Due to digital transformation, SMBs face the challenge of adapting to new tools such as Artificial Intelligence that enable them to improve their operations to stay competitive. In this context, The Adecco Group Institute has produced the report “Artificial Intelligence Becomes the New Economic Engine of SMBs” with the aim of determining the opinions, attitudes, and perceptions that leaders of Spanish SMBs have regarding AI implementation in their companies.
AI: a Key Lever for Competitiveness and Business Sustainability
One of the report’s main findings is that artificial intelligence is already having a tangible impact on the day-to-day life of Spanish SMBs. Far from being a future trend, its adoption translates into concrete improvements in how work is done, in operational efficiency, and in the ability to compete in the market.
In fact, 90% of the executives surveyed consider that AI improves their company’s competitiveness. This improvement materializes mainly in an optimization of working times (50.1%), although there are also advances in the quality of the product or service (39.6%) and in cost reduction (35.2%), which reinforces the idea that AI, besides streamlining processes, adds value to the business.
“The key is not only to incorporate AI, but to do it with discernment, progressively, and putting people at the center. Only in this way will SMBs be able to consolidate sustained growth and strengthen their long-term competitive position,” says Carlos Arcas, Director of The Adecco Group Institute.
That improvement is directly reflected in operational productivity. 86.6% of companies acknowledge that AI adoption has effects in this area. Specifically, 48.9% highlight reduced processing times, while 46% observe a more efficient use of resources. Additionally, 39.1% point to a decrease in errors, contributing to greater reliability in operations.
Beyond the operational indicators, AI is also transforming the way work is organized. 88.4% of executives report changes in labor productivity, with effects ranging from freeing time for higher-value tasks (45.8%) to the automation of repetitive processes (45.2%). Added to this is an improvement in decision-making (40.6%), underscoring a more strategic impact on business management.
Moreover, this advancement spills over into market relations. 84.8% of executives believe that AI facilitates access to new business opportunities. Among the main benefits they highlight faster client response (52.5%) and an improved customer experience (45%). Likewise, 35.4% say it enables customization of the offer and 22.9% point to its role in internationalization processes.
However, this development coexists with certain challenges. 88.9% of executives acknowledge the existence of risks and barriers associated with AI adoption. Among the most relevant are data security and privacy (39.1%), technology dependency (39%), and lack of knowledge (37.8%), factors that demonstrate the need to advance training and technological governance.
In any case, the overall perception suggests that AI’s impact will continue to grow in the coming years. 90.8% of executives believe AI will influence some key aspect of their company, especially productivity (51.2%), competitiveness (40.4%), and its role as a strategic advantage (33.1%).
SMBs Accelerate AI Adoption
AI progress among Spanish SMBs does not start from zero, but is built on a already consolidated level of digitalization. Currently, more than half of businesses (54.3%) sit at a medium level of digitalization, while 35.7% show a high degree and only 10% are at a low stage. This context facilitates the gradual incorporation of new technologies like AI.
At this point, the level of AI implementation shows a similar evolution, though still uneven. 51.4% of companies have a medium degree of adoption, while 20% already reach high levels. Conversely, 20.9% show limited development and only 7.7% say they have not yet implemented this type of solution. This indicates that its penetration is already almost universal throughout the business fabric.
Regarding its concrete application, AI concentrates in areas directly linked to activity and customer relations. Marketing and sales lead its use (53.4%), followed by customer service (47.5%) and financial and planning domains (36.9%). This distribution shows how companies prioritize those spaces where the impact is most immediate and measurable.
The type of tools used reinforces this idea. AI assistants, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot, are the most widespread (63.5%), illustrating accessible adoption aimed at improving daily tasks. These are complemented by generative AI (39.7%) and chatbots or virtual assistants (37.4%), which help automate processes and optimize interactions with customers.
As a result, many SMBs have begun to adapt their internal structures. 48.9% are developing AI training programs, while 41% are investing in or hiring profiles with specific competencies in this area. Additionally, 36.9% are increasing financial investment in AI-based solutions, confirming a progressive commitment to integrating AI into the business.
AI Reconfigures Employment and Work Dynamics in SMBs
The integration of AI in SMBs is changing how employment is structured within organizations. Its impact reaches both the composition of workforces and the nature of jobs.
In this sense, more than a third of companies (37%) say AI is driving the creation of new professional profiles, mainly related to the management and use of these technologies. At the same time, 30% acknowledge outsourcing certain tasks, while 26.4% indicate that AI adoption has led to changes in the number of employees, certifying a progressive adjustment of labor structures.
In the words of Ángel Bartolomé, Director of the CEU-The Adecco Group Chair: “AI expands capabilities, but it does not displace people. When there is proper training, professionals can focus on higher-value tasks and contribute more to the business.”
The impact is also evident in the quality of employment. In 80% of companies, AI is bringing changes in this area, with visible effects on workload (44.5%), on the evolution of working conditions, whether positive or negative (31.3%), and on the level of qualifications required of professionals (29.1%). These data point to a transformation that goes beyond the quantity of jobs and directly affects how work is done.
From the teams’ perspective, the perception of these changes is also relevant. 79.7% of executives believe that AI adoption is affecting workers.
Specifically, 47.8% observe an impact on the degree of acceptance of these technologies, while 31.4% note changes in the roles they perform and 25% identify effects on their motivation levels.
SMBs Trust in AI and Plan to Strengthen Their Commitment Soon
AI is solidifying a predominantly positive perception among business leaders. The majority of respondents recognize its usefulness while showing an open attitude toward its current and future use.
Specifically, 76.3% believe AI can have beneficial effects on people’s well-being. This view is accompanied by a clear willingness to incorporate it into the workplace, as 74.5% would like to use it in their own work. Likewise, 74.3% believe that much of society will benefit from a future shaped by AI, while 72.3% describe it as an exciting technology from a professional standpoint.
This positive perception coexists, moreover, with a moderate level of skepticism toward the most extreme risks. About half of respondents (47%) do not consider AI to be a sinister technology, and 39.8% do not share the idea that people like them could be harmed as its use becomes more widespread. These data reflect a more balanced view, where opportunities and cautions coexist.
From a business perspective, this confidence also translates into strategic decisions. Seven in ten SMB executives agree that investment in AI solutions has generated or will generate an adequate return for the company (71.4%). In the same line, 69.7% believe that its adoption has had a positive impact on the overall performance of the business.
Looking ahead to the coming years, this trend is expected to intensify. 68.7% of executives say their company plans to increase AI investment, confirming that its integration is part of a sustained, long-term commitment.
