The AI Edge for SMBs
Deloitte Access Economics was engaged by Amazon to analyse and model the economic potential of increased adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by small-medium businesses (SMBs) in Australia. The findings outlined in this report have been informed by a survey of 1,000 Australian SMBs, the development of a bespoke AI Maturity Index.
Kickstarting AI adoption among SMBs is a $44 billion productivity opportunity for Australia’s economy
From family-run restaurants to boutique manufacturers or single parents with an online hustle, SMBs are critical to the Australian economy. The jobs they create and the organisations they support make them the heart of local communities across Australia, particularly in regional areas.
However, SMBs consistently lag larger enterprises in productivity, both at home and abroad. Encouraging SMB AI adoption will be an important part of solving Australia’s productivity challenge.
Deloitte Access Economics’ modelling indicates that if SMBs adopting AI can move from a basic to an intermediate level of maturity they could see profitability rise by about 45%, and those moving from intermediate to fully enabled could experience roughly a 111% uplift.
If one in ten SMBs across these cohorts each advanced one step on the AI adoption ladder, annual GDP could increase by around $44 billion.
