KPMG eDiscovery Industry Survey: Senior Voices, AI Adoption, and the Next Chapter in Legal Technology
KPMG Forensic Technology’s eDiscovery Industry Survey and peer roundtable offer a real-world lens on the trends and challenges shaping legal technology.
Executive Summary
KPMG Forensic Technology’s eDiscovery Industry Survey and peer roundtable offer a real-world lens on the trends and challenges shaping legal technology. The findings not only validate the strategic imperatives highlighted in KPMG’s “Future of eDiscovery” article—cloud-native platforms, AI enablement, and resilient operating models—but also reveal how seasoned practitioners are navigating the practical realities of transformation. Trust, transparency, and talent are emerging as the differentiators in a field where technology is now foundational.
Experience Shapes the Conversation
This year’s KPMG survey is defined by its seniority: 85% of respondents have 9+ years of experience, a marked increase from 56% in the last year. Service Providers continue to represent the largest sector, with Law Firms, Corporates, and Software Vendors also contributing valuable perspectives. The dominance of experienced voices brings a pragmatic lens to technology adoption, process optimization, and workforce enablement. Respondents highlight the importance of balancing innovation with operational resilience and strategic change.
Key takeaway: The industry’s priorities are being shaped by those with deep operational knowledge, driving a focus on resilience and practical transformation.
AI Adoption: From Experimentation to Embedded Practice
AI is now table stakes. 53% of respondents report moderate AI use, with a visible but minority “extensive” cohort (16%). Service Providers and Software Vendors lead in aggressive adoption, while Law Firms and Corporates report a balanced approach – integrating AI into workflows where it aligns with their operational and compliance needs. Across all respondent groups, remote and experienced professionals report deeper integration, mirroring broader legal tech trends.
Operational Priorities: Technology, Process, and People
Technology remains the engine—67% of respondents cite it as their primary focus—but process and people are gaining ground. Service Providers prioritize competitiveness and efficiency, Law Firms need skilled personnel, and Corporates focus on workforce development. The next phase of gains will depend on process innovation and people-enablement.
AI Concerns: Trust, Adoption, and Cost
Trust & Transparency is the top concern, followed by Acceptance & Adoption and Financial Constraints. Financial constraints are most frequently ranked #1 (32%), highlighting pain points around licensing, scaling, and ROI. These concerns are consistent year-over-year.
Team Challenges: Shift Toward People Enablement
Staffing and training rise as the top concern for next year (40%), reflecting a shift toward people-enablement and upskilling. Technology adoption and process optimization remain important, but the binding constraint is increasingly talent.
How the Survey Findings Extend KPMG’s Vision for eDiscovery
KPMG’s “Future of eDiscovery” article calls for a new operating model—cloud-native, AI-enabled, and resilient by design. The survey findings show that the industry is moving decisively in this direction, but also highlight the practical realities that must be addressed for transformation to succeed:
- AI is mainstreaming, but trust, validation, and stakeholder acceptance are critical. Practitioners are demanding explainable, defensible AI—echoing KPMG’s emphasis on governance and auditability.
- Process optimization and people enablement are rising priorities. As technology adoption matures, the next wave of value will come from upskilling teams and refining workflows, aligning with KPMG’s call for holistic change management.
- Cost and ROI concerns are intensifying. The survey’s focus on financial constraints reinforces the need for scalable, business-case-driven solutions—central to KPMG’s guidance for sustainable innovation.
- Senior practitioners are driving pragmatic adoption. Their experience ensures that transformation is not just theoretical but grounded in operational reality.
Conclusion: From Vision to Execution
The KPMG eDiscovery Industry Survey and peer forum reveal an industry moving from experimentation to embedded AI, with seasoned professionals driving pragmatic adoption. The challenges and priorities identified by survey respondents echo—and extend—the strategic imperatives outlined in KPMG’s “Future of eDiscovery” article: defensible AI, robust governance, and a holistic approach that balances technology, process, and people. The next chapter will be written by those who can translate vision into execution—building resilient, intelligent, and people-centric eDiscovery programs.
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