology will significantly transform organisational operations in the coming years.

AI adoption challenges

Pedro Bados, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Nexthink, addressed the current mismatch between investment in AI and actual business outcomes. He said:

"The gap between the revolutionary potential of AI and the reality for most businesses is huge. Organisations have committed billions, yet less than half (47%) of employees have the requisite digital dexterity to adapt. Productivity gains are stalling as a result, employees are frustrated, and leadership teams lack answers to basic questions: how are AI tools currently used across the organisation, where are the time savings, and what measurable benefits are these tools bringing to the business?"

AI Drive aims to provide organisations with detailed visibility into the adoption and use of AI tools, as well as practical guidance to support workforce productivity and confidence. The tool integrates into Nexthink's Infinity platform and consolidates usage data, digital employee experience insights and user sentiment analysis in a single dashboard.

Features of AI Drive

AI Drive tracks general-use AI programs such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Claude, in addition to workplace-focused applications like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Salesforce Einstein, ServiceNow, and Workday, along with custom-built solutions. It benchmarks usage and engagement across more than 1,000 global organisations, allowing businesses to see whether they are matching, exceeding, or falling behind peers on key adoption metrics.

Among the tool's core features are broad visibility across the entire AI software landscape, usage analysis for identifying high-performing cases, and real-time guidance for employees through sentiment-driven surveys and contextual recommendations. The platform's measurement capabilities translate activities into board-level dashboards, enabling organisations to evaluate AI's return on investment and compare results to industry benchmarks.

Bados framed AI Drive as a response to the need for informed oversight, stating:

"This is not about slowing down AI, it's about making it sustainable. Those who can measure and steer AI will not just withstand the shift; they will define the next era of transformation. But that is only possible if businesses can track how every AI tool is used across the organisation, empowering employees to use them with confidence and precision, while giving leaders visibility into outcomes and productivity at scale."

Beyond usage tracking, the solution helps organisations identify areas where employees encounter challenges and provides guidance to address adoption barriers. This intent, according to Nexthink, is to equip staff with the support and skills necessary to realise productivity benefits from AI technologies more quickly and effectively.

Real-world insights and support

The measurement component of AI Drive includes data on hours saved, tasks automated, and decisions accelerated, with benchmarks such as full-time equivalent (FTE) time savings. These insights aim to support governance, compliance and informed investment in AI-related digital transformation initiatives.

Organisational leaders are presented with actionable data that links AI adoption directly to business outcomes, offering evidence where historically there has been little transparency on whether AI delivers a promised productivity return. By understanding both barriers and successes at the employee level, businesses may be better positioned to direct their strategies and resources towards training and support where they have the most substantial impact.

AI Drive will be made available at no additional cost to all existing Nexthink Workplace Experience customers.