How to play the AI Enterprise Software revolution

Investing.com -- The AI enterprise software revolution is transforming business operations, with companies increasingly positioning themselves to capitalize on this trend.

In a recent note, Truist Securities analysts highlighted that businesses are integrating AI technologies across their software stacks to enhance productivity, data management, and cybersecurity. Central to this shift is the growing influence of generative AI (GenAI), expected to impact both infrastructure and application layers of enterprise software.

According to the report, companies fall into two primary categories when it comes to benefiting from AI: those directly capturing AI workloads and those leveraging the technology to enhance their products.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT ), MongoDB (NASDAQ:MDB ), and Snowflake Inc (NYSE:SNOW ) are cited as key players expected to gain from AI workloads, largely due to their data infrastructure capabilities and partnerships with leading AI providers.

Despite recent market challenges, Snowflake is viewed as a potential long-term winner, as its data warehousing is increasingly recognized as a core technology for AI initiatives. MongoDB is also well-positioned, especially with its vector storage and search capabilities critical for AI applications.

In the application software space, Truist Securities highlights potential winners in three key areas: "pick and shovel" plays, core platform vendors benefiting from upgrade cycles, and vendors embedding AI to enhance productivity. Companies like Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM ) and Smartsheet Inc (NYSE:SMAR ) are expected to capitalize on these trends as enterprises increasingly turn to AI-driven solutions to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.

Meanwhile, companies such as Palo Alto Networks Inc (NASDAQ:PANW ), CrowdStrike Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:CRWD ), and Datadog Inc (NASDAQ:DDOG ) are seen leveraging AI to enhance their product offerings, particularly in cybersecurity.

Truist notes that Palo Alto Networks has already demonstrated significant AI-driven revenue growth, surpassing $200 million in annual recurring revenue from its AI products. As AI adoption rises, demand for AI-augmented security tools is expected to increase, expanding the market for companies in this space.

While AI investment continues to grow, Truist Securities notes that the timeline for realizing significant value from AI has extended. Initially projected for 2024, many enterprises now expect AI-driven applications to gain traction by 2025. Despite this delay, over 70% of businesses surveyed anticipate allocating 5% or more of their 2024 software budgets to AI initiatives, underscoring the ongoing commitment to AI investment.

Generative AI, while garnering much attention, is expected to represent only a small portion of the broader AI market. By 2027, Truist Securities forecasts that generative AI will account for less than 10% of the estimated $900 billion AI market. This suggests that while the focus on generative AI is significant, other areas—such as data management, cybersecurity, and infrastructure—will present more substantial long-term opportunities.

A key challenge highlighted in the report is the shortage of skilled talent and resources to implement AI projects effectively. This, coupled with increasing regulatory scrutiny surrounding AI governance and compliance, could pose hurdles for widespread AI adoption in the enterprise space.

Source: Investing.com