The latest figures from the AXA Switzerland SME Labour Market Study show that artificial intelligence is gaining ground among small and medium-sized enterprises in Switzerland. In 2024, 22% of SMEs used AI applications – just one year later, the figure has already risen to 34%. At the same time, the proportion of companies that have not used AI at all has fallen from 45% to 29%.

As a provider of AI-driven solutions for SMEs, we welcome this evolution of the market, with AI becoming a tangible accelerator for efficiency and competitiveness.

What do the numbers say?

• Translation (52%) and correspondence (47%) are the most common areas of AI use among Swiss SMEs.
• 34% of companies now use AI to automate specific work steps – up from 23% in 2024.
• 32% use AI for data analysis (previously 22%).
• Almost half of SMEs (45%) see AI as an advantage – compared with 35% the previous year. At the same time, the proportion of those who view AI more negatively has fallen from 20% to 13%.
• 57% of SMEs report efficiency gains thanks to AI (previous year: 46%) – and only 2% reported staff reductions as a result, while 10% said AI had created new jobs.

Challenges remain

Despite the upswing, there are critical aspects to consider: only 34% of companies have set clear rules on which data employees are allowed to enter into AI tools – and among firms with fewer than ten employees, the figure is just 23%.

Data protection, governance and employee qualification therefore remain hurdles that must not be overlooked.

Our role at DeepCloud

At DeepCloud, we focus on several AI-driven solutions that enable SMEs to get started immediately and generate real added value:

• DeepO
  DeepO is an AI-powered platform for automated data capture and document processing. It reads and analyses documents, identifies content using artificial intelligence, and automatically transfers relevant data into downstream systems, largely eliminating the need for manual data entry.
• DeepLaw 
  DeepLaw is an AI-powered platform for legal research in Swiss law. It provides lawyers with a conversational interface to federal and cantonal legislation as well as court decisions, delivering precise, citable answers to legal questions.
• DeepConfidential (announced for 2026)
  A privacy-first AI platform designed for strict confidentiality. DeepConfidential enables the use of AI without storing any data. Ideal for sensitive use cases with high security and compliance requirements.
• DeepAnalyze (announced for 2026)
  A financial intelligence platform for CFOs and senior decision-makers: DeepAnalyze provides AI-driven analyses and forecasts based on balance sheets and income statements.

Every SME has its own starting point – which is why our approach is modular, scalable and practical. The study shows: AI is no longer a topic of the future – it has already arrived in the present for many companies. And we know: those who take a smart step forward today will secure competitive advantages tomorrow.