India Doubles Down On AI: 75% Businesses Localise Data, 60% Prioritise Sustainability, Shows Survey

India is undergoing a transformative shift as artificial intelligence becomes a central pillar of enterprise strategy.

According to new findings from Global Data Insights Survey by one of Digital Connexion's parent companies Digital Realty, Indian businesses are shaping their AI journeys around three core priorities: data localisation, sustainability and structured data strategies.

The survey reveals that 75% of businesses are reshaping their infrastructure and site strategies with data at the helm. This underscores India's emergence as a digital hub in the Asia-Pacific region, where 59% of companies already have a formal data strategy in place—well ahead of several global benchmarks.

Below are the main study highlights from India:

• Close to half (44%) of businesses believe AI and machine learning are essential to unlocking the full potential of data.

• Three-fourths (75%) of organisations are using data to inform infrastructure and location strategies, thereby reshaping digital foundations.

• More than half (60%) of businesses say sustainability is the most critical factor shaping their AI strategy.

• Over half (51%) of organisations measure IT success through green credentials — underscoring a shift towards responsible adoption of technologies, such as AI.

• Over three-fourth (77%) of enterprises have embraced distributed data models to balance compliance and performance.

However, challenges remain. Nearly 52% of organisations reported struggling to extract actionable insights due to fragmented data, and 51% said insufficient investment in data systems is impeding progress towards AI maturity. 

Sustainability has become a top priority for Indian businesses as they reshape their IT infrastructure—focusing on energy-efficient data centres and reduced consumption to meet environmental goals and boost green credentials.

Businesses are redesigning infrastructure with environmental intent — 46% now prioritise low power usage effectiveness to enhance energy efficiency.