Back for its second year, the 2025 AI Business Insights Report from WSI offers a timely look at how small and mid-sized businesses are adopting AI globally. With insights from over 600 business leaders across multiple regions and industries, this year’s report reveals where confidence in AI is rising—and where execution still lags behind.
From growing awareness and training gaps to differences in adoption across departments and industries, the report provides essential intelligence for any SME looking to turn AI potential into business performance.
Confidence in AI is Growing—But It’s Not Yet Driving Strategy
This year, 81% of businesses believe AI can help achieve business goals, up from 72% in 2024. Yet only 27% say AI is regularly discussed across their company, and 35% still cite “lack of time” as a barrier to evaluating AI’s potential—unchanged from last year.
This signals a persistent disconnect: businesses recognize AI’s value, but many still haven’t adjusted their planning or budgets to act on it.
Familiarity is Increasing—but Training Is Still a Major Gap
One of the most striking findings in this year’s AI Business Insights report is the rise in self-reported AI familiarity: 59% of respondents now say they are very or moderately familiar with AI, up from 38% in 2024. However, 52% of those familiar with AI have not had any formal training, even though that figure has improved from 69% last year.
There’s also a modest increase in the number of businesses planning to invest in AI training—48% in 2025, up slightly from 46% in 2024.
AI Adoption Is Expanding Across Teams—but Silos Still Exist
While management (54%) and marketing (43%) continue to lead in AI use, other departments are catching up: sales usage rose from 23% in 2024 to 33% in 2025, IT from 19% to 26%, and operations from 15% to 24%. Yet adoption remains low in HR (9%), finance (9%), and customer service/frontline roles (19%).
This uneven spread of adoption creates silos that limit AI’s potential across the entire business. The report encourages cross-functional strategies to unlock greater impact.
Middle Managers Are Leading the Charge—Not the C-Suite
Despite high enthusiasm from senior leadership (83% confidence among owners/founders), only 40% of executives have received AI training, and nearly a quarter aren’t using it in daily operations. Meanwhile, middle managers and employees are getting hands-on, with 77% reporting regular AI use.
This disconnect slows down organizational momentum. The message? AI success needs top-down modelling and bottom-up engagement.
Industry Leaders Are Pulling Ahead—and Gaps Are Widening
Whilst SMEs are reporting higher usage on average, when it comes to industry-specific adoption, some sectors are clearly ahead. For instance:
- Technology & Telecommunications: 95% report confidence in AI’s business value
- Construction & Infrastructure: 86% confidence
- Non-Profit: lags at just 55%
- Real Estate, eCommerce, and Legal Services: over 80% report full-scale deployment
These differences reflect not just resources but mindset. The most advanced firms treat AI as a core part of operations—not an optional tool.
What You’ll Learn From the Full Report
WSI’s 2025 AI Business Insights Report is packed with actionable data, including:
- The top barriers to AI implementation—and how to overcome them
- Cross-departmental AI adoption trends
- How SMEs compare by industry, size, and geography
- Steps to align strategy, training, and implementation across your business
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Download the Report and Start Making AI Work for You
Whether you’re feeling behind or just want to sharpen your strategy, WSI’s AI Business Insights Report gives you the clarity to move forward. You’ll also discover how to build a tailored AI roadmap, align teams, and create a practical plan for adoption—no matter your starting point.
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