Automation in SMEs: where to start
What Eurostat data shows about AI in European businesses, and five simple steps for choosing the first task to automate.
Related project: Business Management
Automation does not have to start with a big project. In most small businesses, it starts with a repetitive task that someone does every week.
What the data says
According to Eurostat, 19.95% of European Union enterprises used AI technologies in 2025, up from 13.48% in 2024. The difference by size is large:
| Enterprise size | AI use in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Small | 17% |
| Medium | 30.36% |
| Large | 55.03% |
Portugal appears in the same article’s data at 11.54%, below the European average.
Among enterprises that considered using AI but did not, the most common reasons were a lack of relevant expertise (70.89%), a lack of clarity about the legal consequences (52.52%) and concerns about data protection and privacy (48.83%). Only 20.68% said these technologies would not be useful to the enterprise.
In other words, the most cited obstacle is not usefulness. It is knowing how to start safely.
Five steps to get started
- List the repetitive tasks. Copying data between files, preparing reports, sorting incoming requests.
- Choose a low-risk task. If something goes wrong, it should be easy to detect and correct.
- Measure the starting point. How long does it take today? How many errors come up? Without this, you will not know if it improved.
- Keep a person reviewing. Especially at the start, and whenever the result reaches customers or has financial effects.
- Check what data is involved. Before using a tool, confirm what data it receives and how it handles it. If in doubt, seek specialist advice.
Not everything needs AI. Often, a simple rule or a well-organised spreadsheet solves the problem.
What we are exploring
ETUNIM’s Business Management line is at the concept stage, with no features defined yet. The aim is to simplify processes and automate tasks in small and medium-sized businesses. If you have a process you would like to see simplified, write to us.
Source
- Eurostat, Use of artificial intelligence in enterprises, data extracted in December 2025.