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RTÉ News
07-08-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
9 out of 10 small businesses use AI tools
New research from the Small Firms Association (SFA), shows that 9 out of 10 small firms are using artificial intelligence (AI) for one or more business processes. The most popular uses for AI were reported to be automation of simple tasks and data analytics reporting. The study found that the main barrier to deeper adoption of AI, is the lack of technical expertise followed by time pressures and a lack of a clear business strategy. According to the research, sentiment around adopting AI tools is broadly positive, particularly amongst providers of financial and professional services. Over two thirds of businesses said that they are either enthusiastic or curious about using AI tools. Three quarters of respondents said they have either started or are planning to investigate business use cases for AI. The retail sector respondents had the highest proportion of those that have not started or have no plans to use AI. "While the survey shows that small businesses are interested and curious about it, AI adoption remains shallow among small firms as it is mostly confined to content generation and simple data analysis, rather than innovation, product development, or decision-making," said David Broderick, Director of the Small Firms Association. "Therefore, many businesses have not yet explored its full potential." "Government should work with business to leverage an unlocked National Training Fund (NTF) to fund investment up/re-skilling programmes in digital and AI," Mr Broderick said. "The government also must ensure that Digital for Business and the Grow Digital Voucher supports further digital and AI adoption and increase private sector access to innovation supports, particularly the R&D tax credit," he added.
Irish Independent
05-08-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Nine out of 10 small businesses ‘have embraced AI in some form', says survey
The study of 357 small firms, conducted by Amárach Research, says the most common applications of AI are automating simple tasks (66pc) and data analytics (44pc). Adoption is high in professional services and finance, where firms report a growth in enthusiasm for AI's potential to improve accuracy, speed up processes and, most importantly, cut costs. However, the report reveals that the adoption of AI remains largely surface level, with the majority of small businesses using AI for basic functions such as content generation and reporting rather than innovation, product development or key decision making. The main barriers to a deeper sense of AI integration, according to the respondents in the report, are a lack of expertise, time constraints, and the absence of a concise business strategy. SFA director David Broderick said: 'AI is the defining technology of our time, and it will fundamentally shift how business is done. 'While the survey shows small businesses are interested and curious about it, AI adoption remains shallow among small firms as it is mostly confined to content generation and simple data analysis, rather than innovation, product development or decision-making. 'Therefore, many businesses have not yet explored its full potential.' The SFA is calling on the Government to unlock the National Trading Fund (NTF) to support upskilling in digital and AI capability. Mr Broderick also urged enhancements to the Grow Digital Voucher scheme and R&D tax credit access to encourage more firms to venture into the more advanced AI functions. Three-quarters of the respondents reported having either implemented or having a plan to implement AI further, apart from the retail sector which produced the highest number of firms that show no interest in any additional use of AI. As AI continues to change the global economical landscape, the SFA warns that Ireland's small business sector must not be left behind, and must work in conjunction with the Government and training bodies.
Irish Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Digital commerce body urges government to provide greater support to help Irish SMEs adopt new AI tech
A NATIONAL representative body for the e-commerce, digital and tech sectors in Ireland has called on the government to provide greater support for Irish Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to adopt new AI technology. Digital Business Ireland (DBI) has proposed an allowance that would cover the first year of a business' costs for deploying AI tech. The organisation has also called for the current digital grant scheme for SMEs to be overhauled after claiming less than €30,000 has been allocated from a budget of more €5m since last September. "Digital Business Ireland believes the government can do much more to help Irish businesses accelerate their digital transition and adoption of AI," said DBI national spokesperson DP Fitzgerald. "However, existing supports simply do not go far enough." Invest in tech and training The proposals, aimed at accelerating the digital transition and the adoption of AI in Ireland, form part of DBI's pre-Budget submission for 2026. The organisation has recommended an Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) for AI technologies that would cover 100 per cent of a business' AI costs in the first year of deployment of such systems. It suggests the scheme could mirror the existing ACA for green technology and would incentivise Irish businesses to adopt new AI tech to drive greater efficiencies. DBI also believes that the current digital grant scheme for SMEs is insufficient, with the GrowDigital Voucher only offering grant support up to €5,000. It says that in a recent Parliamentary Question, the Department of Enterprise confirmed that the voucher had only 13 applications and six approvals since its launch in September 2024. This amounted to €28,296.50 being given out from a budget of more than €5m allocated at the inception of the scheme. Meanwhile, DBI has called for Increased investment in skills and training courses to further support AI development. It has proposed a minimum of 500 places be designated specifically for AI training courses such as Springboard+, which only had 55 places on offer for AI courses last year. The fourth and final proposal in DBI's submission is the allocation of funding for enhanced advisory and support services for businesses to ensure compliance with digital regulation. Proposals will increase productivity "Our pre-budget submission proposes tangible and constructive measures to support government's ambition to realise the full benefits of digitalisation, including AI," added Mr Fitzgerald. "This in turn will increase the productivity of Irish businesses, and ensure their strategic focus is where it needs to be. "Our proposals are aimed at turbo-charging digital transition and adoption of AI among SMEs — businesses that are the backbone of the Irish economy." Two weeks ago, Deloitte Ireland also proposed a tax credit for businesses investing in AI and digitalisation in its pre-budget submission. The firm said it would apply to expenditure related to the reliably safe development, implementation and use of AI and digitalisation. See More: Digital Business Ireland
Irish Independent
18-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Only six firms have been given funding under SMEs digital grant
Less than €30,000 has been paid out of total budget of €5m to help small businesses increase online presence after only 13 applied Today at 12:50 Only six businesses have received funding from a government scheme to help SMEs to increase their digital presence, with less than 1pc of the available €5m budget paid out so far. The Grow Digital Voucher was launched last September, offering up to €5,000 to small businesses in all sectors that have up to 50 employees.
