AI时代赋能中小企业_2026年中小企业数字化倡议（D4SME）调查报告_36页_5mb

Summary of the 2026 OECD D4SME Survey: Empowering SMEs in the Age of AI

Core Content

The 2026 OECD Digital for SMEs (D4SME) Survey provides insights into the digital transformation of over 2000 SMEs across twelve OECD countries. It highlights the increasing adoption of AI tools, the current state of digital maturity, and the challenges SMEs face in integrating digital and AI technologies into their operations. The survey also explores the role of government support, digital security, and financial technologies in SME digitalisation.

Main Findings

AI Adoption and Use

• 61% of SMEs report using at least one AI-enabled application, showing a rapid increase in AI uptake.
• 76% of AI users are classified as AI Novices, using simple, off-the-shelf tools for isolated tasks.
• Only 5% are AI Explorers, experimenting with customised or advanced AI tools.
• 3.6% are AI Champions, deploying AI across most business areas with more complex and tailored solutions.
• Marketing-related activities are the most common use of AI tools (70%), while demand prediction is the most frequent use of customised AI systems (39%).

Digital Maturity

• SMEs show significant variation in digital maturity.
• 22% are at the basic level, relying on foundational tools like email and office software.
• 49% are at competent or advanced levels, integrating digital tools across multiple functions or using cutting-edge technologies like AI, IoT, and data analytics.
• Digital maturity is uneven, with large firms adopting AI more rapidly than SMEs, increasing the firm-size gap to 35 percentage points in 2025.

Motivations and Barriers

• Efficiency and growth are the main motivations for adopting digital tools.
• Maintenance costs (39%), lack of time for training (38%), and skills gaps are the top barriers to effective implementation.
• Generative AI is used by 21% of firms to address digital skills needs.

Cybersecurity Challenges

• 46% of SMEs report having no or minimal cybersecurity measures.
• 22% have experienced a digital security breach, indicating growing exposure to risks.
• Cybersecurity readiness is limited, with only a small minority conducting regular access reviews, training, or third-party audits.
• Cybersecurity concerns are seen as a major barrier to further digitalisation.

Financial Technologies (FinTech)

• 46% of SMEs use digital financial services, mainly for payments.
• 58% of non-adopters cite limited awareness as the main obstacle.
• 22% do not understand how FinTech services operate, highlighting gaps in financial and digital literacy.

Government Support

• 16% of SMEs have benefited from public digitalisation programmes.
• 65% of non-beneficiaries cite lack of awareness as the main barrier.
• Administrative complexity and misalignment with firm needs further hinder uptake.
• Financial aid is the most common form of support in Japan, while training remains underutilised.
• 24% of SMEs across all countries express a desire for more affordable and flexible training.

Skills and Training

• 60% of SMEs have a digitalisation strategy, but informal and external channels are the main sources of digital skills.
• 32% rely on internet search, 24% on personal networks, and 29% on external consultants.
• Digital skills development is a key focus, with structured training and internal capacity building linked to higher digital maturity.

Mental Well-being

• There is a notable impact of digitalisation on mental well-being.
• 23% of SMEs that use AI enterprise-wide report transformational benefits, compared to 2% using AI for isolated tasks.
• Self-employed and micro-enterprises report higher AI impact than medium-sized firms.

Sample Characteristics

• 74% of respondents are self-employed or micro-enterprises (1-9 employees), and 18% are small businesses (10-49 employees), totaling 92%.
• Retail is overrepresented (42%), followed by food and beverage (15%), wholesale trade (12%), and manufacturing (10%).
• CEO age is a key factor, with 31% aged 45-54, 27% aged 55-64, and 16% aged 65 or above.
• Self-employment is dominated by men (65%), while gender balance is more even among non-managerial employees.

Key Information

• The survey is non-representative, as it focuses on SMEs using digital platforms.
• Japan is a major contributor to the sample, with 1376 responses, offering deep insights into SME digital maturity and AI use.
• The OECD G7 AI Taxonomy is used to classify AI adoption, revealing a gap between experimentation and transformation.
• Digital security and FinTech literacy are critical areas needing improvement.
• Public support programmes could be more visible, accessible, and tailored to increase their impact.
• Training is seen as a key enabler, but affordability and flexibility remain major concerns.

Conclusion

The 2026 D4SME Survey underscores the progress and asymmetries in SME digitalisation. While AI and digital tools are increasingly adopted, strategic and secure integration is still limited. Cybersecurity, skills development, and government support are crucial for enabling SMEs to fully benefit from digital transformation. The survey highlights the need for targeted policies to bridge the gap between current practices and the potential for transformative digital and AI integration.