- More US SMEs have dedicated AI teams than their UK counterparts
- Strengthening AI skills is key to tackling the ongoing talent gap
- Personal interaction with customers is as important as AI
New data from Amex Global Business Travel (GBT) has revealed an international gap in the use of AI tools among SMEs, putting US companies ahead of their UK counterparts in the race to the top.
According to the data, 36% of US SMEs have appointed AI teams, compared to just 25% of UK SMEs. US companies (40%) are also more likely to want AI advice to develop even further, with UK companies (less than 30%) lagging behind.
One thing both nations agree on is the role of AI in business success, with 78% seeing it as critical over the next 12 months.
US SMEs are leading the AI race
Although operational efficiency is a major goal for both countries, US companies (93%) are slightly ahead of UK companies (89%) and this is also reflected in the fact that one in five (21%) UK SMEs are concerned that competitors are innovating faster.
Unsurprisingly, however, the same obstacle is blocking both countries from developing faster – one in four (26%) noted the need to strengthen AI skills to tackle the talent shortage.
“The companies leading this shift are those building and deploying AI operations to address the talent gap while doubling down on the human connections and relationships that drive new business,” wrote Becky Power, VP of SME Client Management.
And on the human front, Amex found that 83% of SMEs want to increase personal interaction with customers this year when traveling to conferences, trade shows and exhibitions.
Where does Amex GBT come into this? Just under a third (35%) currently manage travel through a centralized system, which is poor from a cost control, risk management and policy control point of view.
Looking ahead, despite the importance of AI, it is clear that digital transformation is not enough to ensure maximum competitiveness in today’s economy, with human connections just as important, dispelling concerns that AI is bad news for workers.
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