Australia’s small and medium businesses are increasingly embracing AI as the technology becomes part of everyday operations.
New NAB Economics research shows that 42 per cent of Australian SMEs are already using AI, with another 14 per cent planning to adopt it, signalling a growing shift from curiosity to practical, day-to-day use.
From managing customer enquiries to forecasting demand and streamlining paperwork, business owners are finding that AI can help ease the pressure of running small operations with limited time and resources.
“We’re seeing a clear shift from curiosity to practical use, with more businesses using AI to save time, reduce admin burdens and make better decisions,” said Pete Steel, NAB group executive for digital, data and AI.
“Unlocking this adoption at scale across the economy has real potential to help Australia increase productivity and lift our global competitiveness.”
The research found that marketing and sales are the most common uses of AI among SMEs (51 per cent), followed by operations and logistics (39 per cent) and customer service (25 per cent). AI adoption is highest in property services, finance and business services, while retail and transport businesses are slower to adopt the technology.
