The Role of Artificial Intelligence in SMEs: insights from a systematic literature review

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is profoundly reshaping the landscape of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering opportunities to optimize business processes, enhance operational efficiency, and boost competitiveness. This review aims to provide an analysis of the relationship between AI and SMEs, exploring how these recent innovative technologies can support companies in overcoming traditional challenges and addressing emerging market scenarios. The increasing accessibility of AI tools enables SMEs to leverage advanced solutions for improving processes such as data management, personalizing customer experiences, and making more informed, precise, and timely decisions. The adoption of technologies powered by AI tools presents significant advantages, including enhanced automation, cost reduction, and expanded market opportunities. However, critical issues also emerge, such as limited financial capacity, restricted technical expertise, and resistance to integrating new tools into existing business processes. As a result, the current understanding of the role of AI in the context of SMEs requires to be deeply investigated especially to overcome some difficulties that are typical of these category of firms. This article offers the first systematic literature review on this topic, involving a state-of-the-art synthesis and assessment of (1) the themes investigated, (2) the roles played by AI in the main studies under analysis, and (3) the key findings of empirical studies. By consolidating extant knowledge on AI, we generate in-depth insights on the functioning of AI tools relevant to both academic researchers and practitioners; identify substantive research gaps and derive promising avenues for further research. Furthermore, understanding the intersection of AI and SMEs is critical in light of the growing emphasis on sustainability, digital transformation, and resilience in the face of global challenges. By exploring the diverse ways in which AI can contribute to improving productivity, enhancing decision-making, and fostering innovation in SMEs, this review seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research and to highlight areas for further investigation. Ultimately, this SLR aims to serve as a foundational reference for academics, practitioners, and policymakers interested in leveraging AI to empower SMEs and strengthen their role in the global economy.