Most British businesses will use AI routinely within the next five years, but many SMEs are struggling to overcome the AI “implementation gap” and risk losing ground to larger rivals, the report warns
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is on the cusp of becoming mainstream technology across a wide range of British businesses, but a lack of technological expertise could result in many SMEs being left behind, according to a new report from data science consultancy Peak Indicators.
Peak Indicators’ Artificial Intelligence in Business report reveals that large firms are significantly more advanced with AI than their smaller counterparts. Just a quarter (24 percent) of small businesses and less than half (47 percent) of medium-sized businesses are using AI compared to three-quarters (73 percent) of large companies.
And the majority of SMEs using AI are doing so in a limited way – testing applications rather than fully implementing them. Just five percent of small businesses and 13 percent of medium-sized businesses have deployed AI for routine use in day-to-day operations in at least some departments. This contrasts with large firms where over a quarter (28 percent) use AI in some departments and a further 10 percent use it widely across their business. Fewer than two percent of SMEs are using AI widely.
Across the UK, the report highlights that one in eight UK businesses (12 percent) are now using AI, while another quarter (27 percent) are investigating how it could support their activities. Adoption is highest in the Finance and Accounting sector, where more than half (59 percent) of companies are already using AI in some capacity.
Meanwhile, London’s businesses are well ahead of the rest of Britain, with more than half (54 percent) either testing or using the technology in their day-to-day business operations.
Paul Clough, Head of Data Science at Peak Indicators, comments: “AI is on the cusp of becoming mainstream business technology, with most companies of scale at the very least exploring its use to improve insight or productivity. We are seeing the start of an AI arms race, and whether it’s simple AI automation or bigger machine learning projects to help predict the future, people need to prepare for the reality that most British businesses will use AI routinely within the next five years.”
“Most leaders recognise the potential for AI, but many are struggling to move beyond investigating the technology into the deployment of live applications. A lack of expertise in data quality and deployment has created an implementation gap stopping large parts of the business community using AI. SMEs and businesses in areas without a wealth of relevant technology talent find it harder to move from talk to trials and are at greater risk of losing ground to more technologically sophisticated rivals.”
Are you using artificial intelligence (AI) in your business?
| No | Not yet, but we are looking into it | Yes – testing AI applications in a limited way | Yes – some departments are using AI | Yes – AI widely used across our business | |
| Business Size | |||||
| Micro (1-9 employees) | 64% | 27 % | 7 % | 2 % | 0 % |
| Small (10-49) | 48% | 28 % | 18 % | 5 % | 1 % |
| Medium (50-249) | 28% | 25 % | 32 % | 13 % | 2 % |
| Large (250+) | 9 % | 17 % | 35 % | 28 % | 10 % |
| Region | |||||
| North East | 26% | 32 % | 26 % | 11 % | 5 % |
| North West | 51% | 26 % | 13 % | 5 % | 5 % |
| Yorkshire & Humber | 40% | 26 % | 20 % | 11 % | 3 % |
| East Midlands | 38% | 28 % | 28 % | 7 % | 0 % |
| West Midlands | 44% | 22 % | 22 % | 7 % | 4 % |
| East of England | 26% | 32 % | 37 % | 5 % | 0 % |
| London | 26% | 20 % | 32 % | 19 % | 3 % |
| South East | 41% | 24 % | 14 % | 17 % | 3 % |
| South West | 47% | 33 % | 19 % | 0 % | 0 % |
| Wales | 46% | 15 % | 23 % | 8 % | 8 % |
| Scotland | 48% | 19 % | 15 % | 15 % | 4 % |
| Industry | |||||
| Business services | 31% | 33 % | 18 % | 16 % | 2 % |
| Construction | 36% | 33 % | 17 % | 11 % | 3 % |
| Education | 37% | 33 % | 23 % | 7 % | 0 % |
| Finance & accounting | 18% | 23 % | 34 % | 18 % | 7 % |
| Hospitality & leisure | 58% | 31 % | 8 % | 4 % | 0 % |
| Healthcare | 42% | 29 % | 21 % | 4 % | 4 % |
| IT & computing | 20% | 16 % | 42 % | 11 % | 11 % |
| Wholesale & retail | 53% | 15 % | 18 % | 15 % | 0 % |