DeepL's "Borderless Business: Transforming Translation in the Age of AI" report reveals that while enterprises invest in AI broadly, most still depend on manual or traditional translation processes, with only 17% using next-generation AI tools for multilingual operations critical to global business.
Quick Intel
Enterprises are accelerating AI adoption overall, but translation and multilingual workflows remain largely disconnected from automation advancements. DeepL's 2026 Language AI Report, "Borderless Business: Transforming Translation in the Age of AI," draws on survey insights from business leaders in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan to highlight this gap.
The findings indicate that 35% of organizations still handle translation through fully manual processes, and another 33% rely on legacy automation paired with human oversight. Only 17% have embraced modern AI tools like large language models or agentic systems, meaning the vast majority—83%—have not yet transitioned to more efficient, scalable approaches.
"AI is everywhere, but efficiency is not," said Jarek Kutylowski, CEO and Founder of DeepL. "Most companies have deployed AI in some form, yet few achieve real productivity at scale because core workflows remain designed around people, not systems. That's why fixing the workflow, not just the model, is essential."
Translation directly supports key functions with strong operational impact: sales and marketing (26%), customer support (23%), and legal/finance (22%). Global expansion drives 33% of Language AI investments, reflecting the growing necessity for seamless multilingual communication in competitive markets.
Despite the slow integration, momentum is building. 71% of leaders view AI workflow transformation as a 2026 priority, with anticipated benefits centered on enhanced customer experience, higher employee productivity, improved sales outcomes, and accelerated time-to-market. These expectations highlight increasing pressure to deliver tangible ROI from AI investments.
"It's not just about language – it's about processes and structure," said Harry Witzthum, Chief of Digital Transformation and AI at Caritas. "Organizations need to rethink whether their operating models are actually designed to deliver on the promises that AI brings."
The report combines quantitative data with expert perspectives to illustrate how enterprises currently manage multilingual operations and why rethinking translation workflows is essential for unlocking AI's full potential in global business.
About the DeepL 2026 Language AI Report
The report examines how enterprises are approaching translation and multilingual operations in the AI era, combining quantitative survey data with practitioner insights. The full report is available at: https://www.deepl-reports.com/borderlessbusines...
About DeepL
DeepL is a global AI product and research company focused on building secure, intelligent solutions to complex business problems. Over 200,000 business customers and millions of individuals across 228 global markets today trust DeepL's Language AI platform for human-like translation, improved writing and real-time voice translation. Building on a history of innovation, quality and security, DeepL continues to expand its offerings beyond the field of Language, including DeepL Agent – an autonomous AI assistant designed to transform the way businesses and knowledge workers get work done. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jarek Kutylowski, DeepL now has over 1,000 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures.
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