- Survey by Wakefield Research and D-Wave shows 46% of surveyed business leaders expect $1 million to $5 million ROI from quantum optimization within the first year of adoption.
- 81% believe they have reached the limits of classical computing’s capabilities for optimization.
- 53% are planning to integrate quantum computing into their workflows, while 27% are considering it.
- Quantum optimization is seen as especially valuable in logistics, supply chain, manufacturing, planning and inventory, and R&D.
- 88% of participants said their organizations would “go above and beyond” for even a 5% improvement in optimization.
A new survey released by D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) (“D-Wave”), a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services, suggests that quantum computing is gaining traction as a business tool, particularly for optimization problems. The findings point to a growing belief among surveyed decision-makers that classical computing may no longer be sufficient for the operational challenges they face (https://ibn.fm/YPAsc).
Conducted by Wakefield Research, the survey queried 400 business leaders from North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region in May 2025. Respondents were decision-makers from industries such as logistics, manufacturing, life sciences, financial services, and retail; sectors where optimization is central to business success.
According to the study, 46% of respondents whose companies have already implemented quantum optimization or plan to do so within the next two years expect a return on investment of between $1 million and $5 million within the first 12 months. Another 27% predict a return of over $5 million during the same period.
A large majority of surveyed business leaders, 81%, believe they have reached the limits of what classical computing can deliver for optimization problems. These limitations appear to be pushing interest toward alternatives. Fifty-three percent of respondents reported they are planning to integrate quantum computing into their operational workflows, with another 27% considering doing so.
The study highlights optimization as a focal point for quantum adoption. Key potential quantum optimization use cases cited include supply chain and logistics (50%), manufacturing (38%), planning and inventory (36%), and research and development (36%).
Importantly, 88% of participants said their organizations would “go above and beyond” for even a 5% improvement in optimization. This was especially true for participants in the manufacturing sector, where efficiency gains often translate directly to cost savings and margin improvements.
Companies continue to face hurdles when it comes to optimization. Respondents cited outdated technology (39%), budget constraints (38%), dependency on classical optimization on conventional computers (36%), and talent or skills shortages (35%) as key barriers. In addition, 87% acknowledged that internal complacency could be hindering innovation.
When asked about quantum’s usefulness in addressing specific operational problems, 60% of all respondents, and 73% of those most familiar with quantum optimization technology, said they expect it to be very or extremely helpful. Nearly a quarter in the latter group called quantum a “game changer” for their business operations.
According to D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz, the shift toward quantum optimization is no longer just about future potential—it’s about solving “business-critical problems now,” and this is something D-Wave is already doing with its quantum computing technologies.
“Yesterday’s legacy computing solutions are struggling to keep pace with modern business,” said Dr. Baratz. “Leaders are increasingly recognizing that annealing quantum computing can play a pivotal role in solving business-critical problems now. This survey reflects the rapidly growing interest in applying quantum to complex optimization use cases, with business leaders unequivocally recognizing the substantial potential ROI of doing so.”
About D-Wave Quantum Inc.
D-Wave is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services. We are the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, and the only company building both annealing and gate-model quantum computers. Our mission is to help customers realize the value of quantum, today. Our quantum computers — the world’s largest — feature QPUs with sub-second response times and can be deployed on-premises or accessed through our quantum cloud service, which offers 99.9% availability and uptime. More than 100 organizations trust D-Wave with their toughest computational challenges. With over 200 million problems submitted to our quantum systems to date, our customers apply our technology to address use cases spanning optimization, artificial intelligence, research and more. Learn more about realizing the value of quantum computing today and how we’re shaping the quantum-driven industrial and societal advancements of tomorrow: www.dwavequantum.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to QBTS are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/QBTS
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