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Switzerland ranks among the leading hubs for artificial intelligence development. Yet across the broader economy, adoption remains uneven: while large companies have already embedded AI into their value-creation processes, many SMEs are still restricted to occasional uses. This widening divide could have repercussions for the competitiveness of Switzerland’s business landscape.
That is the finding of the new report “Point of View – AI Toolkit: Switzerland Snapshot”, in which BDO analysed a broad range of national and international studies. The research shows that only some companies are currently managing to move beyond isolated experiments to a sustainable, organisation-wide use of AI. The gaps between large groups and SMEs are particularly pronounced.
For example, while Adecco has increased the productivity of its recruitment activities by 63% thanks to AI and ABB has achieved cost reductions of up to 35% in certain areas, many SMEs are still struggling to move beyond the pilot-project stage.
“SMEs generally do not have the human or financial resources needed to build their own AI capabilities at scale. In many cases, they also lack high-quality data or simply the time required to test new solutions systematically. Added to this are uncertainties around data protection and the real economic benefits,” explains Yvan Haymoz, member of the management board of BDO Switzerland.
The widening AI gap between SMEs and large companies does not affect only the organisations directly concerned. It also represents an issue for the Swiss economy as a whole.
Yvan Haymoz notes: “If only large companies develop the skills and infrastructure linked to AI, a significant share of data-driven innovation risks being concentrated in the hands of a few actors with considerable resources. That would weaken the traditional Swiss model, in which specialised SMEs play a driving role in innovation, particularly in machine building, niche industries and services.”
Switzerland nonetheless has major strengths. On a European scale, it is among the countries with the highest density of artificial intelligence specialists per capita. Its universities, research institutes and technology companies are regularly regarded as global benchmarks in their fields.
The main challenge is therefore not the availability of talent, but the ability to turn that expertise into genuine economic value.
“A significant share of these experts work in research institutions, technology companies or large groups. Moreover, large companies are often able to offer more attractive conditions in the labour market. These two factors make it more difficult for SMEs to access the AI skills they need,” adds Yvan Haymoz.
According to BDO, a successful adoption of artificial intelligence does not begin with heavy investment, but with clearly defined priorities. Rather than multiplying pilot projects, SMEs should focus on a limited number of concrete use cases that deliver measurable benefits, and then implement them rigorously.
It is also essential that AI not be viewed solely as an IT issue, but as a strategic matter that falls directly under the responsibility of company management.
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