90% of Spanish SMEs Report AI-Driven Productivity Gains

Spain's small and medium-sized enterprises have become early adopters of artificial intelligence, and the numbers tell a story of rapid, practical integration rather than cautious experimentation. A study conducted by The Adecco Group Institute, working through a research partnership with CEU San Pablo University, surveyed 611 owners, managers, and executives at companies with between one and 249 employees. What emerged was a portrait of an economy in motion: nine out of ten business leaders say AI is making their companies more competitive, and the gains are not theoretical.

The improvements show up in concrete ways. Half of the executives surveyed point to faster work processes as the primary benefit. Nearly forty percent see better quality in their products or services. Another thirty-five percent have cut costs. These are not marginal gains or aspirational claims—they are the kinds of operational changes that affect a company's bottom line and its ability to survive in a crowded market. The productivity picture deepens when you look at the operational level. Eighty-six percent of companies report that AI adoption has affected their productivity. Almost half cite reduced processing times. Forty-six percent say they are using their resources more efficiently. Thirty-nine percent have seen fewer errors in their work.

What makes this shift particularly significant is how it is reshaping the nature of work itself. Eighty-eight percent of executives report changes in labor productivity. Nearly half say AI has freed up time for higher-value tasks. The same proportion report that repetitive processes are now automated. Forty percent see better decision-making. This is not simply about doing the same work faster; it is about changing what work gets done and by whom. The technology is also opening doors to new business opportunities. Eighty-five percent of leaders believe AI makes it easier to reach new markets. More than half cite faster response times to customers. Forty-five percent say the customer experience has improved. A third can now personalize their offerings in ways that were not practical before.

Yet this expansion comes with acknowledged risks. Nearly ninety percent of executives recognize barriers and dangers. Data security and privacy concerns top the list at thirty-nine percent. Technological dependency worries another thirty-nine percent. Thirty-eight percent cite insufficient knowledge as a constraint. These are not abstract anxieties—they reflect real gaps in expertise and governance that companies know they need to address. The current state of AI adoption across Spanish SMEs shows uneven but widespread implementation. Just over half of companies report medium-level AI adoption. Twenty percent have reached high levels. Twenty-one percent are still in early stages. Only seven percent have not yet deployed AI solutions. The technology is concentrating in areas where impact is most immediate and measurable: marketing and sales lead at fifty-three percent of companies, followed by customer service at forty-seven percent, and financial planning at thirty-seven percent. The tools themselves tend toward accessibility. Sixty-three percent use AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot. Forty percent employ generative AI. Thirty-seven percent have deployed chatbots or virtual assistants.

Companies are investing in their capacity to use these tools effectively. Nearly half have launched AI training programs. Forty-one percent are hiring or developing staff with specific AI competencies. Thirty-seven percent are increasing spending on AI solutions. The employment impact is becoming visible. Thirty-seven percent of companies say AI is creating new professional roles, primarily in AI management and deployment. Thirty percent are outsourcing certain tasks. Twenty-six percent report changes in headcount. Eighty percent see shifts in job quality, with forty-four percent noting changes in workload, thirty-one percent reporting shifts in working conditions, and twenty-nine percent observing new skill requirements. The perception among executives leans decidedly positive. Seventy-six percent believe AI can benefit people's wellbeing. Seventy-four percent would like to use it in their own work. Seventy-four percent think society broadly will benefit from an AI-driven future. Seventy-two percent find it professionally stimulating. Even skepticism is moderate: forty-seven percent reject the idea that AI is inherently dangerous, and forty percent do not believe people like themselves will be harmed as adoption spreads.

When it comes to business returns, seventy-one percent of executives believe their AI investments will generate adequate returns. Seventy percent say adoption has already had a positive impact on overall business performance. Looking ahead, sixty-nine percent plan to increase AI investment in the coming years. This is not a temporary trend but a sustained strategic shift. The challenge, according to Carlos Arcas, director of The Adecco Group Institute, lies not in deploying the technology but in preparing people to use it well. "The key is not just to incorporate AI, but to do so thoughtfully, progressively, and with people at the center," he said. "Only then can SMEs consolidate sustained growth and strengthen their competitive position over the long term."