- 98% of Australian tech departments who are leveraging AI and automation have experienced a return on their investment
- Tech teams experience an improved employee experience (53%), increased productivity (50%), and revenue growth (48%) from leveraging AI and automation
- 99% of tech leaders require new hires to hold AI and automation proficiency, but 90% find it challenging to find talent with the right skills
- 98% of tech departments have taken on additional responsibilities as AI and automation shoulder more of the workload
As AI automates routine and repetitive tasks, many tech teams are redirecting their employees toward higher-value, more strategic work, according to a new research report.
New independent research by recruiter Robert Half finds 98% of tech teams have experienced at least one return on investment in AI and automation technologies in their organisations.
The research notes that the biggest returns have been in:
- Employee experience (e.g., better engagement, reduced burnout) (53%)
- Productivity metrics (e.g., faster task completion, increased output) (50%)
- Revenue growth (e.g., improved customer targeting, higher sales conversion) (48%)
- Cost reductions (e.g., lower labour costs, fewer manual errors) (45%)
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“AI is driving value beyond cost efficiency, with employee experience now emerging as a key contributor to ROI. Organisations are enabling employees to focus on more strategic, engaging work which is boosting both satisfaction and performance,” says Tom Ward, Director at Robert Half.
Robnert Half also notes that the additional responsibilities in technology departments reveal that tech hiring managers (98%) also overwhelmingly report their teams’ responsibilities have changed since leveraging AI and automation.
The top six additional responsibilities include:
1 Innovating new IT services and solutions (49%)
2 Focusing on complex IT project management (42%)
3 Ensuring AI ethics, governance, and compliance (35%)
4 Improving user experience and digital adoption across the organisation (34%)
5 Decision-making and operational efficiency (34%)
6 Training and supporting other departments on AI and automation usage (33%)
“Nearly all tech business leaders are observing shifts in team responsibilities, suggesting that AI is playing a key role in evolving the technology business function. Tech professionals are moving away from reactive, maintenance-based work and into a proactive, strategic role that is core to business growth.
“Technology teams are increasingly viewed as strategic partners, requiring a blend of technical expertise and business insight. The tech professional of the future will be a cross-functional leader, bridging innovation with ethical, effective AI application across the business,” concludes Ward.
About the research
The study is developed by Robert Half and was conducted online in July 2025, by an independent research company of 500 hiring managers in finance and accounting, IT and technology, and human resources. Respondents are drawn from a sample of SMEs as well as large private, publicly-listed and public sector organisations across Australia. This survey is part of the international workplace survey, a questionnaire about job trends, talent management, and trends in the workplace.
About Robert Half
Robert Half is the global, specialised talent solutions provider that helps employers find their next great hire and jobseekers uncover their next opportunity. Robert Half offers both contract and permanent placement services, and is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. Robert Half Australia has offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Melbourne South East, Perth, and Sydney. More information on roberthalf.com/au