Despite global advances in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Spain have only adopted this transformative technology to a limited extent. According to the ‘Barometer of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Spanish SMEs’ by IndesIA, only 2.13% of these companies explicitly state that they use AI in their operations. This first report, produced in collaboration with Accenture, Informa and Talent Hackers, sheds light on the barriers preventing SMEs from adopting AI.
Analyzing data from over 60,000 SMEs, it shows that micro, small and medium-sized businesses have similarly low rates of AI adoption, ranging from 2.03% to 2.48%. In stark contrast, large companies in Spain are five times more likely to use AI than SMEs.
The low use of AI can be observed in different sectors, with notable exceptions such as information technology and communication (ICT), where the use of AI is 8.3%, and professional, scientific and technical services, which reach 3.54%. In sectors such as administrative services, however, the share is only 1.62%.
The National Institute of Statistics (INE) also investigated the use of AI in Spanish companies in 2023. The results confirm the findings of the Barometer and show that 5.9% of SMEs use AI overall. Use increases with company size, rising from 5.75% in companies with fewer than ten employees to 19.79% in companies with 50 to 249 employees. However, these figures have yet to catch up with the 40.64% used in larger companies.
Use cases
The report highlights key areas where AI could be used, such as research and development (39.68%), marketing and sales (32.6%) and business administration and management (31%). Interestingly, logistics, sales and accounting are lagging behind in the use of AI with only 9.06% and 5.71% respectively.
Machine learning, in particular data analysis, leads the technological tools with 30.16%. Automated workflows and decision making follow with a share of 21.78%. Audio processing and transcription technologies, on the other hand, only account for 3.2% of usage.
Usage rates also vary greatly by region. The Madrid region leads the country with 3.19%, followed by Navarra, the Basque Country, Asturias and Catalonia with values between 2.26% and 2.71%. At the other end of the spectrum, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremadura and Castilla y León have less than 1.4% of companies using AI.
Challenges
The IndesIA report highlights that the integration of AI can offer significant benefits. Automating repetitive tasks improves productivity; predictive analytics help anticipate market changes, and customer insights can drive personalized marketing strategies.
"The key is to demystify AI," says María González, an innovation consultant. "By breaking down the processes into understandable, practical steps, SMEs can integrate smaller AI projects first, which bring quick wins and build confidence for broader strategies."
To encourage wider adoption of AI, the report suggests that SMEs consider accessible, industry-relevant AI solutions. Joint efforts with larger companies, government incentives and educational initiatives can help SMEs make this transition.
