Why is it important that SMEs can also use AI?

Thanks to a survey conducted by theMilan Polytechnic Observatory, we have an interesting insight into the situation in Italian SMEs regarding theuse of artificial intelligence technologies. To the question"Have you started artificial intelligence projects?" only 15 percent of SMEs responded positively, while 28 percent plan to start an AI project in the next 24 months. The same question presented to large enterprises sees 61% positive responses. 

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Barriers to the use of AI for SMEs

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It thus emerges that, as is easy to imagine, large companies have a greater chance of being able to experiment with artificial intelligence technologies than SMEs. The main barriers to the initiation and adoption of these projects in Italian SMEs are several. On the one hand, there isthe difficulty in finding the necessary budget for the purchase (a barrier reported in 30 percent of cases). Many artificial intelligence solutions are in fact custom-built projects, leading to very high costs. On the other hand, there is also to take into account the low level of digitization present in many small and medium-sized companies (reported in 24 percent of cases). This obviously slows down or slows down the adoption of new technologies within business processes.

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>>READ ALSO: AI AND SELECTION PROCESS INNOVATION: WHERE ARE WE?

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A national and international competitiveness problem

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Although the adoption of AI tools in Italian SMEs is growing (+9 percent), the presence of these technologies is still very low compared to the European landscape, thus potentially causing an important competitive gap. Indeed, the adoption of AI tools allows SMEs to streamline business processes by reducing costs and time, as well as increasing potential revenue. More efficient, productive and digital SMEs are essential for a growth of the entire economic fabric of the country. This is especially true for the Italian landscape, if we consider that SMEs represent 99.9 percent of the total number of companies operating throughout the country, generating more than 70 percent of our country's turnover and helping to employ more than 81 percent of workers. 

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How to support SMEs in using AI

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Two points are central to proactively responding to this problem. On the one hand, there is a need for companies offering artificial intelligence technology services to build scalable technologies with affordable costs, perhaps with a subscription business model, so that as many SMEs as possible can have access to these technologies. This is only possible if one has the courage and ambition to build a product start-up and not a consulting one, implementing a standardized and plug-and-play technology. On the other hand, it is necessary for the state to support with subsidized finance the technology companies that decide to move toward this decision of a standard Saas product and at the same time facilitate with tax relief thepurchase of these technologies. All this must then be combined with the promotion of digital skills training paths within SMEs that are necessary to reduce the difficulty in adopting new technologies and remain competitive on the global landscape.

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