The Future of AI: Building Data Foundations for Success in Asia

Asia Pacific, 25 April 2025 – Qlik®, a global leader in data integration, data quality, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), has released new findings from a commissioned IDC InfoBrief that reveals 80% of Asia Pacific organisations are re-evaluating their data strategies. The research shows that poor data quality, bias, and complex engineering are key reasons why one in five AI projects falter. Despite these setbacks, AI-related investments across the region are projected to grow 1.7 times faster than overall digital technology spending, with generative AI (GenAI) expected to contribute a staggering US$1.6 trillion to the regional economy by 2027.

“In 2025, AI will focus on agentic AI, which is redefining business operations with dynamic, autonomous outcomes. But success depends on high-quality, accessible, and well-governed data,” said Maurizio Garavello, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific & Japan at Qlik. “At Qlik, we equip organizations with AI-driven data and analytics strategies to reduce bias, improve automation, and speed up decision-making, unlocking AI’s full value.”

Building Stronger Data Foundations for GenAI

The IDC InfoBrief, The AI Pivot: Accelerating GenAI Adoption and Unlocking Data-Driven Business Value (Doc# AP242509IB, April 2025), commissioned by Qlik and co-sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS), highlights that inconsistent, outdated, and biased data remains a critical challenge, with 35% of respondents noting it inhibits GenAI scalability.

To address these obstacles, over half (56%) of organisations are turning to low-code and no-code AI tools to simplify deployment and foster innovation. A striking 74% view these tools as pivotal to expanding AI use, enabling developers to focus on more strategic initiatives.

“An AI-driven future starts with two key priorities: building a strong data foundation and identifying the right business use cases for AI,” said Dr. Chris Marshall, Vice President, Data, Analytics, AI, Sustainability, and Industry Research at IDC. “From business intelligence to fraud prevention, AI offers vast opportunities – but to unlock its full potential, organizations must prioritize data integrity, governance, and innovation.”

Cloud Acceleration Fuels GenAI Readiness

Cloud technology is playing a vital role in enabling AI transformation, with 73% of surveyed organisations identifying cloud adoption as a top priority to enhance GenAI readiness. ASEAN, in particular, is experiencing a surge in AI investments, projected to grow by 28% annually.

Regional efforts to create culturally relevant large language models (LLMs) are gaining traction. Singapore’s AI Singapore initiative has introduced SEA-LION (Southeast Asian Languages In One Network), while Malaysia’s Mesolitica has launched MaLLaM (Malaysian Large Language Model), both of which are cloud-hosted and tailored to local language use cases.

Real-World Impact: SAPPORO Holdings’ Data Transformation

A standout example of impactful data strategy is SAPPORO Holdings, a leading name in the alcoholic beverage sector. The company leveraged Qlik’s solutions to create a real-time data integration platform connecting sales, logistics, and finance operations. This initiative addressed two core barriers to GenAI success: data accessibility and integration. As a result, SAPPORO Holdings slashed data integration costs by 80% and reduced development time by 75%, laying the groundwork for future innovation.

IDC’s Recommendations for Data-Driven Success

To ensure long-term success with GenAI, IDC advises organisations in Asia Pacific to focus on:

• Implementing enterprise-wide data strategies and fostering data-driven cultures
• Investing in scalable, automated data platforms
• Enhancing governance and lifecycle management for compliance and privacy
• Building robust infrastructure and upskilling talent through strategic partnerships