In Econnex, productivity is not about exchanging people, it's about relocating them. “We were able to test and test where AI and humans each add the most value,” says Jain. “This allowed us to migrate several roles and create new roles while reducing our developer team by 20%.”
Online loan platform Valiant Finance has recently turned AI across radio campaigns, from scripting to audio production. “It cost tens of thousands of weeks, and it took hundreds of dollars and it was delivered in days,” says Chief Marketing Officer Alexander Concanon.
Valiant also builds an in-house AI agent VAI to analyze bank statements and guides “workshopper” agents and flagging brokers. “With AI, we can do things that are simply impossible for teams of our size,” Concannon says.
Jones says these examples are progressing in terms of where the wider market is. And it's great to see the possibilities that arise from adopting AI solutions. However, many Australian businesses are still in the early stages of adoption.
Most businesses really exist
According to Intuit's Quarterly Small Business Insights report released in September, only 36% of small businesses currently using AI tools daily. Of those who haven't used AI yet, over half (52%) say they are considering it, but most don't have a timeline.
For those who employ AI, the reward is clear. Three-quarters of companies using AI (75%) say it increases productivity. This is up from 46% the previous year.
So, what holds back the rest? Research from Intuit shows that the best barriers are concerns about privacy and security (37%), lack of knowledge about AI (30%) and cost-versus benefits (28%).
“New technology makes concerns natural,” says Jones. “The key is to show how AI can work with people, while giving them control and confidence in the process.”
Privacy and security have been consistently investigated as a major barrier to AI adoption among Australian SMEs. Intuit Small Business Insights September 2025
The evolutionary intuition
These insights informed Intuit's latest innovations. “QuickBooks has begun rolling out a suite of AI-powered features designed to simplify everyday tasks, sharpen data accuracy and improve workflow control,” says Jones. “By embedding AI into everyday workflows, Intuit aims to free up time and helps businesses focus on growth.”
In the US, Intuit's AI-powered agents have already helped reduce tasks like invoices, payments, settlements, and customer relationship management. *These solutions can save 45% of business owners up to 12 hours each month.
“This is about creating headroom for growth,” says Jones. “Agent AI allows businesses to decide where people and machines each add their greatest value. Agents can help identify opportunities and issues.
Looking ahead
For many medium-sized companies, shifts take time. It requires rethinking workflows, building trust in training teams and technology. But Jones believes the award is worth it.
“AI isn't just about efficiency, but it's important, but it's about freeing up bandwidth, innovating, creating new roles, testing new ideas,” he says. “The right balance between human intelligence and AI-driven agents allows businesses to tackle today's productivity challenges and set themselves up for tomorrow's opportunity.”
As more companies improve their use of these technologies, the chances of filling the productivity gap and unlocking new opportunities will only grow.
For more information, please visit Intuit.com
This information is intended to outline the general product direction, but does not represent an obligation and should not be relied upon when making a purchasing decision. Additional terms, conditions and fees with certain features and features may apply. Eligibility criteria may apply. Product offers, features, and functions are subject to change without notice.
*Some US customer agents are still in beta.
