Are European SMEs punching above their weight thanks to AI?

"New LinkedIn data shared with Europe in Motion shows that the number of members adding that title to their profile is booming across Europe: +85% in the Netherlands, +69% in the UK, +68% in Spain, +61% in Germany and +49% in France. At least half of British, German and French small business entrepreneurs say AI is making it easier to break into the market, providing them with capabilities that were once only achievable with large budgets and specialist teams."

"However, AI adoption isn't happening equally, and, in some cases, it's only surface-level. In fact, only about a quarter of small business employees use it for advanced tasks, such as data analysis or working with AI agents. According to the LinkedIn survey, France has the top rate of pro-AI user employees - but it's only 2%, while the lowest advanced uptake is in Italy and Sweden, both with 22%."

"Even when it comes to the most basic AI tasks - help with writing emails, summarising notes, online search, etc - some small businesses show quite a low uptake, such as in France (28%) and Italy (30%). The fact that European businesses somehow struggle to evolve from a digital perspective isn't new: In fact, only 58% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which have fewer than 250 employees, have reached a basic level of digital services, according to Eurostat."

LinkedIn data shows rapid growth in members adopting a specific title across several European countries, with particularly large increases in the Netherlands, UK, Spain, Germany and France. At least half of entrepreneurs in Britain, Germany and France say AI lowers barriers to market entry by providing capabilities previously limited to well-funded teams. Eurostat data reports steady growth in micro-enterprises. Many small businesses report that AI helps them raise targets and compete with larger brands, with enthusiasm highest in Britain and Spain and lower in France. AI uptake remains uneven and often limited to basic tasks, while broader digital maturity among SMEs is incomplete.

Read at euronews