PRAGUE – In a European comparison, Czech companies make greater use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools than average. According to a survey of Czech companies carried out by the European Investment Bank (EIB), they are mainly focused on increasing their efficiency. The EIB said in a press release today that if companies are to maintain this trend, they will need to solve the shortage of qualified workers in the future.
AI tools are used systematically in 48% of Czech companies, compared to the European average of 37%. “Our research shows that Czech companies are ahead of their EU counterparts in the areas of innovation and the adoption of artificial intelligence, which is crucial for productivity and resilience. To maintain this trend, it is also essential to address the shortage of qualified workers,” said the EIB's chief economist. Deborah Revoltelaoba.
When implementing AI, Czech companies mainly focus on internal processes, with 67% of companies implementing artificial intelligence. 41% of companies use AI tools for marketing and sales, and 41% for customer service.
The survey also revealed that 31% of Czech companies invested in innovation this year, one percentage point below the EU average. However, in the future, Czech companies plan to expand the scope of their investments in this area, with 40% of them expecting to invest in innovation in the next three years.
Businesses identify labor shortages as a major barrier to investment, with 88% of businesses identifying them as such. For 84% of Czech companies, future uncertainty is a barrier to investment. Concerns about expensive energy are decreasing, with 69 percent of businesses recognizing it as an issue, compared to 95 percent last year. (December 9th)
