Most Irish businesses have adopted cloud in parts of their operations, yet only 13% have fully scaled it across their organisation, compared with 25% in the wider EMEA region, according to PwC.

The Cloud Business Survey, based on responses from 1,400 business and technology leaders across 26 EMEA territories, indicates widespread cloud use, but limited integration of AI at scale.

Agentic AI is a growing consideration when selecting cloud providers, with 84% of Irish firms describing it as critical. Despite this, just 22% are implementing and scaling agentic AI, and 9% report using cloud-based AI and machine learning across multiple parts of their organisations, lagging behind EMEA counterparts at 29% and 31% respectively.

“AI needs the cloud to make it work effectively. At the same time, agentic AI is no longer theoretical – it’s being embedded into cloud platforms that power national digital economies,” said David Lee, chief technology officer at PwC Ireland. “Our clients are experimenting with AI agents to fine-tune operations, re-design workflows, personalise customer experiences and ultimately completely redefine business models to deliver new growth.”

Nine in ten Irish respondents reported adjusting their cloud strategies in response to geopolitical pressures and regulatory change. Cost management is also a priority, though adoption of financial operations (FinOps) remains lower in Ireland than in other EMEA nations.

“Effective FinOps practices deliver transparency and control, enabling business leaders to optimise costs, strengthen compliance, and make faster, data-driven decisions even in volatile conditions,” said Marc Hanlon, director of cloud transformation services, PwC Ireland.

Barriers to full-scale cloud adoption include skills shortages, integration complexity, and security concerns. Compliance and cybersecurity remain central, while investment in AI and multi-cloud strategies continues to grow.

Read the full story on the PwC survey for insights on cloud adoption trends and AI implementation across Irish businesses.

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