Kognitiv Research Finds HR Leaders Want Faster AI Integration from Consultancies

A new study from Kognitiv reveals that 80% of HR leaders in the UK want consultancies to better integrate artificial intelligence, according to a press release. The research, part of the firm’s *The New Age of Consulting* report, surveyed 500 HR decision-makers in the UK and Germany.

Nearly half of respondents (44%) said consultancies have been slow to adopt AI, while 46% of UK HR leaders believe AI could replace most of the work consultants currently do. Seventy percent reported that AI has already reduced their consultancy spending.

The report highlights frustration with traditional consultancy models. While 95% of UK HR leaders still work with consultancies, only 26% consider them essential. Common pain points include lack of cost transparency, limited flexibility, inefficiency, and failure to understand business needs.

Kognitiv describes these inefficiencies as a “Complexity Tax” — the hidden costs organizations face due to slow processes and outdated systems. The firm’s findings suggest HR leaders expect the future consultancy model to combine AI with human oversight, rather than relying on traditional methods alone.