A growing number of Houston companies are using advanced technology such as blockchain and artificial intelligence in their regular operations, according to a new survey released by Accenture. The survey also found that the vast majority of local business leaders expect their companies will be using AI in the coming years to retrain workers. 

Accenture’s Technology Vision 2020 surveyed 6,600 business and IT executives around the world, including 100 here in Houston. According to the findings, 57% of local respondents say their company is incorporating blockchain in their operations, with roughly 42% actively using the technology in one or more business units and the remaining 15% piloting its use. 

When it comes to AI, 65% are incorporating that technology into their operations in some way, with 39% now using it in a business unit and 26% piloting AI’s use, the report found. 

With today’s employees changing roles and companies at a rapid clip, 82% of Houston execs say their need to reskill workers has increased exponentially. A surprising 69% of respondents say they anticipate using AI for training and reskilling workers within the next four years. 

The report also identified a workforce that appears eager for their organizations to catch up on technology.  A whopping 80% of Houston execs say they believe their workers—accustomed to technology like one-click-ordering and mobile banking as consumers—are more digitally mature than their organization.  

Looking at the potential of 5G, 79% of Houston business leaders agree that 5G will revolutionize their industry by offering new ways to provide products and services to customers. Nearly half of respondents said they expect that impact to happen in the next three years. 

Growing the Houston region’s tech ecosystem is a major focus for the Greater Houston Partnership. This month, Partnership executives traveled with Mayor Sylvester Turner and local technology leaders to Silicon Valley to meet with major tech companies about opportunities in Houston. Also this month, financial technology company Bill.com announced plans to open an office in Houston that will eventually employ 125 workers. Boston-based business accelerator MassChallenge also said it’s opening an office in Downtown Houston that will help support up to 25 early-stage startups. 

Click here for the full Accenture report.