Deloitte Private global report reveals widespread AI adoption among family businesses but many still lag in digital readiness

New York, NY, USA, 31 March 2026: The release of Deloitte Private’s Family Business Insights Series: Family Business Technology Transformation, 2026 highlights how family businesses are implementing technology and investing in AI to remain competitive. Based on a survey of 1,587 family businesses with revenues of at least US$100 million across 35 countries and in-depth interviews with 30 senior executives, the research reveals how family businesses have transitioned from looking at digital transformation as an optional upgrade to a test of adaptability and resilience.

“Family businesses increasingly recognize that AI is no longer experimental but a requirement to how they compete, operate, and grow,” says Yali Yin, Deloitte Private leader, Deloitte Asia Pacific. “Deloitte Private’s research shows that many are still moving from ad hoc digital initiatives toward more structured, enterprise-wide strategies. How leaders choose to adopt and scale AI today can directly influence near-term performance and long-term competitiveness, especially at a time when the pace of technological change leaves little room for hesitation.”

Technology can deliver value, but risks may remain

Many family businesses are prioritizing the integration of emerging technology, with 52% of respondents reporting having a fully integrated technology strategy aligned with business goals and 41% saying they are in the process of implementation. With an 86% adoption rate, AI technology is becoming robust and enterprise-wide. At the forefront of in-demand AI applications are process efficiency (40%), risk mitigation (39%), and customer relationship management (CRM) (39%).

Overall, most respondents are satisfied with their technology adoption – 94% say employees feel technology has simplified tasks and improved working environments to a large (63%) or moderate (31%) extent. Globally, a majority of family businesses report that technology investments deliver tangible benefits, including increased productivity (68%), improved efficiency (67%), competitiveness (65%), risk management (65%), and enhanced decision-making (65%).

Many family businesses are also concerned about keeping pace with technological change. Globally, over half (51%) consider inadequate adoption of technology to be a moderate or high risk to their growth over the next 12 to 24 months, signaling concern about organizations’ ability to keep pace with technological change. This sentiment is consistent across some regions, with North America (53%), Asia Pacific (50%), and Europe (47%) identifying technology gaps as a significant risk.

AI moves from frontier to foundation

As family businesses weigh both the returns and risks of their broader technology investments, AI is emerging as one of the important forces in the next phase of their digital transformation. AI has rapidly become a core business capability, with 86% of family businesses already using AI either actively or selectively. Globally, nearly half (44%) are actively using AI in many areas of their business, with another 42% deploying AI in select business functions – only 2% globally reported they are not using or exploring AI for their business.

When it comes to how family businesses are leveraging AI across the enterprise, many are focused on using AI to improve process efficiency (40%), risk management (39%), customer relationship management (39%) and customer experience/engagement (38%).

Beyond AI specifically, the findings reveal a broader and more complex picture of overall technology investment and digital readiness. Over half (52%) of respondents say they are sufficiently invested in the technology needed to support their operations now and into the future; however, a significant 48% say their investment levels fall short, underscoring an uneven pace of digital maturity across family businesses.

Thirty-seven percent of family businesses still see themselves at only a moderate stage of overall digital investment, with a further 11% reporting minimal progress, underscoring how many family businesses remain in the process of moving from fragmented initiatives toward more integrated, enterprise-wide technology strategies.

To help address how family businesses can embrace digital transformation and enhance its value for their organization, leaders should consider the following:

• Align technology strategy with business objectives
• Move away from experimentation towards enterprise integration
• Prioritize governance and risk management
• Invest in digital talent and workforce enablement
• Engage external knowledge while maintaining strategic control

“Family businesses often take a long-term view, and technology is now firmly part of that legacy conversation,” says Dr. Rebecca Gooch, Deloitte Private Global Head of Insights, Deloitte Global. “The choices leaders make today around AI and digital transformation can influence not just immediate performance, but the kind of business they ultimately hand over to the next generation. Family businesses are in a period of transition—one where they are making real progress but still navigating the shift from incremental adoption to enterprise-wide digital maturity.”