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Will AI business blur remain constant at SMEs?
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The latest market research conducted by System32 Ltd. examines the “AI readiness” of SMEs. The online, supplementary, non-representative survey was prepared by the company in April 2024 in collaboration with BellResearch.
Responses were collected from nearly 100 small and medium-sized enterprises. 46% of the respondents represent the service sector and 24% the commercial sector. The majority of them are organizations with a long history, 44% of them have been operating for at least 20 years, and another 27% have been operating for at least 10 years. The respondents typically have a higher education, and the majority considers itself to be adequately prepared in matters related to IT and digitalization.
The research covers cases of successful business uses and also assesses the greatest risks. The key findings from the results contribute to the charting and further development of the domestic market of AI.
One can hardly talk about an established corporate AI culture
AI is transforming our daily lives and has brought about a paradigm shift in business and academic life as well. It is not only a technological revolution, but also one of the tools of data-driven company management in business life. The survey by System 32 IT Ltd. revealed that most of the responding companies do not have an AI strategy, despite this, several are starting developments using artificial intelligence solutions.
The answers also pointed out that developments typically lack the appropriate strategic and technical background, the training of future users is mostly not resolved, and the knowledge and resources essential for the introduction of AI are not available.
Based on the feedback from the decision-makers of the companies using AI, 10% currently have a dedicated AI employee or manager, despite the fact that 2/3 of the respondents believe that AI simplifies and expedites work processes.
Except for 1-2 of the sampled organizations using AI, none of them have an allocated budget for AI, internal regulations or ethical guidelines.
According to Péter Szlezák, the founding managing director of System 32 IT Ltd., this is extremely risky, since a well-thought-out, pre-planned AI strategy is crucial in the process of digital transformation. Business risk can be mitigated this way, and one can proceed more intentionally with realizing one’s business goals, utilizing the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. This claim is supported by the AI readiness index established for the research, according to which 63% of the companies included in the sample exhibit an extremely low degree of AI awareness, while 17% have a low, 19% have a medium and only 2% have a high level AI awareness.
A demand for education and support
31% of decision-makers participating in the research actively use opportunities presented by AI, while 19% of them plan to introduce AI-based solutions into the company’s operations within the next 2 years. 12% of company managers are uncertain about the areas and tasks in which artificial intelligence can be used in their company. Only 44% have an idea of how to use AI effectively to achieve their business goals. Almost half of the decision-makers considering the introduction of AI find it necessary to involve an external partner in order to do so. There is a significant need for education and external expert support. Currently, 38% of the surveyed organizations have the opportunity to participate in some form of AI-related training and education.
TOP 4 list of AI applications
83% of AI users have a positive experience with the use of artificial intelligence. 72% of artificial intelligence users use AI to perform general office tasks. 50% of AI applications are used to support marketing activities, and with a similar proportion they are used for administration, decision support and compiling reports (44%).
The application of AI: a noticeable generational difference in leadership?
In the research, the decision makers of the responding companies mostly represent the generation X (born between 1965 and 1980) and the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964).
Men and women are almost equally represented among the respondents. 13% are under 40 years old, 28% are between 40-49 years old, 22% are between 50-59 years old, and 13% are 60 years of age or older. Would we have gotten different results if we had asked the young leaders representing Generation Y and Z?
According to generational researcher Krisztián Steigervald: “We would have obtained significantly different results from the research if the respondents had been dominated by generations Y and Z. The (true) understanding of artificial intelligence can be a serious challenge for elder people from a neurological standpoint, claims László Mérő, among others. It is a practical experience that today’s high school/university students use AI on a rudimentary level, even for the simplest tasks.
