AI Maturity Report SME-AIMIX 2026

Artificial intelligence is rapidly permeating the European productive fabric, yet the actual level of integration within SMEs remains highly fragmented across countries, industries, and business functions. Indeed, available analyses tend to merely measure how many companies claim to use at least one AI technology, failing to capture their actual degree of operational maturity.

The “SME-AIMIX Index 2026” report was created to overcome this limitation by introducing a new indicator developed by Webidoo Insight Lab to measure AI maturity among European SMEs. Based on Eurostat and Istat data, the SME-AIMIX Index combines three fundamental dimensions: AI adoption, technological diversification, and integration into business processes.

Through a comparative analysis across European countries, regions, and Italian economic sectors, the report provides an in-depth snapshot of AI’s evolution within SMEs, highlighting significant differences between already advanced ecosystems and contexts where artificial intelligence is still in its early or experimental stages.

Alongside measuring maturity, the report also introduces the AI Competitive Growth Index, an indicator designed to estimate the potential value that AI can still unlock across various economic sectors. The findings show that AI adoption can drive improvements of up to +30% in terms of productivity and efficiency, particularly in sectors where these technologies are still less prevalent.

Finally, the report incorporates insights based on Webidoo’s proprietary data regarding the real-world usage of agentic AI solutions by SMEs. This analysis makes it possible to observe not only where AI is adopted, but also how it is practically used across different business functions, providing a closer perspective on companies’ operational behaviors.

Overall, the report offers a practical, multidimensional reading of artificial intelligence in SMEs, aiming to support businesses, stakeholders, and decision-makers in understanding the dynamics that will drive the next phase of digital competitiveness.