ARE BULGARIAN COMPANIES READY TO USE AI IN THEIR BUSINESS PROCESSES?

The International Economic Relations Center at BIA conducted an online survey of companies - members of BIA in the period 1-30 June 2023, aimed at establishing the readiness of business to take advantage of the opportunities of artificial intelligence (AI).

More than 150 export-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises from various sectors of the economy participated in the survey, incl. food, electronics, information technology, trade and services.

26.1% of respondents declare that they use artificial intelligence in their business processes, and 27.5% plan to invest in AI in the next three years. For 18.3% of enterprises, the introduction of artificial intelligence in business processes is too expensive, and another 18.3% claim that their business does not need AI. Every tenth company hesitates whether to invest in AI solutions.

In connection with the implementation of activities in support of companies from the biofood sector, the International Economic Relations Center separately exported the data for the companies from this sector that participated in the survey. One in five (20%) of them use AI, and another 20% plan to invest in the technology in the next three years. 40% of representatives of the biofood sector believe that their business does not need AI, for 10% it is too expensive, and another 10% are still hesitant to invest.