As many as 59% of UK small businesses are already using AI in some form, while 23% plan to do so in the near future, according to a new study.
The survey conducted by ScoreApp involved 1,000 businesses across various sectors and sizes, 68% of which were small businesses with 1-4 employees, and 31% of which have been operating for more than 10 years.
Small businesses play a crucial role in increasing employment rates and maintaining the overall health of the UK economy, as they employ around 16.4 million people, according to FSB. Amidst the current doom and gloom ever-present in the media, small businesses may be the answer to stabilising our economy.
The use of AI in small businesses is a growing trend, as seen in recent surveys conducted by American Express, GoDaddy, and Forbes. These surveys highlight the opportunity for small businesses to leverage AI to improve their marketing, customer service, product and service offerings, operations, cybersecurity and fraud management.
ScoreApp’s survey results provide valuable insights into how UK small businesses are not only aware of the benefits of AI, but are already embracing this technology to improve their agility and drive growth and success.
Daniel Priestley, Co-Founder of ScoreApp, says: “We are delighted to see that UK small businesses are embracing AI and using it to grow their businesses. Where some large corporations are stifled with regulation anxiety around the uses of AI, small businesses can be more agile helping them achieve their goals and overcome their challenges.”
“According to the latest statistics from FSB, there were 5.5 million small businesses in the UK at the start of 2022, accounting for 99.9% of the total business population, and 61% of total employment, adds Steven Oddy, CEO & Co-Founder of ScoreApp. “It’s clear that these small businesses are a vital part of the UK economy, but the survey shows that they are also a valuable source of innovation and creativity.”
