HFS, founded in 2009, aims to provide visionary insight into the major innovations impacting business operations including automation, artificial intelligence, blockchain, Internet of Things, digital business models and smart analytics.

Global Head of KPMG Lighthouse Data-Driven Technologies Brad Fisher commented, "AI is poised to pervade every aspect of the enterprise in the 21st century and organizations must rise to this challenge by viewing AI as a strategic imperative in order to remain competitive and relevant."

Fisher believes, "AI, automation and analytics are central to the success of the enterprise and will redefine critical business areas such as business processes, data use, the workforce, and risk and reputation." He further highlights that, "The vision for AI should be guided by innovative thinking – with the long-term objective of transformed business strategies and models. We are proud of what KPMG is achieving to drive business transformation and grateful to be recognized as a global leader by HFS Research."

According to the HFS, one of KPMG’s unique strengths is in leveraging "decades of learning and domain expertise in risk, in extending and embedding them into the core of AI services." Additionally, the report makes note of KPMG's AI services alliances with Google, Microsoft and IBM.

KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing audit, tax and advisory services. It operates in 147 countries and territories and has 219,000 people working in member firms around the world.