Two-Thirds of Colombian Software Firms Use AI, Survey Finds

A recent survey reveals that two-thirds of Colombian software firms have already incorporated artificial intelligence (AI) into their daily operations, with nearly one in three using AI agents for tasks and decision-making. The survey, conducted by Fedesoft and Cenisoft, polled 104 companies and found that 66.3% of respondents currently utilize AI, while 21.2% are piloting the technology.

Productivity gains are the primary driver behind this adoption, with 88.5% of firms citing it as a key motivation. Additionally, 51% of companies believe AI can help them grow without hiring more staff. This shift in how Colombian software firms operate raises questions about the specific roles these digital employees fulfill.

Colombian software companies are primarily using AI agents to write and review code, automate internal processes, serve customers, support sales, and analyze data. The impact of these AI agents has already been observed, with 24% of companies reporting productivity gains exceeding 30%, and another 27% experiencing moderate gains. However, around one-third of companies have not measured the effects of AI adoption yet.

Google Cloud AI, Microsoft Azure AI, and Amazon Web Services lead the market, with Google Cloud AI being the most popular at 24%. Anthropic's Claude ranks fourth among developers for writing code, with a preference rate of 60.6%. Looking ahead, 81% of companies expect AI agents to become a high or very high priority within the next two years.

The main barrier to AI adoption among Colombian firms is a lack of specialized talent, followed by a poor understanding of AI's capabilities, the absence of a clear strategy, and security risks. This issue is part of a broader problem, as Fedesoft estimates that Colombia needs about 83,000 technology professionals this year but faces a shortage of over 85,000 specialists.

Training rather than investment alone will determine how far Colombian firms can go with AI, as businesses possess the tools but often lack the skilled personnel to guide their use. The software industry contributes 3.6% to Colombia's economy, and Fedesoft suggests that AI-based companies experience growth rates of 8-9 percentage points faster than their competitors.

While AI does not immediately replace jobs, it can change how many employees a company needs to accomplish a specific amount of work. As the survey highlights, companies must now consider whether their educational institutions, businesses, and workforce can train quickly enough to keep pace with these new digital colleagues.