Swedish SMEs Rapidly Increase AI Investments Amid Implementation Challenges

Stockholm – The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) among Swedish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has accelerated significantly, with priorities shifting from 7% in 2022 to 81% by 2025, according to new figures. The data, compiled by Nordlo in collaboration with analysis firm Radar, indicates a rapid integration of AI into business strategies.

This surge in AI focus necessitates new approaches from management and staff. "Many companies want to act quickly to avoid falling behind," stated Håkan Benjaminsson, Digital Business Developer at Nordlo. He noted that a frequent issue is that AI projects fail to deliver returns, often due to poor data quality or inaccuracies.

The report highlights that 53% of companies face challenges with data quality and accessibility, while 52% cite a lack of internal expertise. Furthermore, almost half (48%) report obstacles related to governance, risk, and compliance when implementing AI tools.

Benjaminsson cautioned that companies risk moving faster than their infrastructure and expertise can support. "Without control over data, skills, and governance, it becomes difficult to create real business value, and in some cases, investments may even have the opposite effect," he explained.

Companies that successfully integrate rapid innovation with a robust technical and organizational foundation are poised to enhance their competitiveness. Conversely, those that do not may face increased costs and inefficiency. Benjaminsson stressed that particularly smaller firms cannot afford costly AI implementation failures, emphasizing the need for solid groundwork before large-scale deployment.