Introducing AI to German SMEs – practical insights into challenges and future research directions

Lukas Weiss; Michael Möhring; Keshav Dahal

Introducing AI to German SMEs – practical insights into challenges and future research directions

Lukas Weiss^*
, Michael Möhring
, Keshav Dahal

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Rapid changes in the business environment require adopting new technologies to maintain the pace of change and improve business results. This can be achieved through the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face challenges regarding AI adoption. However, SMEs are often marginalized in research. For us as a regional AI lab, it is important to understand the challenges of regional SMEs to better help them adopt AI. Therefore, an expert study was conducted. Six categories of challenges were identified. The most frequently identified category was “lack of experience”. The study shows practitioners need clear guidelines and a safe testing environment to implement AI projects.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	HHC2024: Herman Hollerith Conference 2024
Subtitle of host publication	Herman Hollerith Research Center of Reutlingen University Böblingen, Germany, November 15, 2024
Publisher	Springer-Verlag
Publication status	Published - 24 Jun 2025
Event	Herman Hollerith Conference 2024 - Reutlingen University, Reutlingen, Germany Duration: 15 Nov 2024 → … https://www.hhz.de/en/research/herman-hollerith-conference

Conference

Conference	Herman Hollerith Conference 2024
Abbreviated title	HHZ 2024
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Reutlingen
Period	15/11/24 → …
Internet address	https://www.hhz.de/en/research/herman-hollerith-conference

Keywords

SME
AI adoption
challenges
expert study

Embargoed Document

2024 10 31 Weiss et al AI accepted - for Pure
Accepted author manuscript, 240 KB
Embargo ends: 24/06/2026 00:00 BST

Cite this

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title = "Introducing AI to German SMEs – practical insights into challenges and future research directions",

abstract = "Rapid changes in the business environment require adopting new technologies to maintain the pace of change and improve business results. This can be achieved through the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face challenges regarding AI adoption. However, SMEs are often marginalized in research. For us as a regional AI lab, it is important to understand the challenges of regional SMEs to better help them adopt AI. Therefore, an expert study was conducted. Six categories of challenges were identified. The most frequently identified category was “lack of experience”. The study shows practitioners need clear guidelines and a safe testing environment to implement AI projects.",

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Introducing AI to German SMEs – practical insights into challenges and future research directions. / Weiss, Lukas; Möhring, Michael; Dahal, Keshav.
HHC2024: Herman Hollerith Conference 2024: Herman Hollerith Research Center of Reutlingen University Böblingen, Germany, November 15, 2024. Springer-Verlag, 2025.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Introducing AI to German SMEs – practical insights into challenges and future research directions

AU - Weiss, Lukas

AU - Möhring, Michael

AU - Dahal, Keshav

PY - 2025/6/24

Y1 - 2025/6/24

N2 - Rapid changes in the business environment require adopting new technologies to maintain the pace of change and improve business results. This can be achieved through the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face challenges regarding AI adoption. However, SMEs are often marginalized in research. For us as a regional AI lab, it is important to understand the challenges of regional SMEs to better help them adopt AI. Therefore, an expert study was conducted. Six categories of challenges were identified. The most frequently identified category was “lack of experience”. The study shows practitioners need clear guidelines and a safe testing environment to implement AI projects.

AB - Rapid changes in the business environment require adopting new technologies to maintain the pace of change and improve business results. This can be achieved through the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face challenges regarding AI adoption. However, SMEs are often marginalized in research. For us as a regional AI lab, it is important to understand the challenges of regional SMEs to better help them adopt AI. Therefore, an expert study was conducted. Six categories of challenges were identified. The most frequently identified category was “lack of experience”. The study shows practitioners need clear guidelines and a safe testing environment to implement AI projects.

KW - SME

KW - AI adoption

KW - challenges

KW - expert study

M3 - Conference contribution

BT - HHC2024: Herman Hollerith Conference 2024

PB - Springer-Verlag

T2 - Herman Hollerith Conference 2024

Y2 - 15 November 2024

ER -

Introducing AI to German SMEs – practical insights into challenges and future research directions

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

Embargoed Document

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